Critically Rethinking Yoga:
Language, Power + Culture
I’m Roshni; I am a scholar of south asian history and sanskrit.
My work aims to unpack the intersection of yoga with power structures such as caste and gender through analysis and dialogue: inviting reflection, challenging assumptions, and exploring complexity.
I unequivocally support the fight for caste abolition and the dismantling of all oppressive systems. I aim to work from a place of humility, welcoming critique and feedback as integral to my growth. my knowledge and praxis are constantly evolving.
Workshops
I offer workshops ranging from 2-hour sessions to full-day events. These spaces foster thoughtful and open exploration and learning, combining lecture, discussion and opportunities for self-reflection.
Yoga Teacher Trainings
I collaborate with YTT providers to integrate my courses into their programs. I have taught as part of 200hr and 300hr trainings, offering critical insights into yoga’s historical, cultural and socio-political dimensions.
Consulting + Mentoring
I provide tailored educational sessions and consultations for companies, nonprofits, other civil society organisations and individuals. I also offer 1:1 mentoring to support those looking to deepen their understanding.
Upcoming Events
You’re a sanskrit scholar but you don’t teach sanskrit? Why not?
My work focusses on the impact of caste, power, and privilege within yoga, while I actively strive to debrahminise my own knowledge and practice.
A part of this journey to debrahminise my work has included an honest reflection on what it means to teach and spread the sanskrit language, a symbol of brahminical supremacy, a language that holds enormous trauma for caste-oppressed people.
I was raised in a caste-privileged gujarati hindu family and have studied sanskrit since I was a child; my consciousness was steeped in brahminical “values”. realising this in 2018 was just the beginning of my journey.
I am now a settler on unceded Gadigal Country (sydney), australia. Through my workshops and sessions, I create space for reflection and critical dialogue, navigating the complexities of this work with care and sensitivity.