<div><strong>Hi, I’m Mayuri Bhandari. </strong>I am an Indian-American actress, storyteller, and Yoga Professor at Loyola Marymount University. I am asking for your support in taking my award-winning one-woman show, <strong><em>THE ANTI "YOGI": Liberation, Not Lululemon!</em></strong>, to national and international stages. More than a performance, this is a movement.
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<div>Our show arrives with incredible momentum. We are the proud winners of the <strong>Edinburgh Fringe 2025 Asian Arts Award for Outstanding Solo Performer</strong> and the <strong>Hollywood Fringe 2024 Dance &amp; Physical Theatre Award</strong>. With sold-out runs, a global social media following of over 325K+, and 5-star reviews from Three Weeks Edinburgh, Fringe Review, and Counterculture UK, it is clear that this message connects with diverse audiences of all ages.
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<div><strong><em>"Once in a great while there's something as powerful, as moving, as spectacular, captivating, as brilliant as this… Mayuri calls forth the collective and shatters what separates us... as a Native American, it brought me to tears."</em></strong> — Industry Review
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<div><strong><em>"Unapologetically embodied, politically incisive, and spiritually alive."</em></strong> — Critic Review
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<div><strong><em>"This show is a 10/10. THIS is the kind of art we need in our society." </em></strong>— Audience Review
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<div><strong>Why This Show Matters</strong>
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<div>This show is deeply personal—a reclamation of yoga, culture, and self. As an Indian-American yoga professor at LMU and a former instructor at various studios, I’ve seen firsthand how South Asian voices are often excluded from Western yoga spaces. We’re a minority in a practice from our own background—where yoga is commodified, stripped of its true essence, and reduced to a fitness trend. My show blends<strong> art, academia, and activism</strong> to expose this cultural "bastardization" of Yoga in the West and the contradictions of modern wellness, aiming to reconnect people with the roots of yoga in an "edutaining" way.
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<div>As a Marwari Jain (representing less than 1% of the Indian population), my voice carries the responsibility of representing histories and practices rarely recognized, from Jain and Buddhist to Hindu, Sikh, and Sufi lineages. THE ANTI "YOGI" interrogates the recolonization of yoga in the West, issues of the East, and the erasure of South Asian voices, while amplifying the intersections of environment, indigenous sovereignty, and social justice. Through humor, intimacy, and satire, the performance explores what it means to engage with yoga responsibly, ethically, and socially, centering on themes of:
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<div><strong>Cultural Appropriation &amp; Decolonization</strong>
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<div><strong>Intersectionality &amp; Eco-feminism</strong>
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<div><strong>Social Justice &amp; Activism</strong>
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<div><strong>Reclamation of Marginalized Voices</strong>
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<div><strong>The Team</strong>
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<div>Drawn from real experiences, the show is a multisensory experience blending dance, dramedy, poetry, and live percussion by acclaimed musician and COLA Fellow <strong>Neel Agrawal</strong> (L. Shankar, Lord Huron, Young the Giant). I am honored to be co-directed and dramaturged by award-winning <strong>Shyamala Moorty</strong> (TeAda Productions) and queer/trans Ilangai Tamil-American artist <strong>D’Lo</strong> (Mr. Robot, Quantum Leap). Together, we have created something unapologetically South Asian that fuses satire with true spirituality.
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<div><strong>How You Can Help</strong>
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<div>To bring this production to wider international audiences, we need your support. Your donations will cover travel, lodging, theater rentals, insurance, and the fair compensation of our dedicated creative team.
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<div><strong>Donate:</strong> Every dollar helps us reclaim this narrative and keep the movement growing.
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<div><strong>Share:</strong> Post this link to your social media to help us reach our goal.
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<div><strong>Sponsor:</strong> If you know an organization or donor interested in sponsoring this work, please DM us on social media.
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<div><strong>Follow the Journey:</strong>
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<div><strong>Instagram:</strong> @theantiyogishow
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<div><strong>Linktree:</strong> linktr.ee/theantiyogi
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<div><strong>Hollywood Fringe Reviews: </strong><a href="https://www.hollywoodfringe.org/projects/10384?tab=reviews" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><a href="https://www.hollywoodfringe.org/projects/10384?tab=reviews" target="_blank" class="" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">https://www.hollywoodfringe.org/projects/10384?tab=reviews</a></a>
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<div><strong>Sample for sharing on social media: </strong>
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<div><em>"Embark on a journey with Mayuri &amp; the Goddess of Death, Kali, as they investigate absurdities of Western #Yoga culture. Taking 'THE ANTI "YOGI": Liberation Not Lululemon' international!</em>
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<div><em>Donate Here: <a href="https://gofund.me/5427c11a" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><a href="https://gofund.me/5427c11a" target="_blank" class="" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">https://gofund.me/5427c11a</a></a> #yoga #gofundme</em>”
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<div>Thank you for helping us bring liberation back!
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<div><strong>Would you like me to help you create a "Frequently Asked Questions" section for the bottom of the page to address common donor queries?</strong>
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Fundraise THE ANTI "YOGI" - A Solo Dramedy Reclaiming Yoga

Fundraise THE ANTI "YOGI" - A Solo Dramedy Reclaiming Yoga

Still $13,390 to go. Help us build momentum.