New sexual assault charges in Canada against a longtime Minneapolis yoga studio owner over decades-old allegations of misconduct with a child have students and staff raising concerns about his past behavior.
Former Minneapolis yoga studio owner charged with child sexual assault in Canada
Former teachers and yoga students said they were not shocked by the news.
July 4, 2023 at 1:01PM
Philip Doucette, who until recently co-owned Modo Yoga's Minneapolis studio, was charged May 23 by Ottawa Police Service's sexual assault and child abuse unit. Several former yoga teachers and students said they weren't shocked by the news.
"It didn't surprise me that he has a history of being a predator," said former Modo teacher Callie Knoblauch, who left the studio in 2021.
Doucette, 48, faces two counts of sexual assault, and one count each of sexual exploitation and sexual interference with a girl. The alleged offenses occurred between 1998 and 2001 in Ottawa and at the Youth Leadership Camp near London, Ontario, where Doucette was employed, according to a May 23 news release from Ottawa police.
The girl was younger than 14 when they met at the camp in 1997, court records show. The following year, Doucette sexually assaulted her and continued to assault her in subsequent years she attended the camp, the release says.
Canadian investigators believe there could be other victims. Doucette worked at the camp from roughly 1996 to 2005. The release describes him as a "camp leader."
He was not charged at the time. Doucette moved to Minnesota with his ex-wife, Ryann Doucette. The two Canadians opened Modo at 3252 W. Lake St. about 12 years ago, according to a former staff member. They had been co-owners until Philip Doucette's removal.
Modo Yoga International "removed" Doucette as owner on June 5, CEO Emily Drouillard said in an email obtained by the Star Tribune. The change in ownership happened "as soon as the news of the charges were brought to our attention," Drouillard added. Modo Yoga has more than 50 studios in Canada and the U.S., and one in France.
The Minneapolis studio provided a statement saying it "does not condone sexual misconduct or abuse" and that it "stands with victims."
"Our community is based on feeling safe and supported, and we understand how emotional this is for students and staff," the statement read.
A large number of past Modo students, teachers and staff members posted on social media that they were canceling their memberships or resigning following Doucette's removal. Many of the posts accused Doucette of being inappropriate with female students over the years, some saying he groomed them, that he was a "predator," or touched people inappropriately during class.
Doucette did not return messages on social media asking about the allegations.
Knoblauch, the former Modo teacher, said she stopped working there after hearing stories from three students who had relationships with Doucette. One of the women fought to have her teacher training tuition reimbursed because she didn't feel comfortable going to classes with Doucette, Knoblauch said.
"Phil essentially sexually assaulted her and then was continuing to send her text messages," Knoblauch said.
Former Modo student Ailey Gundersen wrote in a public post that Doucette made an adjustment on a woman's yoga pose during class that made the participants uncomfortable.
"Phil came behind her and adjusted her in a manner that immediately made me distracted from practice and instantly uneasy," Gundersen wrote. "I immediately recognized her discomfort in class but at the time we trusted Phil. He even made a comment after class about her 'liking' that adjustment."
Knoblauch said the main problem she observed was Doucette using his teacher position to pursue women, including reaching out to them outside class. She noted that few formal rules are in place to prevent a yoga teacher's inappropriate behavior.
"I think that's part of the problem; there's not a lot of rules around adjustments," she said. "We have ways in which we give adjustments so they don't feel creepy to students, but I'm having a whole new outlook on this, because it's just a pretty sticky situation."
Doucette is due back in court in Ottawa on July 17. Ottawa police asked anyone with information about Doucette's alleged misconduct in Canada to call 613-236-1222, extension 5944, or to email tips to SACA@ottawapolice.ca.
The studio also operated a cafe from the same location, called Seed Plant-Based Café. A sign at the cafe indicates it has been shut down until at least September.
"Seed Café is currently closed, check back in September, but come on in the yoga is hot," it reads.
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