Is Ashtanga Yoga a cult? Witnessing mind-control tactics at classes
I used to practice Ashtanga Yoga for several years in a "self-practice" class. These classes are held 3-6 times a week between 5:30 and 9am in studios all over the world.
The entire time I had mixed feelings about it but used to believe that this wasn´t a cult. I thought it was just a group that sometimes went a little overboard.
Things changed however, when I caught a friend, who was close to the teacher recording a casual conversation with me.
I got scared and confronted them but they immediately made an effort to cover this up and make me look like I am just paranoid. I kept paying attention and soon after saw it happen again and again.
In my country the recording of private conversations without consent is illegal.
The teacher waited until I was vulnerable and then used the information to manipulate me emotionally. All this time I had the feeling that there was something that they are not revealing about the group.
In this system the amount of poses increases over time and people get so caught up in it that they need to drop any other activities, just to keep up with the demands of their practice.This is mostly encouraged by the teacher, who will either send a friend to put pressuer or withdraw their teachings until the student does what they want.
I left soon after and got stalked on several occasions. (With facebook that has become rather easy)
I have heard of other students who quit their jobs and of people who developed serious health problems (until they needed surgery and got severely depressed)
I was wondering whether anyone had similar experiences and whether or not they have addressed them openly?
I used to practice Ashtanga Yoga for several years in a "self-practice" class. These classes are held 3-6 times a week between 5:30 and 9am in studios all over the world.
The entire time I had mixed feelings about it but used to believe that this wasn´t a cult. I thought it was just a group that sometimes went a little overboard.
Things changed however, when I caught a friend, who was close to the teacher recording a casual conversation with me.
I got scared and confronted them but they immediately made an effort to cover this up and make me look like I am just paranoid. I kept paying attention and soon after saw it happen again and again.
In my country the recording of private conversations without consent is illegal.
The teacher waited until I was vulnerable and then used the information to manipulate me emotionally. All this time I had the feeling that there was something that they are not revealing about the group.
In this system the amount of poses increases over time and people get so caught up in it that they need to drop any other activities, just to keep up with the demands of their practice.This is mostly encouraged by the teacher, who will either send a friend to put pressuer or withdraw their teachings until the student does what they want.
I left soon after and got stalked on several occasions. (With facebook that has become rather easy)
I have heard of other students who quit their jobs and of people who developed serious health problems (until they needed surgery and got severely depressed)
I was wondering whether anyone had similar experiences and whether or not they have addressed them openly?