Re: Yoga studio workshops - Breathwork, Chanting, Chakras, Kundalini, Yoga Nidra, etc
Date: February 22, 2020 03:44AM
Holy shit I am not alone. Thanks for this post.
I was in a cult-like group. It was advertised as a yoga class. The entire group was very cultish. They made you feel that anyone who is not a part of this group is wrong and you HAVE to recruit them otherwise just don't be around that person. Its where the leader/guru (which everyone praised and thought was brilliant, but probably was just a charismatic psychopath) had us to physically strenuous 'exercises', breathing 'exercises' etc. Most of which were supposed to spiritually transform us, and make us more compassionate and accepting of everyone. Well, not everyone is nice. There are abusers who take advantage of vulnerable and open minded people who don't know what they are getting into. It was the perfect environment for us victims to get brainwashed because we did exercises which made us in a trance like, susceptible and vulnerable/triggered state. And we all trusted the leader, because she was extraordinarily charming and seemed to be brilliant like no other. They instructed that everyone was to trust each other, and we were told to get rid of our ego which is "evil" and become 'one' in the exercises. Most likely, these exercises induced some kind of vulnerable state, trance state or maybe caused something like vertigo...idk I don't fully understand it. Whatever it did it felt very convincing and transformative. But it wasn't. The feeling was temporary and dangerous because in order to get there, we had to put ourselves in emotionally and physically harmful situations, often re-victimizing us. I wouldn't be surprised if it caused serotonin syndrome or such. Sometimes I felt very weak, agitated and often high, like I was on heroin. Then you get addicted to the group activities.
I also went to a workshop - it was supposed to be the 'ultimate' experience which I fully believed would completely transform my life, my being, everything (1000s of dollars) where we were exposed to full days of these exercises that were similar to hot yoga, as well as 'meditations' that put us into a suggestible state, which re-traumatized us because we were supposed to open up our most painful wounds, to 'heal' them and transform. We believed in the leader so thoroughly, so that however painful it was, or however physically difficult it was, we were encouraged to go into it deeper. We were told that by doing this, we would rid ourselves of our ego, which was 'evil' and become one with the universe. Apparently there are lots of sick fucks who endorse these teachings around the world.
Ok I know you think this sounds like who is that stupid to join this group. Nobody chooses to join a cult. They are groomed and sucked into it gradually, and they are not aware they are in a cult. They - or at least, I - believed they were doing the right thing, and that this was an answer to all the problems of the world. There was much more sick shit in this cult like group but I don't have the stomach to talk about that right now.
These 'transcendental' meditation - yoga exercises are more common I guess. Its really sick. They are definitely not what they seem when you are in the moment. You don't realize you are being manipulated and abused.
They prey on vulnerable, compassionate and previously victimized people.
In the group, you are taught that everyone is good, victim blaming, and to trust everyone (basically being trained to not listen to your gut). I found similarity in what the victims of NVXIM cult claimed they experienced.