While there has been mention made on other threads about yoga (including Recovering from New Age Mumbo Jumbo), I think it would be helpful to have a thread devoted to this topic. Here's an article I posted on the above mentioned thread from The Toronto Star: “The Science of Yoga”: Author William Broad talks about the risks and rewards of yoga February 16, 2012 Nancy J. White
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

More on the myths about yoga -- an article from The Toronto Star: “The Science of Yoga”: Author William Broad talks about the risks and rewards of yoga February 16, 2012 Nancy J. White LIFE REPORTER Yoga, the ancient tradition associated with enlightenment, holds many secrets that science is beginning to unlock. The soothing practice, now booming in North America, can lower blood p
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

is another good one.
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

QuoteshamelaCertain yoga postures can be quite harmful, espcially ones that stress the lower back. That's why I stopped yoga many years ago. The postures were not developed with modern kinesthetic awareness. Not just the lower back, but also the neck and knees. Some of the moves look ridiculously unnatural when you take into account how our bodies work. I never understood why anyone would
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Here's a piece on placebos, another big player in the self-help/new age world. Why Placebos Work Wonders From Weight Loss To Fertility, New Legitimacy For 'Fake' Treatments By SHIRLEY S. WANG Say "placebo effect" and most people think of the boost they may get from a sugar pill simply because they believe it will work. But more and more research suggests
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

I just came across this and thought I'd share because self-help/new age gurus love to use quotations from famous people. Goes to show you really can't believe everything you read, even when it's attributed to a famous dead person, which is rather convenient if you think about it (quoting dead people that is) because they can't come back and say they've been misquoted.
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Humans have a tendency to complicate things. Imagine dogs signing up for expensive gym memberships or attempting to twist their bodies into uncomfortable and unrealistic yoga poses. How about a cat signing up for Weight Watchers and robotically repeating affirmations to lose those last few pounds to fit into that little black dress. When I started doing yoga many years ago there was very littl
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Hi Corboy, thanks for posting How Yoga Can Wreck Your Body. The information has been around for some time, but too many people don't want to hear about it. I started doing yoga several years ago (long before it became the in thing to do) and left it about a year ago. My neck and knee are better now, but my back misses cat pose. The thing is yoga, like any form of physical exercise, can le
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Hi Brynhild, thanks for the input. I really appreciate it.
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

I distanced myself from some of the people in my life because of their weird obsession with David Icke. I don't know how credible The Daily Mail is, but I came across this article on Icke while doing research online. If even some of this article is true, he sounds like a nut bar. How people like him attract so many followers (and their money) is beyond strange. He once claimed he&#
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Oprah, who has helped boost the career of too many to count New Age and self help gurus, isn't enjoying the success she hoped for with her new cable channel. I guess the LOA isn't working for her. Television Oprah’s rolling up her sleeves – and hoping for an ace shelley youngblut From Saturday's Globe and Mail Published Friday, Dec. 30, 2011 5:00PM EST It’s hard to be
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Thank you Corboy and Questions_2. I appreciate the suggestions and insights you provided. I was going to write more, but my energy is low today. Here's an article I posted on another thread, but it's relevant for this one, as well. DIRTY LITTLE 'SECRET' HOW THE CULT PHENOM IS DIVIDING N.Y.C. By MAUREEN CALLAHAN Last Updated: 5:00 AM, August 15, 2007 Posted: 5:0
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

I never found repeating affirmations to be of any help. At the most, maybe a temporary high, but that's not what I was after. I actually felt rather silly when I would do it, like a well trained parrot. Better a bag of chips or a walk to the lake to watch the waves come in. Here's an article from Psychology Today: Brainstorm Psychology Today Editors Flood the Psych Zone by Psych
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

I'm wondering how other people handle being around friends, relatives and co-workers who are still up to their eyebrows in New Age thinking. I'm not interested in trying to save or convert anyone. These people believe what they believe and that's their choice. Unfortunately, as with any "born agains," they have been brainwashed and some of them proselytize. As I w
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Here's a list of some of the info I've come across that's been helpful during my journey. The possible dangers of meditation: The Silva method: EFT: New Thought:
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

I'm in the process of sorting myself out after years of experience with self-help and new age gurus. The last few days I've been camping out on the RR site doing research because I believe that knowledge is power. (A pity I didn't know about this site years ago and that I was naive and trusting for so long, but thankfully I now know better.) During my time on this site I've
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Walter1963, if I remember right, Walsch was one of the cast of liars on the DVD version of The Secret which seems to have come out just before the book version.
Forum: Multi Level Marketing and Commercial Schemes

I didn't realize when I started adding posts to this thread that another one had been started some time ago re. Abraham and the Hicks. Here's the link for anyone who is interested:
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Corboy's post reminded me of a book I read this past summer: Oran Canfield's Long Past Stopping: A Memoir. In it he describes how his father Jack whipped his audience into a frenzy. I felt very uncomfortable reading the effects this man had on others. Does Jack use these techniques? Perhaps the question should be is there anyone out there in the self-help, new age, political circuits
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

I read his first book and yes, Walsch is a creepy little huckster. When I was still foolishly receiving his emails I couldn't believe how expensive his seminars where or how sickly sweet he was whilst promoting Byron Katie (someone else to avoid!). As for the passage about Hitler, I'm coming across similar nasty revisionist crap amongst others in the New Age circuit. These people sho
Forum: Multi Level Marketing and Commercial Schemes

I've been posting on another thread about Abraham/Hicks not realizing this one already exists, so if anyone is interested, here's more info about Jerry's illness and death:
Forum: Multi Level Marketing and Commercial Schemes

Thanks, Stoic. I agree, there's a need for ongoing vigilance -- not just within us as individuals (the way we think), but also what we are surrounded by and allow into our lives. This New Age crap is everywhere! Friends and relatives, people I used to respect, are really into this stuff. It's becoming increasingly awkward because the way they think is so heavily influenced by thi
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

It's hazardous for the vulnerable with money. These people supposedly want to "help" others (that's part of the con), but they won't offer their services and materials for free to anyone on social assistance. It's all about the $$$. For a therapist to be pushing this on a client, that's just wrong. That's abusing the client/therapist relationship (the tr
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

The following blog has all kinds of proof about the scummy, mean-spirited behaviour by these people and their efforts to keep things going despite Jerry's health problems and his resulting death. And if you're still looking for Christmas and Hanukkah gifts, the blog is selling "I Survived Esther Hicks and Abraham" T-shirts.
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

I agree, corboy, but state agencies can take awhile to move on things. I was hoping in addition to contacting the authorities there might be a way of warning people before they started seeing a new doctor, massage therapist, etc.
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

New age gurus are tapping into and encouraging people's narcissism... their attitude of entitlement. I came across this old article online; it's still very relevant: DIRTY LITTLE 'SECRET' HOW THE CULT PHENOM IS DIVIDING N.Y.C. By MAUREEN CALLAHAN Last Updated: 5:00 AM, August 15, 2007 Posted: 5:00 AM, August 15, 2007 CHARLOTTE Harrigan is a 23-year-old s
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

I found a couple of sites where people can rate the quality of care they received. I also found an anonymous review of one of my doctors who I know for sure is a practising Scientologist on wiki. There is stuff out there, but nothing so far that compares to the RR site.
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

It never ceases to amaze me how people who consider themselves to be enlightened spiritual beings will put down anyone who disagrees as not being ready for the message. These self-annointed gurus yack on and on about the "ego" (other people's egos or people who aren't willing to follow along like good sheep), while their own ego is out there front and centre. Trolle does it, s
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Is there a site, some sort of directory where doctors, therapists, etc. are outed for trying to recruit for cults? Legally this would probably be an invitation for lawsuits, but people need to be protected.
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

I'm not a therapist and have no experience with Landmark, so I'm not qualified to give you advice. Having said that, your therapist's job (what I'm assuming you signed up for) is to help you and your husband deal with your issues, to learn tools that will help you now and in the future. It's not your therapist's job or her right to try to recruit you for Landmark.
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"