Twisted Yoga: How a Search for Enlightenment Became a Dangerous Cult
A shocking new Apple TV+ series, Twisted Yoga, delves into the dark underbelly of a yoga movement that allegedly transformed into a cult, with women reporting criminal activities including rape and trafficking. The three-part documentary, set to premiere on 13 March, explores the disturbing case of Gregorian Bivolaru, a self-proclaimed guru wanted by Interpol for sexual exploitation charges since 2016.
The Allure of Tantric Yoga and Its Twisted Path
Yoga is often celebrated for its benefits: meditative calm, grounded-ness, and balance. Devotees pursue spiritual journeys through poses, chants, and breath work. However, Twisted Yoga reveals how some followers of tantra yoga were lured into a dangerous web. What began as a quest for enlightenment through sensuality and energy channeling left hundreds vulnerable to alleged abuse.
Former members of the Movement for Spiritual Integration into the Absolute (MISA) share their harrowing experiences in the series. They describe attending yoga schools in cities like London or Paris, only to be whisked away to secret locations, where their sim cards and IDs were confiscated. Allegations include manipulation into sex cam work and orgies, orchestrated by an international network of yoga camps led by Bivolaru.
The Guru and the Charges
Gregorian Bivolaru was detained in France in 2023 and faces charges of organized kidnapping, organized abuse of weakness by members of a sect, human trafficking, and rape. He is currently awaiting trial. Director Rowan Deacon poses a critical question in the series: "How come this hasn't come to the fore sooner? Why is it happening now, when this man has been in Paris doing this for 20 years?"
Executive producer Suzanne Lavery explains that victims often did not see themselves as such, using spiritual terminology to rationalize their experiences. "It's challenging the belief system they built up," she says, highlighting how indoctrination altered their perspectives on events like tantric sex rituals with Bivolaru, framed as transfiguration rites.
Personal Stories of Survival
Among the survivors featured is Ashleigh Freckleton, a former Bachelor Australia contestant who joined the Tara Yoga Centre in London in 2018. She sought self-improvement after a romantic breakup but found herself groomed for secret rituals in Paris. Freckleton's story underscores that victims come from diverse backgrounds, not just those with prior trauma.
Deacon emphasizes that the series aims to avoid sensationalism, focusing instead on the psychological dynamics of consent and power. "The power of belief is no less effective than other forms of structural power," she notes, exploring how ideologies can erode personal boundaries.
The Broader Implications
Twisted Yoga carefully distinguishes between genuine yoga practices and their misuse by cults. Deacon points out that the teachings encouraged surrender of the ego, a concept often promoted in wellness culture. "What's being folded into this positive, empowering practice is something that is also very disempowering," she explains.
The documentary serves as a cautionary tale, urging viewers to recognize the potential dangers in spiritual pursuits. By sharing these women's stories, it sheds light on a hidden world of abuse, prompting questions about accountability and the need for vigilance in communities seeking enlightenment.
