In 2018, Ashleigh Freckleton had just moved to the UK, experienced a breakup, and started a new job—a combination she believes made her vulnerable to joining a cult. Now back in Australia after a difficult period in Europe, she recounts her involvement with the Tara Yoga Centre in London, a branch of the Atman Yoga Federation.
A Journey into Indoctrination
Ashleigh's story is featured in Apple TV's documentary series Twisted Yoga, which chronicles how she became increasingly isolated as she dedicated hours to yoga theory and practice. She attended a retreat abroad that she describes as 'a massive orgy' where women drank each other's urine. Eventually, she was invited to meet guru Gregorian Bivolaru, founder of the Movement for Spiritual Integration into the Absolute (Misa). Traveling to Paris, she was picked up by a woman who took her phone and drove her to an undisclosed location, where women reportedly underwent 'sexual initiations' with Bivolaru.
Initial Appeal and Growing Concerns
Initially, Ashleigh found the yoga helpful. She told Metro: 'I was feeling very stressed. At a certain point, I had a lot of symptoms of depression and anxiety, and I would go to class and practice yoga for an hour, and it felt like the vice on my chest had just been loosened. The sense of calm and inner peace that I got from that was impossible to ignore because it felt so healthy.' However, things soon turned strange. She was asked to send bikini photos to the guru, attend a retreat, and strip naked for an aura check. Reflecting, she said: 'There were so many red flags, and I saw all of them. But you dismiss them because you're under these spiritual ideals. You're taught to squash the ego. You start to question yourself rather than the situation. You progressively abandon yourself until you don't trust yourself at all.'
Escape from France
Upon arriving at the house in France, Ashleigh had to agree in writing to shave her head for five years if she tried to steal secret teachings. The house was surrounded by a high fence with a locked gate. Despite feeling trapped, she eventually listened to her instincts and asked to leave. She told Metro: 'I was starting to get quite paranoid thoughts, thinking: "What would happen to me if I tried to leave? Can I trust these people? Would I disappear, or would they just let me go?"' When she refused initiation, the guru claimed she was 'manipulated by demons' and that the initiation would exorcise them. Ashleigh said: 'It's very threatening to let the so-called demons get a word in. They're not demons at all. That's your instincts and your safety mechanism saying: "Get out."'
Life After the Cult
After leaving, Ashleigh struggled to process her experience. She started a 'cult awareness page' and began speaking out. Despite nerves about the documentary, she hopes it helps others 'identify what happened to them, put some language and understanding around it, and stop blaming themselves.' Her message to survivors: 'It's not your fault. Coercive control is not the victim's fault. It might feel that way, but when you're in a coercive control situation, it's not consent if you're afraid to say no.'
Legal and Organizational Responses
Bivolaru is currently in custody on suspicion of kidnapping, rape, and people trafficking, which he denies. Tara Yoga Centre declined to comment due to ongoing legal proceedings. Atman stated it is not responsible for the private lives of staff, students, and teachers, and that allegations remain under investigation. MISA denied all allegations of trafficking, abuse, manipulation, or coercion, asserting that the proceedings stem from misunderstanding and discrimination against their teachings. Bivolaru's legal representatives did not respond.
Twisted Yoga is available on Apple TV.
