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**Journey Into Yoga Cults**

Oh f*ck, did we join a yoga cult?! We thought it was an organization that was changing the world through yoga – because the yoga felt so amazing and that’s what the “methodology” was supposed to help us do. But the deeper we got in, the more indoctrinated we became. We’ve learned a LOT since then about manipulation, coercion, abuse of power and undue influence. (Be a yes, don’t get me started…) And we’re going to share it with you here. Super casual style, not fancy. It’s just us and our opinions and true stories. We are allowed to speak our truth. We hope this helps people.

Latest Episodes:

7 - Feedback, Victim-blaming & Tone-police Feb 09, 2022

Show notes

Updates! We have had SO MANY people reach out to us over he past week which inspired this episode where we respond to some of them....

1) We have received some "love and light" style "feedback" that is outright tone-police."Let me tell you how to do your podcast so you will land your point..." Um, NO.

2) People trying to silence us by telling their so-called Leaders to "stop gossiping" and "stop spiraling below the line" Aka: victim-blaming

3) Thank you to the brave people who are starting to speak out and take their minds and lives back.

Oh f*ck, did we join a yoga cult?! We thought it was an organization that was changing the world through yoga - because the yoga felt so amazing and that's what the "methodology" was supposed to help us do. But the deeper we got in, the more indoctrinated we became. We've learned a LOT since then about manipulation, coercion, abuse of power and undue influence. (Be a yes, don't get me started...) And we're going to share it with you here. Super casual style, not fancy. It's just us and our opinions and true stories. We are allowed to speak our truth. We hope this helps people.

***The views and opinions expressed on Journey Into Yoga Cults are just that: views and opinions; and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast or the hosts. Stories told by hosts and guests are their own personal experiences, viewpoints and perspective. Any content provided by our hosts, guests, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, group, club, organization, institution, corporation, business, individual, anyone or anything.***

6 - It's Been Happening For Years: interview w/ Debbie Williamson the Excommunicated "CEO" Feb 03, 2022

Show notes

Debbie Williamson was called the "CEO" in the early days of Baptiste Yoga and owned affiliate studios until she was forced out by Baron in 2011. She had trained with him and loved his style of yoga since her first "Bootcamp" in 2003 and went on to open one of the first Baptiste Affiliate studios and become a "Master Baptiste Teacher" as appointed by Baron. She worked as his right hand person during programs (then called bootcamps), conferences and at managing his studios in Boston during those years as was on call for him by phone every day many times a day even on Holidays. One day Baron decided she should not host other "big name" yoga teachers at her studio, even though the other affiliates were. He bent his own rules until he found a way to force her out and then told the other Baptiste teachers and affiliates that she had quit and stolen his contact list. But wait, there's much, much more...

As evidenced by Debbie's story, there has been a lot of "odd" stuff happening in this organization for many years!

5 - Level 1: Welcome to Your Indoctrination Jan 27, 2022

Show notes

What exactly happened in this 6-day training…? Was it a training or was it a “self-help” style Large Group Awareness Training (LGAT) that serves as an indoctrination intensive. Did I even learn any yoga?

"If it felt bad, why did you stay? Why did you fall for it?"

Why did we drink the kool-aid?

Did you think you were going for one thing - to learn to teach yoga or to deepen your practice - but you find yourself sharing deep personal trauma in a “hot seat” style questioning session that go on for hours draining your capacity to keep your critical thinking. Did you see red flags but were afraid to speak up because Baron singled out anyone who seemed to not participate and because you had no time to process by yourself or with others because you were too busy.

Did you actually learn any yoga alignment, philosophy, ethics?

What happened to you on Day 3 - “Breakthrough Day” as the staff calls it. Did you breakthrough or breakdown on that day, give in to Baron and the Methodology and accept and embrace it all?

Does this sound familiar?

The Recipe for Thought Reform: (from Combating Cult Mind Control by Steven Hassan)

“Induced dissociated states, trance-induction via repeated affirmations, extended meditation, lengthy denunciation sessions, renegade psychotherapy without a license, hot seat criticisms focusing on one individual, extensive self-awareness training sessions, trauma bonding, isolation from friends and family, sleep deprivation, food deprivation. Control of information going in and out of the group environment. Peer and leadership pressure, extensive indoctrination sessions…”

Did it prey on your desire to good in the world and then give you a discount if you register for Level 2 by then end of the week... what happened to you?

Resources:

Therapists for narcissistic abuse support: https://narcissistabusesupport.com/practitioners-page/

@alittlebitculty podcast https://www.alittlebitculty.com/

4 - The Letter Jan 19, 2022

Show notes

Be prepared. If a Baptiste leader reaches out to you and tells you to “be in inquiry” around why Baptiste Yoga is not a cult, they might say…

“Don’t go discuss your concerns with other people”
“I’ll tell you what to think and how to feel”
“If you don’t agree with our community’s storyline, please be in inquiry so we can 3 themes the shit out of you until you do”

But seriously, in this episode we talk about a real letter from a real Baptiste studio owner to their present and former teachers and community members, about how they should think, feel and respond to this podcast. This is not so much our response, as our point of view on why they decided to resort to name-calling and doubling down. We talk about what indoctrination is and how it happens to GOOD people. It happened to us! Also, why this type of defensive response is a tell-tale sign that this might be a cult. There, we said it. But you should use your own clear and critical thinking and decide for yourself.

Also, we don't want your feedback, thanks! (PTSD around that so....) But do reach out to us with your thoughts on our Instagram @yogacultspod we would love to hear from you!

_____________

3 - Warning Signs Jan 12, 2022

Show notes

Let's see, does it check the boxes?

Join us as we go through the warning signs as outlined by cult expert Alexandra Stein: Cult/Totalist Recruitment Warning Signs. This list comes from here website if you want to learn more here:

http://www.alexandrastein.com/warning-signs.html

The group/person has the Total and Only answer. Only they have the right line, will make the revolution, solve your problems, empower you, make you loved, rich, effective, holy, etc.
Attempts to isolate you from existing close relationships (friends/family) and the outside world
Extreme, immediate and/or inappropriate friendliness or attention.
Promises of perfection if only you adhere to their program
Your “gut-feeling” tells you something is wrong. Trust this, and try to analyze it.
The group creates conditions of extreme stress, threat or fear (emotional and/or physical)
Not answering questions, or turning them back on the questioner.
Inappropriate personal boundaries
Loaded language: strange language or jargon you initially can’t understand. Canned, repetitive phrases.
A hard sell for further commitment, programs or contact. If you resist, you’re selfish, ungodly, “bourgeois”, don’t believe in yourself, etc.
Encouragement to cut ties with family or friends, unless you can recruit them.
Secrecy, inappropriate “confidentiality”.
Lack of privacy - constantly with group members, constantly busy with group activities.
Ends justifies the means. It’s OK to lie to others in the name of the Cause, God, for success, etc.
Challenging your fundamental identity: Your strengths are criticized as your weaknesses.
Once you’re in, heavy pressure to stay in.
Those who do leave are shunned. They become the enemy, or objects of pity.
No criticism allowed of the group or leader. The group/leader is always right.
Deception: what you thought you’d get on joining or attending an activity turns out to be something else.

And also...

More resources:

"Terror, Love and Brainwashing" by Alexandra Stein https://www.google.com/books/edition/Terror_Love_and_Brainwashing/ICslDwAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=andrea+stein+cult+book&printsec=frontcover

"Thought Reform and the Psychology of Totalism: A Study of 'brainwashing' in China" by Robert J. Lifton https://www.amazon.com/Thought-Reform-Psychology-Totalism-brainwashing/dp/0807842532

2 - What Happened? Jan 05, 2022

Show notes

Join us as we ask each other "What happened?!" How did we get here and what do we do now? Do you have similar questions you are asking yourself? Join us as we try and figure out what to do now, what to take ownership for, who will answer for the wrong-doing and what does accountability look like? Please feel free to reach out to us on our Instagram @yogacultspod if you have something to share, ask or suggest. We are here for all of it.

The article from Medium mentioned: https://medium.com/@karinaaynmirsky/abuse-of-spiritual-power-my-story-fc3055e45224

No White Saviors Medium article mentioned: https://nowhitesaviors.medium.com/did-she-bring-yoga-to-africa-or-did-she-just-bring-chaos-to-kenya-8241cd742905

The Vow (HBO documentary about the NXIVM cult) https://www.hbo.com/the-vow

Scarred (memoir by Sarah Edmonson her experience in the NXIVM cult) https://www.sarahedmondson.com/book

And also...

1 - If You See Something Say Something Dec 11, 2021

Show notes

Welcome to our very honest and conversations about our own experiences in Baptiste Yoga. We are not here to burn anything down or cancel anyone. BUT however, there are some "practices and techniques" in this organization that walks, talks and quacks in a very curious way and while claiming to be the pillar of Integrity itself. We had some gut feelings and red flags galore; we ignored them for years because of our strong commitment to "Being a Yes" for transforming the WHOLE PLANET (!!!) through Baptiste Yoga. Can we save the very essence of what got us all here, what transformed our own lives for the better? While also stopping the manipulative and controlling, exploitative and coercive practices that have us now re-thinking everything we have learned and taught? Join us in our conversation and on this journey.

DM us at @yogacultspod on IG

or send us a voice message here https://anchor.fm/yogacultspod1029/message

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Journey Into Yoga Cults

"Thought Reform and the Psychology of Totalism: A Study of 'brainwashing' in China" by Robert J. Lifton https://www.amazon.com/Thought-Reform-Psychology-Totalism-brainwashing/dp/0807842532

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