Thank you kdag for your comments. I was not aware of what "new age" really was until all of this happened. I was surely not aware that this yoga group practiced so much of it, as they do not advertise any of it.
Sure I heard the term "new age" before, but I did not really know what it was all about. After doing a lot of research, in my mind most of it is total bs. I am an atheist and so was my ex wife before she got "into" this yoga group. Now I have no idea what she believes. Don't get me wrong, I am not against religion, I think everybody has a right to believe in what they want to believe in. That said, religion and "spirituality" can be very dangerous tools for recruitment and mind control, especially when combined with group meditation and group think.
There are rumors that this group is also into witchcraft. I cannot verify that at this time. What I can do is list some things I know for a fact they are into and do not advertise as part of their "yoga":
Love bombing. Be prepared to have the entire group love you and be your instant new friend. Especially on Facebook. Social media is a huge recruitment for them.
Advice for your personal life. They seem to think they are life coaches and not just yoga instructors. Be prepared to be told how you should live your life.
Healing crystals (Total bs)
Tarot cards (Total bs. I have heard my ex wife was making life decisions based on tarot card readings. Unbelievable.)
Essential oils - the big flag is they have students peddle this stuff ( I know some of these may be actually be beneficial, but much is not proven)
Group Chanting and Meditation. (A very easy way to manipulate the weak minded or people with emotional problems)
Group Dancing and singing. (I know this sounds harmless, but is it yoga? Most cult like groups incorporate this into their programming)
The use of many new age terms. (awakening, centring, consciousness, cosmic energy, enlightenment, force of life, human potential, transformational, contemplation, Transcendental Meditation, etc, etc.)
Many pictures of teachers and students wearing robes and putting dots on their forheads. (Really culty if you ask me)
Use of control. (Students must arrive on time for class or they are locked out and not let in to join if they are late. Children's classes are also behind locked doors and parents are not allowed in. I believe there may be temperature control going on too. My ex wife used to take a sweater "just in case it was cold".)
Kundalini Yoga and Kundalini "awakening" - a simple search of the internet will reveal how dangerous this stuff is on the mind.
Reiki
Shamanism
Spiritualism - LOTS of spiritualism.
Lots of trees, roots, stars, circles, etc.
Expensive "retreats" - virgin islands, arkansas, costa rica, etc.
Lots of Eastern practices, teachings, sanskrit, etc.
I just wonder how many people join a yoga class thinking it is just physical exercise and get sucked into all this other stuff. It's mind boggling to me.
I want to also note, watching some youtube videos from students and staff in this group are really creepy. Their eyes just look so crazy. I don't know how to explain it other than glazed over. I have seen this before when my wife was hypnotized in her last cult. It looks the same to me. Too much meditation. Most of the videos are simply praising the "guru" and the "community". Really weird.
I am pretty much done with this post. I just want the info available if anybody ever has any doubts and are searching the internet on this group of people. Hopefully this post will help them keep an open mind and they can do their own research and be aware when things get weird. I will say it again, be careful when you join a yoga "community" with a guru. You are going to get a whole lot more than just physical "yoga", you are going to get all the mental "yoga" too. And a lot of it. Good luck.
Sure I heard the term "new age" before, but I did not really know what it was all about. After doing a lot of research, in my mind most of it is total bs. I am an atheist and so was my ex wife before she got "into" this yoga group. Now I have no idea what she believes. Don't get me wrong, I am not against religion, I think everybody has a right to believe in what they want to believe in. That said, religion and "spirituality" can be very dangerous tools for recruitment and mind control, especially when combined with group meditation and group think.
There are rumors that this group is also into witchcraft. I cannot verify that at this time. What I can do is list some things I know for a fact they are into and do not advertise as part of their "yoga":
Love bombing. Be prepared to have the entire group love you and be your instant new friend. Especially on Facebook. Social media is a huge recruitment for them.
Advice for your personal life. They seem to think they are life coaches and not just yoga instructors. Be prepared to be told how you should live your life.
Healing crystals (Total bs)
Tarot cards (Total bs. I have heard my ex wife was making life decisions based on tarot card readings. Unbelievable.)
Essential oils - the big flag is they have students peddle this stuff ( I know some of these may be actually be beneficial, but much is not proven)
Group Chanting and Meditation. (A very easy way to manipulate the weak minded or people with emotional problems)
Group Dancing and singing. (I know this sounds harmless, but is it yoga? Most cult like groups incorporate this into their programming)
The use of many new age terms. (awakening, centring, consciousness, cosmic energy, enlightenment, force of life, human potential, transformational, contemplation, Transcendental Meditation, etc, etc.)
Many pictures of teachers and students wearing robes and putting dots on their forheads. (Really culty if you ask me)
Use of control. (Students must arrive on time for class or they are locked out and not let in to join if they are late. Children's classes are also behind locked doors and parents are not allowed in. I believe there may be temperature control going on too. My ex wife used to take a sweater "just in case it was cold".)
Kundalini Yoga and Kundalini "awakening" - a simple search of the internet will reveal how dangerous this stuff is on the mind.
Reiki
Shamanism
Spiritualism - LOTS of spiritualism.
Lots of trees, roots, stars, circles, etc.
Expensive "retreats" - virgin islands, arkansas, costa rica, etc.
Lots of Eastern practices, teachings, sanskrit, etc.
I just wonder how many people join a yoga class thinking it is just physical exercise and get sucked into all this other stuff. It's mind boggling to me.
I want to also note, watching some youtube videos from students and staff in this group are really creepy. Their eyes just look so crazy. I don't know how to explain it other than glazed over. I have seen this before when my wife was hypnotized in her last cult. It looks the same to me. Too much meditation. Most of the videos are simply praising the "guru" and the "community". Really weird.
I am pretty much done with this post. I just want the info available if anybody ever has any doubts and are searching the internet on this group of people. Hopefully this post will help them keep an open mind and they can do their own research and be aware when things get weird. I will say it again, be careful when you join a yoga "community" with a guru. You are going to get a whole lot more than just physical "yoga", you are going to get all the mental "yoga" too. And a lot of it. Good luck.