Apple Documentary Exposes International Yoga Network Accused of Exploiting Women

A three-part Apple documentary titled 'Twisted Yoga' investigates an international yoga network allegedly exploiting young women. Directed by Rowan Deacon, the film follows Australian yoga student Ashleigh Freckleton and others who describe being manipulated by self-proclaimed guru Gregorian Bivolaru. The documentary reveals how what began as spiritual pursuit through Atman Yoga, a tantric practice incorporating erotic elements, led to isolation and alleged sexual abuse. Bivolaru, now 75, reportedly presented sexual relations with him as the highest form of yoga enlightenment. Women describe being transported blindfolded to houses in Paris suburbs, having passports and phones confiscated, living in unsanitary conditions with restricted outside contact, and being coerced into watching pornographic material. French police arrested Bivolaru in November 2023, freeing over fifty malnourished women from cramped, dirty apartments. He faces charges including human trafficking, rape, and kidnapping, with potential 30-year imprisonment if convicted. The documentary examines how manipulative techniques similar to those used by religious organizations and figures like Jeffrey Epstein created dependency. Yoga expert Bruno Dietziker, trained in India for eight years, condemns the described actions as contradicting yoga's principles while acknowledging the inherent power imbalance between teachers and students can create vulnerability. The case raises broader questions about abuse within yoga communities globally.