Organisers deny yoga conference linked to ‘cult’
A yoga conference held at Epsom College has been linked to an alleged cult that has been accused of exploiting its members.
College staff were forced to monitor the week-long event organised by North-Wales based Dru Yoga after receiving complaints about the organisation last week.
Cult FAQCultFAQ.org: Frequently Asked Questions About Cults, Sects, and Related IssuesIncludes definitions of terms (e.g. cult, sect, anticult, countercult, new religious movement, cult apologist, etcetera)Plus research resources: articles, books, websites, etc.Listing of recommended cult experts, plus guidelines to help select a counselor/cult expertCultFAQ is provided by Apologetics Index, publishers of Religion News BlogApologetics Index: Apologetics Research Resources on Religious Cults, Sects, Religions, Doctrines, Etc.Comments & resources by ReligionNewsBlog.comDru Yoga, formerly known as the Life Foundation and headed by self-styled guru Mansukh Patel, has been the subject of claims it is engaged in cult activities.
Former members of the Life Foundation have accused the organisation of exploiting them financially, sexually and psychologically in the past.
The organisation denied it was a cult or that members had been exploited.
Dru Yoga’s annual conference was historically held at Bangor University in North Wales but it was banned two years ago, forcing it to look for alternative locations.
It had attempted to gain affiliation with Bangor’s Student’s Union in 2006 but was refused permission after concerns over cult activities.
A copy of minutes of the meeting said: “[Dru Yoga’s] affiliation was refused as they are associated with the Life Foundation, an organisation based in Bethesda which allegedly engages in cult practice.”
The organisation has also been investigated by police in the past and is listed as a cult on the website Cult Information Centre.
Ian Hawthorn of the CIC said: “We have been concerned about the activities of the Life Foundation for many years.
“I have received lots of calls from people concerned about the group, many of whom are ex-members.
“The concerns I have regarding this group are the same as those I have about much larger groups, such as the Moonies.”
A North Wales police spokeswoman confirmed they had investigated complaints of fraud about Dru Yoga, but were not currently investigating them and no charges had been brought against the organisation.
Hundreds of yoga students attended the various classes, some flying in from as far as Canada, Kenya and Australia.
[…]Chris Barrington, a director of Dru Yoga denied they were involved in cult practices and claimed that former members of the Life Foundation had fabricated rumours in an attempt to discredit it.
See Also:
• ‘Paul was little more than a shell. He was like a zombie’