TIL Russia had a yoga-based sex cult

Thought it was shocking since I love cults but most of the ones I've learned about were based in the US, with a couple in Japan or France. I didn't think Russia would tolerate something like this as long as it did.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ashram_Shambala

Only discovered it because after the leader served his sentence in Russia he moved down to Argentina and... sounds like opened up the same thing. He got arrested along with several others when a pregnant woman with signs of physical abuse sought help at a hospital and the officials there got suspicious.

https://meduza.io/en/feature/2025/04/01/astro-planetary-karate-loses-again

i'm sure i've listened to an in depth podcast about that one before at some point

There's a TikTok dance cult in California

16-BITTER posted...

Yoga and sex are tangible, unlike say, xenu or the holy spirit.

Tbf

Yeah but this guy was teaching astral karate and requiring members sever all ties with family members and give up all physical possessions to him.