May 10th, 2008
Synergy Yoga Studio: Cult Behavior?
POSTED AT 03:15 AM in
Press Releases,
World Happenings
Browsing YogaBuzz Blog I saw an interesting article on a Synergy Yoga Studio currently being accused of being a cult. I normally don't pay much attention to local Cali news but this one certainly caught my attention. How could something that so rigorously (in more dogmatic practices) emphasizes the self realization of "god" as one with the self, be contorted into a cult.
What came to public attention in Encinitas, CA around the end of April, accusations came to light as a group of students and staff felt something was wrong with the studios procedure. Terry Rondberg, a former student stated to 10News "People had to bow down to her. They were instructed to basically worship her. If she walked in a room, everyone needed to be silent. It was very bizarre behavior."
While some of the staff left others stayed by the studio. "In martial arts, you honor your master. You honor the teacher who has trained the teachers below them, who then pass on their learning and it's unchanged. It would be ridiculous to call all martial arts studios in global earth cults," said Outi Pulkkinen, a teacher of the studio argued.
Due to the backlash of the former students and staff, Synergy studio will be shutting down. According To 10News a judge was involved and issued a temporary restraining order forbidding them from distributing or publishing further defamatory comments about the studio or Peri Ness (The founder and owner of the studio). Rondberg was due in court today to appeal the restraining on the grounds it is unconstitutional.
It comes down to the fact that the class WAS free will and from what I gathered, no one was literally forced to do anything but also students and staff have EVERY right to inform people of there thoughts on the studio. This feels odd. While I understand Outi's point, a true guru does not need to instruct students to bow down, be silent, ect. That is reverence that is earned, I believe. If someone told me to bow down, I'd say "Give me a reason why?"
