Is this yoga’s #MeToo time? Women speak out about abusive healers
Many women have fallen for the charismatic gurus who run wellbeing retreats. Now some are going public about the teachers who prey on vulnerable followers
Tsk.
Last year Tania Rose Willis, 32, met the man she thought she was going to have a family with. He was a thirtysomething British shaman, and such were his healing powers, he was considered royalty within the local spirituality community on a Spanish island. This community was united in its shared spiritual beliefs, beliefs that were rooted in shamanism, ie the practice of interacting with the spirit world for healing and guidance. To her delight, he wanted her.
“He was like, ‘I just want to be around you. I want to connect with you.’” (“Connect” is spiritual speak for getting it on.)
“I was like, ‘Oh wow, he’s chosen me. I’m so lucky,’” says Willis, a female embodiment coach from Hertfordshire, who helps women to nurture their sensuality, sexuality and body confidence.
So, he shagged her and shagged other acolytes.
Tsk.
The whole thing revolving around the fact that within the culture she was immersed in he had status. Therefore, as happens, that bloke with status gets the shags in that culture. That’s how humans work.
The King gets his pick of the aristo birds, the premiership footballer the nightclub Sharons and the Guru of the acolytes.
Shrug.
Now, the thing here is that near all previous generations of women have known this. That’s why inter-female competition is so vicious. And sure, we can say that if a bloke does this to some 12 or 13 year old then that’s very bad indeed and off to jail with you – and we do say that, even do that.
But this woman is 32. She’s had what, 10 or 15 years experience of men? She is that strong, vibrant and independent adult who gets to make her own choices, even advises other on their.
And she’s complaining that she didn’t know enough to work out that socially dominant men will go for the totty?
We might have to rethink this vote thing you know. Possibly even the letting them out of the seraglio.