Apple TV’s new three-part docuseries “Twisted Yoga,” which premiered March 13, 2026, tells the disturbing story of Gregorian Bivolaru’s tantric yoga cult and the systemic failures that allowed abuse to flourish under the guise of spiritual practice. For the yoga community, it’s a necessary wake-up call about teacher accountability and student safety.
What the Docuseries Reveals
“Twisted Yoga” documents how Bivolaru and his organization manipulated students by claiming to teach authentic tantric yoga while systematically exploiting followers physically, emotionally, and financially. The series shows how spiritual authority was weaponized, how isolation tactics kept students compliant, and how institutional failures allowed the abuse to continue for decades.
The documentary exposes a fundamental problem in yoga spaces: the conflation of spiritual enlightenment with absolute obedience to a teacher. When practitioners view their yoga teacher as infallible or spiritually superior, they become vulnerable to manipulation.
Why This Matters for the Entire Yoga Community
The Bivolaru case is not an isolated incident. The yoga industry has historically prioritized teacher authority over student safety, created power imbalances that enable abuse, and lacked transparent credentialing standards. “Twisted Yoga” forces the yoga community to reckon with these structural problems.
For students and teachers alike, the series is a catalyst for demanding better accountability, ethics training, and protective structures within yoga spaces.
5 Red Flags to Watch for in Any Yoga Teacher or Studio
1. Isolation from Outside Perspective
If a teacher or studio discourages students from practicing elsewhere, consulting other teachers, or maintaining relationships outside the yoga community, that’s a warning sign. Healthy yoga spaces encourage discernment and multiple sources of wisdom.
2. Inappropriate Personal Relationships
Romantic or sexual relationships between teachers and students, especially within power imbalances, are unethical. Red flags include favoritism, private meetings with select students, or boundary violations disguised as “spiritual teaching.”
3. Financial Exploitation
Teachers who pressure students to spend substantial money on trainings, retreats, or personal sessions, or who create financial dependency, are exploiting students. Legitimate yoga teachers are transparent about pricing and don’t pressure students into financial commitments.
4. Discouragement of Critical Thinking
Any teacher or space that discourages questions, demands blind faith, or punishes disagreement creates an environment where abuse can flourish. Authentic spiritual teaching invites inquiry and respects student autonomy.
5. Lack of Transparency or Credentials
Teachers should be willing to share their training credentials and teaching experience. Studios should have clear policies, consent practices, and accountability structures. If a teacher or studio refuses to share this information, it’s a red flag.
How to Find Genuinely Certified and Ethical Teachers
The Yoga Alliance offers the most recognized yoga teacher certification standards. Look for teachers who have completed at least 200 hours of registered training and who maintain continuing education. Teachers registered with Yoga Alliance have agreed to a code of conduct that includes ethical boundaries.
Beyond credentials, trust your gut. Ethical teachers welcome questions, respect boundaries, encourage student autonomy, maintain clear professional relationships, and are transparent about their training and limitations.
Understanding Authentic Tantra vs. Exploitation
Authentic tantric yoga is a sophisticated philosophical and spiritual tradition focused on liberation through embodied awareness. It has nothing to do with sexual coercion or abuse. Exploitation often disguises itself as tantric teaching to justify unethical behavior. Real tantric teachers operate with integrity, consent, and respect for students’ autonomy.
What the Yoga Community Must Do
Beyond individual discernment, the yoga industry needs structural change: mandatory ethics training for teachers, transparent complaint mechanisms, protection for whistleblowers, and consequences for exploitative behavior. Studios should implement consent practices, clear boundaries, and regular training on power dynamics and abuse prevention.
“Twisted Yoga” is painful but necessary viewing. It holds a mirror up to the yoga community and asks us to choose accountability over reputation protection, student safety over teacher authority, and integrity over spiritual bypass.
