Last week, French police arrested yoga guru Gregorian Bivolaru and 41 others. They are pending charges of kidnap, rape and human trafficking.

Bivolaru was already the subject of an Interpol warrant.

A reported 175 officers carried out morning raids on different locations of the group, often called Misa or Atman.

Twenty-six alleged victims were found living in “deplorable” conditions, according to police.

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MISA:  A Global Network

The MISA Yoga School, founded in Romania in 1990, has expanded globally, offering yoga courses in over 250 towns in Romania and 33 other countries. With an estimated 35,000 practitioners. 

Bivolaru’s network was initially named the Movement for Spiritual Integration into the Absolute (MISA). In 1990 before it became known internationally as Atman – the International Federation of Yoga and Meditation, according to French prosecutors and a website for Bivolaru.

On MISA’s website, it describes itself as “the largest yoga school in Europe.” 

Gregorian Bivolaru, the alleged mastermind behind the scandal, is hailed as the school's "spiritual mentor."

Yoga Guru Allegations

Alleged victims were enticed with promises of spiritual enlightenment, only to be ensnared in a web of indoctrination and mental manipulation. 

Bivolaru, aged 71, stands accused of orchestrating sexual relations with followers, exploiting their vulnerability under the guise of spiritual practices.

The yoga guru allegedly told virgins they could 'achieve superior levels of tantric spirituality' with sex.

This is not the first time Bivolaru has faced serious charges. Convicted of raping a minor in Romania in 2013, he served a mere fraction of his six-year sentence before escaping in 2017 while on conditional release.

 Interpol has him on their 'wanted' list for criminal charges of aggravated trafficking in human beings in Finland.

Ongoing Investigations 

The Human Rights League, a French non-governmental organization (NGO), played a pivotal role in exposing the MISA Yoga School's alleged misconduct.

 Reports from former members prompted the Paris public prosecutor's office to refer the case to the Central Office for Repression of Violence Against People (OCRVP) in 2022. 

A judicial investigation was started in July 2023, leading to the recent arrests.

Victims Speak Out

Numerous women from different nationalities have come forward, claiming victimization by the MISA organization and its leader. 

The victims allege mental manipulation and coercion into accepting non-consensual sexual relations, all under the pretext of spiritual awakening.

MISA Denies Responsibility

MISA vehemently denies any wrongdoing, asserting that Bivolaru has not been associated with Atman or taught yoga since 1995.

 A press release from the Atman Federation, posted on their website, characterizes the arrests as a "slanderous witch-hunt against genuine spirituality." 

The organization claims that the French school involved in the scandal operates as an independent entity within the Atman network.