Surviving a Dangerous Cult: Ashleigh Freckleton’s Story

Ashleigh Freckleton joined a yoga school in 2018 seeking peace and spiritual growth but found herself trapped in what she now identifies as a high-control cult led by Gregorian Bivolaru, a self-professed tantric yoga guru wanted by Interpol since 2016 for sexual exploitation charges.

Her experience began at the Tara Yoga Centre, one of several schools operated by Bivolaru’s Movement for Spiritual Integration into the Absolute (MISA), where she was gradually isolated from her support network and subjected to coercive control under the guise of spiritual enlightenment.

According to Psychology Today, common dynamics in such high-control groups include isolation, coercive control, and the absolute authority of a supreme leader — patterns that mirrored Ashleigh’s experience as she was manipulated into surrendering personal autonomy, including her SIM card and identification documents, before being moved to secret overseas locations.

Survivors of these environments often remain unaware of their exploitation due to intricate emotional manipulation, a phenomenon supported by research cited in the Psychology Today article, which notes that around 1 percent of individuals worldwide become involved in psychologically abusive groups, though the actual figure is likely higher due to secrecy, and stigma.

Ashleigh’s story is now featured in the three-part Apple TV documentary series “Twisted Yoga,” which explores how the pursuit of enlightenment through tantric yoga practices can leave individuals vulnerable to alleged rape, human trafficking, and forced participation in sex cam work and orgies orchestrated by an international network of yoga camps.

The Guardian reports that former followers of MISA, including Ashleigh, describe being groomed by Bivolaru’s network, which used spiritual teachings to justify sexual exploitation and financial control, with many victims only recognizing the danger after enduring severe psychological and physical harm.

Since leaving the Tara Yoga Centre in 2018, Ashleigh has rebuilt her life as a speech pathologist in Victoria, Australia, where she works in the education sector. She holds a Bachelor of Health Sciences and a Master of Speech Pathology from La Trobe University and has held clinical roles at Robinvale District Health Services, Virgin Care Limited, and multiple NHS trusts in London before returning to Australia.

In addition to her clinical work, Ashleigh briefly appeared as a contestant on season 9 of ‘The Bachelor Australia’ in 2021 and now uses her platform to advocate against trauma and psychological abuse, sharing her story to help others recognize the warning signs of coercive control in spiritual or wellness communities.

Her advocacy aligns with public health efforts to raise awareness about emotional abuse in high-control environments, emphasizing that exploitation can begin subtly — masked as personal growth or spiritual development — before escalating into dangerous and criminal behavior.

As of April 2026, Ashleigh continues to speak out through media appearances and documentary participation, aiming to prevent others from undergoing similar experiences by promoting early recognition of manipulative dynamics in wellness and spiritual groups.