When Yoga Sparked a Sex Panic

In 1912 , The Washington Post warned that American women were leaving their husbands, giving away their money, or becoming "dangerously ill bydevotion" to "swamis and Hindu priests" The practice became known as something menacing, morally subversive, and sexual.

At the root of all of this was a hefty dose of xenophobia.

The Victorian scare over sex trafficking was wont to confuse consensual sexual antics of (young) women with women falling victim to coercion and force.

Pierre Bernard , aka Oom the Omnipotent , was accused of abducting an 18-year-old girl and imprisoning her for months in his house of dancing and weird ' Hindoo ' rites.

He went on to open an upstate New York commune supported by the Vanderbilt family.

A Buenos Aires yoga school was raided just a few years ago , accused of being a sex cult.

In the '00s , conservative Christians objected to yoga in public schools, believing it a gateway drug to heathen religions.

A Virginia bill that would penalize sharing AI -generated content meant to "influence an election" is drawing opposition from the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression .