I Married a Yoga Guru Con Man

Harvard graduate Joelle Tamraz, was young, enthusiastic and a perfect target for a fake yoga guru. Seeking enlightenment, purpose and peace, she came across a man who swept her off her feet and used spiritual manipulation to eventually exploit her and her family out of thousands of dollars. He told wild stories of channelling and inhabiting someone else’s body to justify cheating right in front of her face. Find out how after 18 years, despite having built a yoga studio together, she was able to see through it all and escape his clutches.


IG: @joelletamraz https://www.instagram.com/joelletamraz/
X / LinkedIn / TikTok: @joelletamraz
FB: www.facebook.com/joelletamraz1/
Book: The Secret Practice: Eighteen Years on the Dark Side of Yoga: A Memoir
https://amzn.to/3OCpIK3
Website: https://joelletamraz.com/
YouTube: @elevatingvoices

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00:00:00 Intro
00:03:37 Meeting the Arun right after graduating from Harvard
00:05:22 Yogic Flying, explained
00:09:28 What it was like meeting this "Guru" and falling under his spell
00:20:46 How Joelle was groomed by Arun
00:21:48 Why Arun focused in on Joelle
00:25:41 The long con in Arun trying to create a harem
00:27:18 Joelle married Arun not knowing about his criminal record
00:30:45 Joelle's mom gets targeted too
00:33:04 Love-bombed and manipulated
00:36:06 Arun pit Joelle against her parents
00:42:12 Arun's manipulation tactics
00:48:47 Arun explains why original yoga practices were for men
00:51:03 Arun claimed to be 180 years old, now in a new body, and married with 5 kids
00:57:05 Arun sealed Joelle to him
01:02:16 Arun would "channel" spirits
01:04:52 Arun starts heavy drinking to "save the life" of Joelle's father
01:13:00 Arun declared he would never work again (and live off of Joelle)
01:14:47 How Arun was using "channeling" to manipulate Joelle and others
01:20:11 Joelle regains her power
01:24:25 Joelle realizing she had been conned for 18 years
01:29:52 What happened to Arun?
01:33:57 How Joelle is doing now
01:35:59 Linda, listen

Theme Song Produced and Composed by Christian Guevara

**Disclaimer: Thanks for joining us at Cults to Consciousness. This storytelling podcast is meant to be for entertainment purposes only and does not substitute for medical advice. We may discuss triggering topics and we ask that you make your personal mental health a priority. Lastly, the opinions of our guests do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the host.**