But instead, she says she unwittingly stumbled into a cult.

Cults can be a bittricky to defineas they take many forms.

Kundalini yoga involves intense breathwork and chanting and mixes new-age ideology with Sikh teachings.

Charlotte speaking in front of a photo of Katie at an event wearing a white turban. text behind Katie says girlboss

HBO / Viayoutube.comCharlotte told BuzzFeed that this revelation came with a lot of shame. “I honestly thought I was doing something good by getting people to do kundalini yoga and ‘raise the frequency of the planet.’ But in reality, it was all a lie. I got scammed into devoting myself to a charismatic but ultimately insane leader. Coming to terms with that was such a mindfuck, and it took a long time to process and heal.“However, since leaving the group, Charlotte says she’s much more at peace. “When I was in the cult, there was always this feeling that I wasn’t enough—like I wasn’t meditating enough or doing enough. But now I just live and let live. I give myself more time to just chill and rest. I’ve gotten better at trusting myself and taking responsibility for my life without seeking approval from others. It’s been so freeing, and I feel so much lighter and at ease in the world."

“And I just ate it up.

But it would be a couple more years before Charlotte got more deeply involved in the group.

She told BuzzFeed, “Cults take up all your time.

Group of people in white clothing with arms raised in a yoga pose, promoting wellness and community

As soon as I started working for RA MA, my life became completely consumed by it.”

Charlotte says the group used sleep deprivation as a control tactic.

That kind of exhaustion clouds your judgment and makes you way more open to manipulation.”

Charlotte showing a picture of herself during this time when she looks exhausted while saying her identity was wrapped up in her job

Additionally, Charlotte told BuzzFeed, “Altered states were also a huge part of this cult.

It puts you in a hypnotic trance, making you feel euphoric and high.”

“I got super addicted to it, thinking these transcendent experiences were all part of my spiritual awakening.

Charlotte speaking in front of a text from Guru Jagat that reads this has been totally mismanaged fuck you fuck you all. Charlotte says so I'm waking up to text messages like this every morning

People are often drastically underpaid while also being pressured to be on 24/7.

Then, when people want to leave the group, there are big exit costs.

She says, “I was overworked, sleep-deprived, and completely disassociated.

Charlotte talking with a list behind her of reasons she should leave the group

I was too scared to leave because once you left, you were excommunicated.”

Charlotte told BuzzFeed that this revelation came with a lot of shame.

But in reality, it was all a lie.

Group of people seated on grass in meditation pose at an outdoor event overlaid with tiktok comments saying you are right about this happening to anyone. I almost got sucked in to a twin flames cult

I got scammed into devoting myself to a charismatic but ultimately insane leader.

However, since leaving the group, Charlotte says she’s much more at peace.

But now I just live and let live.

I give myself more time to just chill and rest.

I’ve gotten better at trusting myself and taking responsibility for my life without seeking approval from others.

Its been so freeing, and I feel so much lighter and at ease in the world.”

For me, that was at 25, when my life seemed to be falling apart.

I was broke, lost, and overwhelmed with hopelessness.

Nothing seemed to be working out, and I felt a lot of shame about it.

When I joined the cult, all those painful feelings went away.”

Finally, Charlotte spoke about why she’s so open now about sharing her story.

“I’m honestly blown away by how much my story’s resonating with people.

Charlotte is currently working on a memoir about her experience.