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Melissa Revell\u2019s lawyers say Dulce Aguilar held an activity encouraging participants to \u2018explore their childhood memories\u2019<\/p>\n
A dance teacher who said she had an emotional meltdown after yoga retreat in India is suing its British organiser for more than \u00a3200,000.<\/p>\n
Melissa Revell, 35, claimed that she has been left unable to work or look after herself because of the emotional toll of self-exploration exercises on a \u00a32,250 yoga teacher training course in 2019.<\/p>\n
She said the course involved unadvertised psychological exercises that led to her being \u201cretraumatised\u201d over incidents in her childhood.<\/p>\n
The dance teacher is now suing The Yoga People International Ltd \u2013 run by Jamie Clarke, 59, and Dulce Aguilar, 43 \u2013 for over \u00a3200,000 in compensation.<\/p>\n
Ms Revell, from Richmond, London, said she has become unable \u201cto care for herself\u201d and leads \u201can extremely reclusive, impoverished and dysfunctional life\u201d.<\/p>\n
Lawyers for the yoga company denied there was any \u201cpsychological\u201d element to the training and say the emotional collapse Ms Revell said she suffered was not a foreseeable risk of a yoga course.<\/p>\n
Marcus Grant, representing Ms Revell, said in documents to London\u2019s High Court that she began a 200-hour teacher training course in Goa, the western state of India, in September and October 2019.<\/p>\n
However, her barrister said she left the country early after having a meltdown triggered by an exercise led by Ms Aguilar that asked participants to \u201cexplore their childhood memories and their relationship with their parents\u201d.<\/p>\n
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The Yoga People Ltd is run by Jamie Clarke alongside Dulce Aguilar – Champion News<\/p>\n
The barrister said that \u201cfollowing the session the claimant started shaking and feeling ill\u201d and was gripped with \u201coverwhelming anxiety\u201d.<\/p>\n
The company denied there was any such exercise led by Ms Aguilar.<\/p>\n
Ms Revell was diagnosed with \u201csignificant and severe complex PTSD\u201d, \u201ccomorbid depersonalisation\/derealisation disorder\u201d and \u201cfunctional neurological disorder\u201d.<\/p>\n
Mr Grant said her \u201cinjuries\u201d have led her to not be able to care for herself, keep her house tidy or exercise\u201d.<\/p>\n
Although she had a history of mental health problems, she had been in good mental and physical health since 2013.<\/p>\n
Lawyers for the company said Ms Revell signed a waiver to confirm she had \u201cno pre-existing conditions, both physical and mental, which may affect her performance\u201d.<\/p>\n
No \u2018complaint or distress\u2019<\/p>\n
Mr Grant criticised the fact there was no warning of psychology-based exercises, and said Ms Revell \u201cwould never have signed up for the course\u201d if she knew she would have to engage in \u201ctraumatic or distressing childhood memories\u201d.<\/p>\n
They said Ms Aguilar had led an exercise of which the purpose \u201cwas purely to feel love and develop forgiveness for anyone who had wronged you\u201d.<\/p>\n
Ms Revell reportedly \u201ccompleted the exercise without complaint or distress\u201d and told Ms Aguilar that \u201cshe had loved\u201d it.<\/p>\n
The lawyers denied that there was any mention of trauma or that there was any pressure to engage in all sessions, adding: \u201cShe could have refused to participate if she so wished.\u201d<\/p>\n
The case reached court for a brief pre-trial hearing before Master Gary Thornett, who heard the trial, will receive evidence from a yoga expert.<\/p>\n
The case is set to return to court for a full hearing at a later date.<\/p>\n