The Secret Practice is the shocking true story of Joelle Tamraz's 18-year ordeal under the control of a master manipulator. For fans of Netflix’s Bikram, Tara Westover’s Educated, and Megan Phelps-Roper’s Unfollow.

His yoga focused on control and manipulation.
Until she broke the sequence.

Joelle Tamraz was barely past twenty when she traveled to India in search of spiritual enlightenment. In Rishikesh, the home of yoga, she met an alluring older man who offered to teach her a secret practice. This encounter would realign her next twenty years. Joelle was controlled emotionally, financially, socially, and physically until she was finally able to break the cycle of abuse.

Despite signs there was more to her Arun than his winning smile, she persisted in seeing him as her spiritual master, soul mate, and key to her destiny. Until one day she dared to open her eyes and change her pose to one of strength and harmony.

From darkness to light, from dependency to self-awareness, from psychological need to genuine love, The Secret Practice is at once an exposé of a master manipulator, the exploration of a marriage, and the exhaustion of a disciple’s faith.

Heartfelt, gripping, and illuminating, The Secret Practice is a powerful story of the dark side of yoga and spirituality.

This discussion guide was shared in partnership with the author, Joelle Tamraz.

The Secret Practice

The Secret Practice Book Club Questions PDF