Pierre Bernard introduced yoga and Tantric mysticism to the United States in the early twentieth century, earning the hilariously grandiose moniker Oom the Omnipotent from sensationalist newspapers.

A closer look

Pierre Bernard introduced yoga and Tantric mysticism to the United States in the early twentieth century, earning the hilariously grandiose moniker Oom the Omnipotent from sensationalist newspapers. He opened secret ashrams in New York where wealthy socialites paid exorbitant fees to learn esoteric breathing exercises and strange physical postures that scandalized Victorian sensibilities. While the press accused him of running a bizarre mystic sex cult, he was basically just teaching rich bored women basic stretching routines and charging them a fortune for the privilege. It is incredible to look back and realize that the modern, multi-billion-dollar yoga industry full of overpriced leggings and overpriced smoothies was entirely pioneered by a charismatic carnival showman who realized affluent people will pay anything to touch their toes mystically