Yoga class is mistaken for ritual mass murder: ‘There are all dead people on the ground’ | Abroad

The police raided the cafe where a yoga class was being given. 22-year-old yoga teacher Millie Laws initially thought it was a joke. “It’s a bit surreal,” she says BBC. “I’m sure their imaginations were running wild.”

Laws was teaching seven yoga students in the cafe when they saw the two dog walkers briefly looking through the window during the meditation portion of the class. Only afterwards did she learn that the two had called the police. “They said there was a mass murderer, that she was wearing a robe and walking over people who were dead and that it was like some kind of ritual. I think it might look like this from the outside, because the yoga students are all very quiet, peaceful and relaxed.”

The yoga teacher explains what happened during the lesson: “The students lie with blankets over them, their eyes are closed. It’s very dark there. I had candles and little tea lights lit all over the room and I was just walking around playing a drum. I was wearing a light top with big wide sleeves.”

Police confirmed after the raid that everyone was safe and that the call had been made with ‘good intentions’. Laws can laugh about it afterwards. “I do feel sorry for the people who called the police. Of course it would have been terrifying, so I sympathize with them.”

The yoga café reassures everyone on Facebook. “If anyone heard the mass of police sirens at Chapel Saint Leonards at 9.30pm last night, rest assured. The police were on their way to the cafe after someone reported a mass murder in our building because they saw people lying on the floor… That actually turned out to be a yoga meditation class.”

The café regularly organizes yoga classes and writes for the sake of clarity that it is not part of any crazy sect or crazy club.

“Thanks to the police for their quick response,” said Laws. “I can’t imagine what went through their minds along the way.”