Bahamas - Taylor Casey, 41, Chicago, last seen in at yoga retreat, Paradise Island, Nassau, 19 Jun 2024

[sunflowermomma]

There's a 'good vibes only' culture attached to western yoga that can translate to a toxic avoidance of anything distressing or negative. (Which is missing the whole point of yoga, but whatever.)

Not saying that's what's happening here, but it wouldn't surprise me if there's a dollop of that in the mix.

MOO

MOO - completely agree, "toxic positivity". There have been more than enough documentaries that have come out over the last couple years about the weirdness that goes on behind the scenes at some of these places.

 

[iamshadow21]

MOO - completely agree, "toxic positivity". There have been more than enough documentaries that have come out over the last couple years about the weirdness that goes on behind the scenes at some of these places.

It's just as present in many church communities of all flavours, schools, and workplaces. Being aware of it is the first step in not giving in to it by default. But it's harder in an immersive environment like an ashram, where the whole point is marketed as surrendering yourself to the place and the process.

MOO

 

[mlhenn]

American woman missing in the Bahamas after vanishing from yoga retreat

Taylor Casey, 41, vanished from her beachside yoga retreat on Paradise Island two weeks ago. Investigators found her phone in the ocean.

www.today.com

Photo of Casey’s tent she was staying in

The bed (left) in the tent where Casey was staying along with a Bible (right) that she had with her.TODAY

 

[Cedars]

It's just as present in many church communities of all flavours, schools, and workplaces. Being aware of it is the first step in not giving in to it by default. But it's harder in an immersive environment like an ashram, where the whole point is marketed as surrendering yourself to the place and the process.

MOO

Possibly, but this was a 41 year old, experienced with a career and other independent life choices. Also she had apparently been there before, and wanted to/was welcomed back.

JMO

 

[thebedbug]

Popping in again with some personal experience at the ashram, but I don't think them being evasive/unforthcoming is a sign of foul play on their part. When I visited, years ago now, the vibe was very... odd. It's VERY yogic and they take the practice very seriously -- much more seriously than I think the average person is looking for. The swami we spoke to when visiting even condescended to us for NOT staying at the ashram overnight and tried to neg us into staying. It was a bizarre experience and the yoga wasn't overly relaxing. We had a loud party boat blasting 'Who let the dogs out?' go by during practice because there's a harbour right there.

And to reply to an early post (sorry I lost it!) but the tents and accommodations are not sex-segregated.

JMO.

I appreciate your comments.

I've never been to the Ashram, but have been to the Cove a few times (it's the closest of the Atlantis hotels) and surely walked down the beach to or very near the yoga ranch. It's not far, at all. In contrast to some of the reports I read... it's hardly "remote."

Paradise Island is separate from Nassau - and I never felt like it was particularly accessible to local vagrants or criminals. I would've been more worried about someone from a cruise ship... and I guess someone on staff.

Did they say which side of the island the phone was found? If I recall from the case of the student that jumped off the party boat and was lost - people said the bay side is pretty shark infested. Could she have been wading in an area not protected by nets? I think some parts of the beaches are, right? Is that even a possibility?

 

[tarabull]

Taylor Casey’s Loved Ones Say Bahamas Police Aren’t Doing Enough to Find Woman Who Vanished on Yoga Trip

Casey's mother and close friend both expressed dissatisfaction at how Bahamas police have handled the investigation.

people.com

 

[PommyMommy]

JUL 3, 2024

https://www.cnn.com/2024/07/02/us/taylor-casey-missing-bahamas-mother/index.html

[...]

When Seymore arrived at the retreat with her team, the scene appeared largely unprocessed by authorities, the release states. Among Casey’s belongings were a Bible and other books, a sketchpad with paintings, affirmation cards, clothes and toiletries.

“It became apparent to us when we met with the Sivananda Ashram leaders that they were struggling to keep a linear and cohesive narrative regarding Taylor’s disappearance,” Williams said.

[...]

“We were told that a description of Taylor was provided to the Atlantis security and that they were the ones who reviewed CCTV footage,” Williams said in the release. “What we took this to mean is that the detectives themselves did not review this footage.”

[...]

Taylor Casey's phone was found in the ocean near this dock. From Claudia Garcia-Roja

Seymore collected some of Casey's belongings from the retreat, including a Bible and other books, affirmation cards, clothes and toiletries. From Claudia Garcia-Roja

 

[tarabull]

There's a google review of the retreat from 5 days ago talking about the poor treatment of queer and lgbtq+ persons attending...explaining they were picked on, harassed, denied certain amenities and rights even bullied and abused.

 

[Ladyotm]

I know someone showed tents earlier. Here is a picture from a guest review that shows how tents are arranged. Too close for comfort for me. I would never be able to relax
Is the walkway between the tents the platform the man was seen on?

 

[starlightstarbright]

The report that her phone was found by the dock puts a different spin on it. I believe that is the ashram dock on the bay side, which is NOT on the beach. It’s completely the other side of the island from where I think we have been assuming she was walking/possibly swimming. It puts her last location much more at the ashram than on the beach. JMO

 

[Ladyotm]

There's a google review of the retreat from 5 days ago talking about the poor treatment of queer and lgbtq+ persons attending...explaining they were picked on, harassed, denied certain amenities and rights even bullied and abused.

I would take his review with a grain of salt. It's his only Google review. He may just be spamming the reviews because of Taylor's disappearance.


For some reason I thought the man that said he was interested in yoga classes had spoken to Taylor and followed her into the resort grounds. But the CNN article reads as if it was another guest. As I think more about this, the "man" said he was from Chicago. Is the hotel trying to say that the "man" was Taylor?

Why was her phone found near the dock? How far was this from where her last pictures were taken? Were their any other items found nearby? Are records kept for vessels using the dock?

 

[branmuffin]

JUL 3, 2024

https://www.cnn.com/2024/07/02/us/taylor-casey-missing-bahamas-mother/index.html

[...]

When Seymore arrived at the retreat with her team, the scene appeared largely unprocessed by authorities, the release states. Among Casey’s belongings were a Bible and other books, a sketchpad with paintings, affirmation cards, clothes and toiletries.

“It became apparent to us when we met with the Sivananda Ashram leaders that they were struggling to keep a linear and cohesive narrative regarding Taylor’s disappearance,” Williams said.

[...]

“We were told that a description of Taylor was provided to the Atlantis security and that they were the ones who reviewed CCTV footage,” Williams said in the release. “What we took this to mean is that the detectives themselves did not review this footage.”

[...]

View attachment 515287
Taylor Casey's phone was found in the ocean near this dock. From Claudia Garcia-Roja

View attachment 515288
Seymore collected some of Casey's belongings from the retreat, including a Bible and other books, affirmation cards, clothes and toiletries. From Claudia Garcia-Roja

I wonder if that boat at the end of the dock is the one that Taylor was posing in.

 

[tarabull]

Missing Persons- RBPF

www.royalbahamaspolice.org

 

[Kittypoo]

There's a google review of the retreat from 5 days ago talking about the poor treatment of queer and lgbtq+ persons attending...explaining they were picked on, harassed, denied certain amenities and rights even bullied and abused.

Well this is strange as T had stayed here previously so seems unlikely

 

[Tutter]

There's a google review of the retreat from 5 days ago talking about the poor treatment of queer and lgbtq+ persons attending...explaining they were picked on, harassed, denied certain amenities and rights even bullied and abused.

That might not be a real review. IMO. Is there anything like like from before Taylor went missing?

 

[imstilla.grandma]

 

[sunflowermomma]

Her passport being missing is interesting to me. You don't typically keep your passport on your person when you're out of the country, I leave mine safe in my hotel room.

Was Taylor in the habit of keeping her passport with her because of the communal living accommodations? Surely they offer some kind of valuable lock up option for visitors, I would also feel uncomfortable leaving something like that out in my tent.

 

[iamshadow21]

Her passport being missing is interesting to me. You don't typically keep your passport on your person when you're out of the country, I leave mine safe in my hotel room.

Was Taylor in the habit of keeping her passport with her because of the communal living accommodations? Surely they offer some kind of valuable lock up option for visitors, I would also feel uncomfortable leaving something like that out in my tent.

I think if my only 'hotel room' was a tent where any random could wander in... I'd keep my purse and passport on me, too.

MOO

 

[opensoulsurgery]

The report that her phone was found by the dock puts a different spin on it. I believe that is the ashram dock on the bay side, which is NOT on the beach. It’s completely the other side of the island from where I think we have been assuming she was walking/possibly swimming. It puts her last location much more at the ashram than on the beach. JMO

I agree. That dock is where the harbour is where I heard the party boat during my class there; it's heavily trafficked by all sorts of boats. It's interesting she wasn't at the beach, which is where I thought she got swept away at night. I suppose falling into the water from the dock is another possibility, but I feel like they would've found her by now if that was the case. Weird and weirder.

 

[FoxxTraxx]

That dock is where the harbour is where I heard the party boat during my class there; it's heavily trafficked by all sorts of boats.

The State Dept. travel advisory for the Bahamas specifically warned about recreational watercraft, water tours, and short-term vacation rental properties where private security companies do not have a presence. I suppose it's possible she crossed paths with someone with bad intentions. State Dept travel advisory for Bahamas Level 2