A British woman allegedly teaching tantric yoga and \u201csacred sexuality\u201d on Thailand\u2019s Koh Phangan has been arrested for working illegally as authorities crack down on undocumented foreign workers on the island popular with foreign backpackers.<\/p>\n
Maria Shchetinina, 40, was in the middle of a class conducted at the back of a New Age restaurant when police raided the premises on Tuesday, local media reported.<\/p>\n
They had been tipped off by social media users reporting \u201crisque\u201d photos posted by a \u201cMaria Sky Love\u201d as well as an advertisement for tantric \u2013 dubbed as \u201csex yoga\u201d by locals \u2013 classes for 400 baht (US$12) a session. The classes for foreign tourists, held on Tuesdays, allegedly include sexually suggestive poses.<\/p>\n
Shchetinina was charged with working illegally as a yoga teacher, as her work permit stated she was a customer relations manager for an accommodation firm, tourist police inspector Winit Boonchit told the Bangkok Post newspaper.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe suspect\u2019s behaviour violates the Foreigners\u2019 Working Management Emergency Decree because working as a tantric yoga instructor is outside the permitted scope of jobs,\u201d he said, as quoted by the Mirror newspaper from the UK.<\/p>\n
\u201cShe was charged for working as a foreigner outside the authorised scope and was handed to the inquiry officer at Koh Phangan Police Station for further legal action.\u201d<\/p>\n
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