Metro

Yoga guru accused of pressuring student into sexual relationship

Bikram Choudhury’s not the only lecherous yoga master, a new Manhattan lawsuit charges.

The $1.6 million civil suit claims a noted female yoga instructor took nude photos of her trainee and pressured the woman into a sexual relationship.

Starting in 2009, Holly Faurot spent five years training to become a yoga teacher at Jivamukti Yoga Center near Union Square under the tutelage of Ruth Lauer-Manenti, a highly regarded guru whose books about yoga are favorite reads of Russell Simmons.

Faurot claims Lauer-Manenti, who has a husband, exploited the “cult-like” atmosphere of total devotion between guru and student.

First Lauer-Manenti asked to sleep over at Faurot’s Brooklyn apartment one night because of their demanding training schedule, and then, eschewing a guest bed, slept in her student’s bed, the suit alleges.

Faurot, 35, says in the suit she felt “compelled to acquiesce” when her teacher started to spoon and cuddle with her.

Lauer-Manenti, 52, insisted she was “straight” but said she’d done the same with her teacher, according to the court papers.

Lauer-Manenti, who lives in upstate New York, also allegedly asked Faurot to pose for nude, sexually suggestive photos, which are attached to the suit under seal.

In exchange, Faurot was praised at the yoga studio as a model student — until Lauer-Manenti dumped her for another female protege, the suit says.

The claims are reminiscent of accusations against yoga guru Bikram Choudhury, who was hit with a $6.4 million jury award last month after a number of women said he had sexually harassed them.

Faurot filed a complaint with the center, which explicitly bars teachers from sexual relationships with their students, but the studio swept it under the rug instead of punishing their employee, the suit says.

She’s suing both Lauer-Manenti and the studio. The parties did not immediately respond to requests for comment.