- By Shivangi Sharma
- Sun, 31 Aug 2025 10:18 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
A seemingly ordinary yoga session in Lincolnshire, UK, sparked an unusual police response in September 2024 after a concerned resident mistook the practice for a grisly crime. The incident took place at the North Sea Observatory in Chapel Point, where 22-year-old yoga instructor Millie Laws was guiding participants through a relaxation session, commonly known as shavasana, the lying-down meditation at the end of a yoga class.
Dog walkers passing by the venue noticed dim lighting and several people lying still on the floor, leading them to believe a ritual mass murder was underway. Alarmed, they immediately alerted local authorities, prompting a rapid police response. Five police vehicles soon arrived at the observatory to investigate the supposed mass killing.
Clarification By Unity Yoga
Upon inspection, officers quickly realised that no crime had occurred. What had appeared to be a sinister scene was, in fact, a standard yoga class. The venue, North Sea Observatory, doubles as a community centre and exercise studio, hosting various activities year-round. The misunderstanding was clarified publicly by Unity Yoga via Facebook: “Dear General Public, please be mindful that the Observatory has lots of yoga classes happening in the evenings. We are not part of any mad cult or crazy clubs.”
Millie Laws, who had already left the class with her seven students before the police arrived, was informed of the incident by the venue manager. In a phone interview with CNN, she described the situation as “surreal” and said she initially found it hard to believe. “A couple with some dogs just came up to the window and were having a look in, but they walked off really quickly, and I didn’t think anything of it,” Laws explained. “I didn’t know until after we left that these people phoned in saying that there was a mass murderer walking over all of the people. I guess from the outside view it could look like that because they’re all really still, very nice and relaxed.”
Humour In Misunderstanding
Despite the confusion, Laws sought to find humour in the bizarre episode. The yoga instructor emphasised that the class was routine, with participants simply practising calm, restorative poses. The incident has since sparked laughter and disbelief online, highlighting how a moment of peaceful meditation can, under unusual circumstances, be misinterpreted as something far more sinister.