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Sivananda Asham Yoga Retreat Center, facing heavy criticism, is hitting back at “false” claims made by the family of missing American tourist Taylor Casey, last seen near their site before her mysterious disappearance.

Colette Seymore, the mother of Taylor suggested that something sinister occurred at the retreat on Paradise Island and her daughter may have been abducted by an unknown man who wandered near Taylor’s tent, claims she said was told to her by a retreat manager.

“That is false and defamatory and not based on facts,” Peter Goudie, representing the retreat said to the Tribune, adding that all indications suggest Taylor left “voluntarily” since her personal belongings were still in the tent where she stayed.

Seymore visited the Bahamas on a three-day trip with other family and friends hoping to find her daughter. She showed images inside the tent where Taylor lived—an unmade bed, flip-flops, t-shirts, a bible, a picture of Jesus, cotton swabs, affirmation cards, books, and a yoga training book.

Local authorities confirmed Taylor’s passport remains missing and her phone was found in waters nearby.

“The tent photo…taken by Ms Casey’s family shows no signs of struggle…Her toothbrush and personal care products were in the tent in the photo, indicating she was going to return,” Goudie told the Tribune.

Seymore told the media that she was told of two men wandering the property on different days, once on the platform near Taylor’s tent and another time, a man dressed in all black was questioning an employee about the yoga retreat.

But Goudie said, “The man is from Atlanta and was staying next door at the Atlantis Resort. He was simply taking a stroll on the beach and was interested in knowing more about our yoga classes. We often have inquiries about the yoga retreat from the guests at Atlantis.

“The other individual was holding a walkie-talkie, and our best guess is that he is a security guard for one of our neighbors. He entered the ashram at about 2 pm –– a time when our students were in class –– and stayed for a couple of minutes and left.”

The mysterious disappearance has sparked debates on what could have possibly happened to the woman and has shined a spotlight on crime and visitor safety in the Bahamas.

Taylor is light-skinned, 145 lbs, with brown eyes and hair. If you see Taylor, you are asked to call 919 or crime tipsters 328-TIPS(8477).

Taylor Casey, the missing 41-year-old American woman who disappeared from Paradise Island while staying at the Sivananda Yoga Retreat Center, stayed more than two weeks in a tent living quarter.

Like thousands of guests, she experienced the “otherworldly” and “idyllic” property “flanked by dense tropical gardens and white sand beaches” as praised by Gwyneth Paltrow’s Goop lifestyle brand.

Taylor was on a four-week training course to become a certified yoga instructor and would have paid $3300 for the accommodations, based on the information from the retreat’s website. Her accommodations appeared to be a private 8×8” tent hut with a single bed. Its amenities include the Bahama breeze, furnished with a closet, nightstand, bedside lamp, fan, and electrical outlets. Towels and bedding were provided onsite and shared bathrooms were a short distance away.

“Sleep in the fresh, tropical air while still enjoying indoor comforts… It’s the easiest camping you’ll ever do, while you’re safely surrounded by your Tent Hut neighbors,” the website reads.

Other guests who did not wish to use the accommodations offered by the center, were encouraged to bring their tents along with their camping gear, mattress, and towels.

“Set up your tent near the beach, bay, or amongst the palm trees. Create your own sacred space within in the Ashram to reconnect with nature and sleep close to the earth. And you won’t be completely alone — get ready to meet ‘tent neighbors’ from around the world!”

Because Taylor was taking the teaching course, she was expected to undertake the “ancient Holistic Yoga Philosophy (5 Points of Yoga) and Yogic Lifestyle, as developed by Swami Sivananda and Swami Vishnudevananda—Karma and Reincarnation, Meditation, Yoga Anatomy and Physiology, Yoga Nutrition, and various types of yoga.

Upon graduation from the Teacher Training Course, Taylor would have been certified as a Sivananda yoga teacher and would have been able to teach at Yoga centers or offer Yoga classes in Chicago, Illinois. Her mother Colette Seymour said she was excited to return home to teach yoga before her family learned of her disappearance.

Taylor was to be taught by swamis– Hindu yoga guru and religious teachers and stayed at the Asham, known as the secluded dwelling of a Hindu sage or a religious retreat.

The website says, “Living at our Ashram, you’ll experience uplifting Satsangs, engaging lectures by Swamis and expert speakers, and vibrant concerts featuring world-renowned Kirtan singers and performers.

It continues, “Our authentic ashram experience takes you to the depth and vibrancy of spiritual and cultural traditions from ancient India, right here in the Bahamas. Your journey of yoga, meditation, insight, and music, will nourish your soul, challenge your intellect, and uplift your spirit.”

A police search has failed to yield the discovery of missing Chicago woman Taylor Casey so far, whose disappearance is a mystery and is making international headlines as the safety concerns for tourists visiting the Bahamas weigh in the balance.

“We’ve used our drone technology. We’ve used our K9. We’ve used our divers. We’ve used a number of resources, and so our investigations continue,” Police Spokesperson Chief Superintendent Chrislyn Skippings said at a press conference.

Taylor’s family met with the officials of the Royal Bahamas Police Force after arriving from the United States on Wednesday to assist in searching for the 41-year-old woman who visited the Bahamas to train as an instructor at a yoga retreat center on Paradise Island.

So far, her phone has pinged in waters but police did not say if they retrieved it.

Skippings said, “We have updated the family where we are in the investigation.

“We have a very good relationship. They are very, very pleased with the investigations thus far,” she said.

PREVIOUS: What we know and still don’t know about the disappearance of Taylor Casey

Taylor has been missing for seven days and her mother said she believes her daughter is in danger because Taylor was eager to return to teach yoga in Chicago.

Taylor’s niece Traysia Conard told NewsNation Live on Wednesday that her aunt has been practicing yoga for 15 years and visited the Bahamas in February.

“She takes trips all the time,” Conard said. “This (disappearance) was an out of the ordinary.”

“Our priority is to find Taylor in good health,” Skippings reassured.

Newsnation Brian Entin, onsite where Taylor practiced and learned the craft, highlighted that other guests were arriving at the retreat center and were unaware Taylor was missing since no flyers were posted.

Featured image: Taylor Casey is seen with her mother