Everything can be net positive, which helps humanity progress. The new Age spiritual movements started in the sixties with the Hippie culture, which broke the standard norms of the spiritual life and its fixed formats and standard techniques. Hence, they seem a bit disconcerting, but they are serving a need of humanity, which is to discover God or some state of perfection in everyday life. In this sense, these movements help by breaking the old mental barrier that yoga was something guarded in secrecy and meant for the strict initiates.
Of course, they have a limited usefulness and some may not go deep enough, but they serve a purpose of keeping the interest of humanity alive and opening different doors. Once humanity gets the taste and feel of it, some would pass deeper and further. But such aspirants are always few. The rest cannot be denied hope or not taken to the door just because they may not be ready to step in.
Affectionately,
Alok Da
