Bikram Choudhury Biography 
Bikram Choudhury is a yoga instructor and the founder of Bikram Yoga, a form of hot yoga. He remained a controversial yoga guru accused of sexual assaults multiple times, and also many cases pending against him related to assault, racism and homophobia. He also came to limelight when he made claims stating that the postures of his yoga practice, Bikram Yoga, were under copyright and cannot be taught or presented by anyone without his permission. In 2011 Choudhury started a lawsuit against Yoga to the People for the same reason. United States Copyright Office issued a clarification that yoga postures could not be copyrighted and can be used by any one for practice and teaching.
Bikram Choudhury was born on February 10, 1944 in Kolkata, West Bengal. He began learning Hatha Yoga poses at the age of three, and by the age of 5 he started formally learning yoga from Bishnu Charan Ghosh. In the teens he won National India Yoga Championship for three consecutive years. But those claims don’t have clear cut evidence. Bikram came to limelight after he created a 26-posture series, which helped to restore his health. He practised hot yoga at 105 degree Fahrenheit, so as to compensate with the high climatic temperature of India.
At the age of 20, following an accident he was crippled and through the efforts made by his yoga guru, Bishnu Charan Ghosh he overcame the worst situation. In the 1970s he moved to US where he continued with his yoga practices. He first started yoga studios in California and Hawaii, followed by many other cities. His estranged wife Rajashree Choudhury too is a Yoga Therapist and founder of the United States Yoga Federation (USA Yoga). They divorced in 2016, ending 22 year old marriage.
Published: September 08, 2018
Updated: September 08, 2018
