Bikram Yoga

Bikram Yoga
FounderBikram Choudhury
Established1970s
Practice emphases
Unchanging sequence of 26 postures in a heated room

Bikram Yoga is a system of hot yoga, a type of yoga as exercise, spread by Bikram Choudhury and based on the teachings of B. C. Ghosh, that became popular in the early 1970s.[1] Classes consist of a fixed sequence of 26 postures, practised in a room heated to 105 °F (41 °C) with a humidity of 40%, intended to replicate the climate of India. The room is fitted with carpets and the walls are covered in mirrors. The instructor may adjust the students' yoga postures. Choudhury's teaching style was abrasive.[2]

Bikram Yoga spread rapidly across America and the Western world, reaching a peak of some 1,650 studios in at least 40 countries in 2006. Choudhury attempted to copyright the Bikram Yoga sequence from 2011, but was ultimately unsuccessful. In 2016, facing lawsuits and accusations of sexual assault, Choudhury fled to India, leaving Bikram Yoga, Inc. to be run by others.[3]

  1. ^ Farrell, Maureen (September 3, 2009). "Bikram Yoga's New Twists". Forbes.com.
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference Delaney 2019 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference The Guardian was invoked but never defined (see the help page).