The Origin of Bikram Yoga
Born in Calcutta, Bikram Choudhury began studying yoga at the age of four with his teacher Bishnu Ghosh, brother of Paramahansa Yogananda (author of “Autobiography of a Yogi”, and founder of the Self Realization Fellowship). Bikram practiced Yoga four to six hours a day with six thousand other students at Ghosh’s College of Physical Education in Calcutta. At the age of thirteen, he won the National India Yoga competition and remained undefeated for three years. At the request of his teacher, he withdrew from competition and gave Yoga demonstrations instead. This earned him the title of “Yoga-Raj”. He is the youngest ever to earn such a title.
“Falling out of the posture means you are human. Getting back into the posture means you are a yogi.” -Bikram Choudhury
As a young man he was a top cyclist, marathon runner and international weight lifter, competing in the 1964 Tokyo Olympics. At the age of 20, Bikram severely injured his knee in a weightlifting accident and was told by doctors he would never walk again. Not accepting this, Bikram went back to Bishnu Ghosh’s school, for he knew that if anyone could help to heal his knee, it would be his teacher. Bishnu Ghosh put him through a slow and careful therapy program that totally rehabilitated his knee within 6 months. Ghosh was a celebrated physical culturist, and the first to scientifically document yoga’s ability to cure chronic physical ailments and heal the body.
Bikram was asked by Ghosh to start several yoga schools in India. Bikram came into his own. The schools were so successful that, at Bishnu’s request, Bikram travelled to Japan and opened two more. Under the guidance of his teacher, Bikram worked for three years with doctors and scientists at Tokyo University Hospital and developed his unique Hatha Yoga series. He has since brought his curative methods of yoga therapy around the world.
What is the difference between Bikram Yoga and Hot Yoga?
The fundamental differences between Bikram Yoga and Hot yoga is safety and continuity. Hot yoga is a variation of more traditional forms of yoga, like vinyasa, and varies from studio to studio greatly. Hot yoga does not require certifications making it potentially dangerous in the wrong instructor’s hands. Bikram yoga is uniform and controlled – always taught by Bikram certified instructors that can keep you safe in this strenuous environment. Our instructors are all required to have a certification in Bikram instruction before they are allowed to teach.