Bikram Choudhury

Bikram Choudhury (born 1944) is an Indian-American yoga guru and the founder of Bikram Yoga, a form of hot yoga practiced in a hot environment. He gained success in the United States and internationally with his business, attracting celebrity pupils. Choudhury's former wife, Rajashree Choudhury, assisted him in the yoga business. In 2009, he initiated copyright claims to protect the series of postures in Bikram Yoga; however, these attempts were unsuccessful, and other studios continue to teach the series. Choudhury has faced civil suits alleging sexual assault and discrimination against racial and sexual minorities. In 2017, he was ordered to pay $7 million to his former lawyer, Minakshi Jafa-Bodden, who gained control of his yoga business after he fled to India without paying her. Currently, he trains yoga teachers outside the United States in countries like Spain and Mexico.