Bikram Yoga (26&2) and the Tinder Lady

I engage in a yoga practice known as Bikram yoga, which is an exceedingly intense form of yoga. Similar to all my endeavors, it falls on the more extreme end of the yoga spectrum. Classes are conducted in 106-degree heat with pumped-in humidity, resulting in a copious amount of sweating. Each session lasts 90 minutes, commencing and concluding with a breathing exercise. Within the session, 26 unique poses are performed. It is a demanding, strenuous, mentally taxing practice that requires a remarkable level of discipline and resilience. Enthusiasts of this yoga style are often purists, and truthfully, it bears some cult-like aspects. This inclination is understandable because, despite my exploration of numerous other yoga forms, Bikram yoga offers something unparalleled.

Bikram yoga allegedly originated from Bikram Choudhury. For an illuminating insight into his character, one should watch the documentary "Yogi Guru Predator." It meticulously chronicles the sexual assaults and abuses he perpetrated. He is now banned from the country, yet he continues to teach overseas.

I intended to delve into the yoga community's complex relationship with this individual. It is predominantly disquieting. There exists a subgroup of individuals who still idolize Choudhury, despite widespread knowledge of his heinous acts against his students. An exceptionally skilled teacher once insisted that I "must go to India to practice with Bikram," underscoring the disturbingly cult-like indoctrination within this group. They seem to accept his sexual abuses as an unfortunate aspect of the practice, often rationalizing them with victim-blaming narratives. Additionally, I encountered a significant amount of denial among individuals who were unable to confront the grim realities, choosing instead to downplay or feign ignorance.

A particularly poignant conversation occurred with a woman I matched with on Tinder, which offered a stark contrast to the prevailing reactions. When she inquired about my yoga practice, I mentioned Bikram yoga. She then asked if I had seen the documentary, to which I affirmed, expressing my disgust and explaining my preference for referring to it as "26&2" to dissociate it from Choudhury's name.

She proceeded to share that Bikram yoga had transformed her life. Struggling with mobility issues and chronic pain, she practiced this yoga daily and found relief. However, upon learning about Choudhury's sexual abuse, she immediately ceased attending classes, deeming it wrong to support him. While I admired her steadfastness, viewing it as a commendable commitment to justice, I also found it unfortunate that a man could become so inexorably linked to a series of beneficial movements and practices. She confessed that these poses would forever remind her of him, an association I could comprehend. By the time I commenced the practice, the community had already begun distancing itself from Choudhury, though his name remained attached to it. Yet, I hadn't initially perceived it through the lens of him being a divine figure who invented the practice, which was the prevailing sentiment prior to my involvement.

Contrary to popular belief, Bikram did not invent these poses; rather, he appropriated them from his guru, one of many falsehoods perpetuated by this Trump-esque narcissist.

Bikram proved to be a masterful marketer of yoga in America. He charged exorbitant fees, made it fashionable, flaunted his wealth, and established a system reliant on his approval, reaping substantial commissions for the rights to teach this stolen series. His marketing endeavors played a significant role in popularizing yoga in America, albeit contributing to its over-commercialization. Nevertheless, it undeniably facilitated the spread of the practice. Despite the challenges and discomfort it entails, I remain enamored with the practice and would eagerly welcome the opportunity to share a class with you someday. After all, the post-class euphoria is truly incomparable.

I also initially harbored some guilt about continuing this practice, so I totally understand the decision to disengage. However, ultimately, I want people to benefit from this amazingly systematic series of rigorous poses. I believe it has the potential to greatly help many individuals. It is unfortunate that the actions of such a horrible man tarnished and minimized what was an extremely promising growing health movement. I will definitely write more about this later because this is a very important practice for me. Also, this topic and scandal is very dear to my heart.