 Bikram Choudhury began practicing yoga at the age of 5. Fascinated by bodybuilders at the building next door to his home, he went over to see what was going on. To his surprise, the bodybuilders were doing yoga postures! The man who led this facility was named Bishnu Charan Ghosh and he was regarded as one of the greatest physical culturalists of his time. He would go on to become Bikram's guru.
With Bishnu Ghosh, Bikram began training in yoga and weightlifting. At the age of thirteen he became the youngest ever to win the All-India yoga championship, a title which he would hold for three years. He also started to break weightlifting records, until at the age of 18 he suffered a devastating weightlifting accident.
He dropped a 380 pound weight on his leg, shattering his knee and leaving him crippled. Doctors said he wouldn't be able to walk again. Some even wanted to amputate his leg! Believing in the healing power of yoga, Bikram of course said no and returned to his guru for yoga therapy. The bodybuilders at the facility would force his limp and broken leg into yoga positions day in and day out until eventually six months later he could do the yoga positions unassisted. Amazed and inspired by his own recovery, Bikram knew it was his duty to become a yoga teacher.
Bishnu Ghosh sent Bikram to Bombay to teach yoga to the sick and infirmed. With so many impoverished people in Bombay, yoga was used as an affordable alternative to hospitalization and modern medicine. During this time, Bikram was teaching yoga the traditional way: one student to one teacher, with the purpose of healing that student's particular illness. In Bombay, Bikram began to get frustrated when hundreds of people would line up to see him, but using this method he was only able to see about 15 per day.
The most frustrating by far was that so many of these patients suffered the same set of illnesses. Most common were spinal problems, arthritis, heart disease, diabetes, thyroid problems and neurological diseases. Bikram thought, "If there was some way I could teach everyone the right postures in the correct order, no matter what their disease or condition, then I could teach yoga in groups and help more people." Thus, the idea for Bikram's Beginning Yoga Class was born.
For his class, Bikram selected twenty six beginning yoga postures (and by beginners, we don't mean easy…these are just the most accessible postures suited for all body types). He also carefully selected the postures set to cure the common ailments that plague our civilized world today, which are the ones listed above.
Now able to heal and help many people, Bikram was becoming quite well known. He became so well known, in fact, that when President Richard Nixon fell ill with advanced thrombophelitis during a trip to Hawaii, none other than Bikram Choudhury was summoned to help. Of course Bikram was able to cure him, and for this was given a green card! This is how "Bikram Yoga" came to America and became the wonderful widespread method we know it as today.
Bikram and his wife Rajashree currently live in Beverly Hills. He teaches once a week at the headquarters studio in LA, and anyone is welcome to go and take his class. No special reservations are required, and there is no extra charge, but it is certainly a memorable experience. He is extremely prominent in the yoga teacher training, teaching at least 50 percent of the 99 classes each training term, and giving almost all of the lectures himself. He and Rajashree (also a former yoga champion and expert in yoga therapy) travel all around the world leading lectures on yoga and the philosophy of life.
**Bikram is coming to Boston on Sunday June 3rd for a lecture and book signing**
On Sunday, June 3rd, 2012, Bikram Choudhury will be holding a lecture here in Boston at the John Hancock Hall on Berkeley Street.
The lecture is scheduled for 2-5 pm with a book signing afterwards. Cost is $60 to purchase tickets early, $70 at the door.
Directions here:
http://www.backbayeventscenter.com/
Tickets can be purchased here:
http://www.bikramyoganashua.com/bikraminboston
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