BIKRAM vs. HOT YOGA

There is a smidge of controversy involving the name of this type of yoga. The authentic form of Bikram's Yoga originated with yogi Bikram Choudhury in 1974. Choudhury developed a series of 26 asanas to be performed in a particular sequence in a heated room. The classes are 90-minutes long and include 2 specialized breathing exercises as well.

Choudhury is an instructor of this practice and authorizes other yoga teachers for it, but has been involved in lawsuits with yoga studios that advertise this style of yoga without using his exact methodology or certified Bikram yoga instructors.

Many yoga studios promote hot yoga, which is a form of Hatha yoga performed in a heated room. Practitioners of this style still experience toxin release benefits, but may not be aware of Choudhury's philosophy or exact practice.

In the 2005 interview with "60 Minutes", Choudhury explained that this form of yoga is not the "sit-quietly-and-stare-at-the-wall" type.  He said, "You use the body as a medium to bring the mind back to the brain. Perfect marrige between body and mind. Then, you can knock the door to the spirit." It is for this reason that Choudhury is proprietary of what he considers to be the true Bikram Yoga.

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