Bikram Choudhury began learning yoga in his native India, at the age of three. At five, he began studying with Bishnu Ghosh, the brother of Paramahansa Yogananda (well known author of the Autobiography of a Yogi) and quickly became yoga champion. At age eleven, he was the youngest contestant to win the national India Yoga Competition. At age 20, a weightlifting accident crippled Bikram. With the guidance of his guru, Bikram created his 26 posture series which restored his health. In a medical research project at Tokyo University, Bikram helped doctors prove that yoga practice helps regenerate tissues and alleviates chronic ailments. Bikram arrived in the United States in 1973 and quickly became the foremost yoga teacher in the West as celebrities, athletes and others began to flock to him. Since that time he has been healing thousands of students at his school in Los Angeles and traveling the world extensively, bringing the benefits of Bikram yoga to millions of students worldwide. There are currently several exciting studies being done to confirm the medical benefits of Bikram yoga, including one by University of Southern California and one at the Wyckoff Heights Medical Center testing bone density improvement through Bikram Yoga.

Essential to the proper practice of Bikram Yoga is a consistent observance of Bikram's prescribed method as a whole, without modification or alteration. Bikram Choudhury and the Yoga College of India continuously require every certified Instructor to provide instruction consistent with Bikram's prescribed yoga method. Only by practicing at a school affiliated with, and approved by Bikram, can you be assured that your instructors are fully qualified to teach this highly specialized yoga program, and are prepared to address issues which may arise in any particular student's practice.