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http://www.news.com.au/lifestyle/real-life/bikram-yoga-founder-bikram-choudhury-feeling-the-heat-amid-rape-allegations-and-divorce/news-story/95c2ba80f779a9626fb41f35a6dd14b3
Bikram yoga founder Bikram Choudhury feeling the heat amid rape allegations and divorce
January 3, 2016 6:44am
Divorce ... Yoga guru Bikram Choudhury is being divorced by his wife of 31 years, Rajashree. Picture: Supplied
HE is the self-proclaimed Superman of fitness gurus who built a multi-million-dollar “hot yoga” empire.
But with a string of rape allegations against him, his franchise falling into disrepute and a humiliated wife filing for divorce, the heat is firmly on Bikram Choudhury.
The 69-year-old pioneered his own version of yoga in India in the late Sixties and has been championed by stars including Madonna, David Beckham and Andy Murray.
There are more than 700 Bikram yoga schools around the world, with fans extolling the merits of his system of 26 poses performed in rooms heated to 40C.
Choudhury, who describes himself as “beyond Superman”, once claimed his Bikram yoga brand made him 7 million pounds a month ($14.1 million).
He would take his own classes in Los Angeles, marching up and down in his trademark black Speedos, accessorised with a headset and a diamond-encrusted Rolex.
But as his wealth and celebrity status grew, his teaching style became even more intense.
The Sun reports one former student as saying: “He’d talk about some girls’ breasts or tell stories about how all the women in LA were walking funny after intercourse with him.”
Another tells of how during one class, Choudhury stood up, grabbed his crotch and screamed: “I am a Bengal tiger! I am a Bengal tiger!”
Others talk of how he would promise to cure cancer and regularly boast of his famous clients and friends.
The walls of his studio are said to be plastered with photos of him with A-listers including actor Luke Perry and former President Bill Clinton.
Yet now his empire is crumbling.
Since 2013, six women have accused Choudhury of rape or sexual assault.
The claims, the first of which is due to reach court this year, are said to have led to some of his franchises dropping his name.
One of his accusers says Choudhury told her, “If you don’t have sex with me, I’ll die”, before raping her.
Bikram yoga founder Bikram Choudhury feeling the heat amid rape allegations and divorce
January 3, 2016 6:44am
Divorce ... Yoga guru Bikram Choudhury is being divorced by his wife of 31 years, Rajashree. Picture: Supplied
HE is the self-proclaimed Superman of fitness gurus who built a multi-million-dollar “hot yoga” empire.
But with a string of rape allegations against him, his franchise falling into disrepute and a humiliated wife filing for divorce, the heat is firmly on Bikram Choudhury.
The 69-year-old pioneered his own version of yoga in India in the late Sixties and has been championed by stars including Madonna, David Beckham and Andy Murray.
There are more than 700 Bikram yoga schools around the world, with fans extolling the merits of his system of 26 poses performed in rooms heated to 40C.
Choudhury, who describes himself as “beyond Superman”, once claimed his Bikram yoga brand made him 7 million pounds a month ($14.1 million).
He would take his own classes in Los Angeles, marching up and down in his trademark black Speedos, accessorised with a headset and a diamond-encrusted Rolex.
But as his wealth and celebrity status grew, his teaching style became even more intense.
The Sun reports one former student as saying: “He’d talk about some girls’ breasts or tell stories about how all the women in LA were walking funny after intercourse with him.”
Another tells of how during one class, Choudhury stood up, grabbed his crotch and screamed: “I am a Bengal tiger! I am a Bengal tiger!”
Others talk of how he would promise to cure cancer and regularly boast of his famous clients and friends.
The walls of his studio are said to be plastered with photos of him with A-listers including actor Luke Perry and former President Bill Clinton.
Yet now his empire is crumbling.
Since 2013, six women have accused Choudhury of rape or sexual assault.
The claims, the first of which is due to reach court this year, are said to have led to some of his franchises dropping his name.
One of his accusers says Choudhury told her, “If you don’t have sex with me, I’ll die”, before raping her.
