Bikram Choudhury (b. 1946) began his yoga training at age four under Bishnu Ghosh at Ghosh’s College of Physical Education in Calcutta, India. At the time, Ghosh was one of India’s most beloved physical culturalists and the younger brother of Paramahansa Yogananda, author of The Autobiography of a Yogi. Under Ghosh’s tough love, Bikram came to win the National India Yoga Championship at age 13, which he held for three years. Bikram retired as the undisputed All-India National Yoga Champion. At 17, Bikram suffered a crippling knee injury in a weightlifting accident. Refusing to accept doctor orders for surgery and even amputation, Bikram returned to Bishnu, and after six months of intense yoga therapy was walking normally.Bikram says, “Now every time I want to quit or just get up and leave, my guru is there with his sword . . . It was nothing less than a miracle, and this inspired me to become a yoga teacher.” Bishnu sent Bikram to Bombay in 1965 to teach yoga. Overwhelmed with sick people seeking his yoga prescription, Bikram developed a sequence of postures (asanas). Bishnu opposed his one-for-all approach, but as the healing efficacy of the sequence revealed itself, he became Bikram’s biggest supporter. More than 45 years later, Bikram’s yoga continues to heal the knees, bodies, minds, and lives of countless people around the world. In 1972, Bikram was summoned to Hawaii to treat President Nixon for advanced thrombophlebetis. Bikram prescribed a simple yoga routine, which resulted in the President’s healing and his personal invitation to Bikram to come live permanently in the United States of America. Bikram established his Yoga College of India and Los Angeles headquarters in 1974, where students and teachers from all corners of the world come to practice his yoga.

Rajashree Chodhoury (b. 1965) began studying yoga at age three under Dr. P.S. Das. Rajashree became the five-time undefeated champion of All India Yoga Championship Competition (1979-1983), Champion of the National Yoga Byayam Competition, and Mrs. India (1985). Rajashree is a Registered Medical Practitioner in Alternative Medicine with a specialization in Hatha Yoga Therapy for chronic diseases and disorders. Rajashree was the driving force behind Bikram yoga teacher training program. She founded the United States Yoga Federation, a non-profit organization dedicated to developing and qualifying yoga as a competitive and Olympic sport. Rajashree’s combination of detailed knowledge, compassion, and poise make her retreats and lectures some of the most sought after in the yoga world and across yoga disciplines. Learn more about Rajashree.