Boycotting Bikram

I would not disparage a true professional clown by comparing one to a spurious yoga teacher...as all New Age "yogis" are. Yoga is the progressive religious/spiritual disciplines in Hinduism and its sects. All those ignoring the facts are not "clowns," but children playing a harmful "game," by divorcing yoga from its roots...Hinduism. The facts below, make this clear to all involved....unless they, perhaps in blindness,greed, egoism,etc. feel they have too much invested in their exploitative charade of unethically teaching and/or partaking in "yoga."
Yati
FACTS:
~Sanskrit: The ancient language of the Hindus [Webster's] Note: all subsequent terms are Sanskrit (Skr.) and thus Hindu
~Aum/Om: The most sacred syllable in Hinduism [Oxford World Religions]
~yoga: Skr. "Hinduism" [Webster's]
~yoga: Oneness of Atmana and Brahman [Dict. of Skr. Names]
~yogi/yogini:(male/female) Hindu Ascetic [Oxford World Rel.]
~Atmana: Skr. Self/Spirit; Hinduism [Webster's]
~Brahman: Skr. Hindu Religion [Webster's]
~yoga: Skr. A Hindu discipline [Oxford Am. Dict.]
~ yoga: Skr. A system of Hindu religious philosophy [Thorndike Barnhardt]
~yoga: Skr. general term for spiritual disciplines in Hinduism [Columbia Encyclopedia]
~Swami: Skr. Title of respect of a (Hindu) Holy man or teacher.[Oxford World Religions]
~Guru: Skr. A teacher of worldly skills...more often of religious knowledge...liberation (Moksa).[Oxford World religions]
~Moksa: Release/liberation - the fourth and ultimate goal of Hinduism.[Oxf. World Religion]
~The first recorded evidence of the Skr. word "yoga" is found in the Vedas.
~Veda Skr. The most ancient sacred literature of the Hindus.[Webster's]
~Upanishads: Text in Hinduism which ends or completes the Vedic corpus (body of [Hindu] laws)

I thought the inteview was actually pretty funny but also very true. I have met Bikram a few times, he is quite an entertainer, and very smart man. You have to be alittle open minded and take everything he says with a grain of salt. I have read his book and I've been practising Bikram yoga for the past 3 years.( I have also tried ashtanga, Forrest yoga and "other power yoga".) Over the years, I have lowered my blood pressure, fixed my junk knees from playing soccer most of my life, and I have more confidence then ever. The Bikram yoga classes are beginner classes but are very challenging and all the postures are original Indian postures, not some newly invented posture by Joe Shmo. This is the only yoga that I have stuck with that I could actually see physical changes in my body. I know alot of yoga teachers that teach all kinds of yoga and they are very open minded and very educated that do not only Ashtanga, ect... but also Bikram and and they love it. If you've been practising yoga for over 10 years, you should know not to let anyone or anything desturb your peace. To boycott yoga? Wow you really are a true yogi. Boycotting is only going to hurt the independently owned studios all over the world, and all those students that have saved their own lives practising Bikram yoga. That would be rude, insensitive, and mean I'm very sorry you are so angry. Maybe one day you can give it a try and see for yourself since you never tried a class and and since you are judging based on a little 5 min interview. I think there's one in your area:)
Namaste

He is not being nasty to american yogis. He is simply telling the truth. Why call someone skinny if they are fat? Why call someone a "real go getter" when they are lazy? If someone eats bad foods and is lazy, they are not helping their bodies. Real yoga comes from India. The heat is there for a purpose. Ever see someone in India doing yoga with snow up to their knees in a snow suit? Me either. Don't knock til you try it. It is the only thing that has helped my ankles and back surgeries. I feel like a new man. If it didn't work, why do so many people spend 9 weeks and 10k+ to be a teacher? I'm just a student, but I don't see people forking up that kind of money to learn any other kind of yoga. Maybe I'm wrong.

I have also seen & read many interviews with Bikram. He is an interesting character, an entrepreneur & a yogi. His bio is quite interesting - he studied yoga starting at the age of 4 in Calcutta, India. At the age of thirteen, he won the National India Yoga Championship. He was undefeated for the following three years and retired as the undisputed All-India National Yoga Champion. So he is a man who knows yoga. And he took his knowledge & skills in yoga, developed a series of 26-postures done in a heated room and brought it to the masses. I won't defend his ridiculous rolls-royce obsession, his mansion, etc. Sometimes Americans look at these expensive items & place judgment on the person who spends their money in what we consider to be a frivolous manner. Maybe growing up in third-world country Bikram feels he can celebrate his wealth & success with these cars. Who knows? But the truth is that his yoga works. I have seen amazing changes in my mind, body & spirit since I started his yoga (2 years). I have felt an openness towards others that I didn't know existed. And I discovered that I can get through a physical challenge which is something I never thought possible. I'm not saying it's "the way" but it's certainly one way. I would never want to take away or insult someone else's workout method, meditation method, etc. And I hope others out there will offer me the same respect.

http://loloyogi.blogspot.com

I don't understand how obtaining great heath, maintaining a calm mind and changing everything for the better through "Yoga," without being a practicing Hindu has anything to do with this. Yoga is not a religion, in spite of its roots, any more than Pizza is Italian, especially in NYC versus the midwest. Quoting Webster or Oxford (in English) doesn't make anything true. Bashing Bikram without ever taking his class is ridiculous. Bikram says what he sees, he lives the American dream and he challenges anyone to show him otherwise. Bikram is not a Guru in the traditional sense and neither is his yoga. The results speak for themselves.

Exactly! Jealousy perhaps?

Its easy to be jealous of Bikram's success, and you who call yourself a "Proud American Yogi" who has never tried his system, would be humbled after one month of BIKRAM yoga.

I did the 30 day challenge - 90minutes everyday for one month. His is an exceptional series. If you were truly practicing Yoga CORRECTLY for the last 10 years... you wouldn't be so angry or hostile, or obviously so uninformed.