Six women accuse hot yoga founder of sex assaults, groping

A yoga guru who founded a rigorous routine of exercises practiced in steamy rooms around the world is facing lawsuits by six women who claim he sexually assaulted them. The most recent case, filed Feb. 13 in Los Angeles Superior Court, said Bikram Choudhury raped a Canadian woman who had shelled out $10,000 from her college fund for a nine-week class so she could teach the 26-pose technique to others. Lawyers representing him and Bikram’s Yoga College of India said he never sexually assaulted any of the women and that prosecutors declined to bring charges.

Their claims are false, needlessly bring shame upon the yoga community, and dishonor the health and spiritual benefits that Bikram Yoga has brought to the lives of millions of practitioners throughout the world.

Bikram Choudhury

Choudhury, 69, has throngs of devotees of what he’s called McYoga for its consistency — 90-minute classes taught exactly the same way in rooms heated to 105-degrees. He leads teaching seminars in nothing but a black speedo while his followers sweat in skimpy, tight clothing. Courses are rigorous, the hours are long and sleep deprivation is almost guaranteed. Choudhury can be charismatic and cutting.

He’d call himself Mafia yogi. It may have sounded not serious to some people, but when he’s assaulted you, it’s a serious thing.

Sarah Baughn, a yoga champion who sued Choudhury