The Other Side of Bikram

After a very intense week, yesterday I found myself high up in the rocky mountains.  The thin air, the high altitude– and yet, I felt like I could breathe like I haven’t been able to in weeks.  It provided me an opportunity to deeply reflect on my journey with yoga; the journey that began with Bikram and led me to where I stand today.

As I reminisced, thoughts of the lawsuit gave way to fond memories. Some of gratitude.  I believe in balance and it is in this spirit that I would like to share with you one of those lovely memories of Bikram.  It remains true that I disagree with his attempt to own a yoga sequence and institute the sole discretion to prevent anyone from sharing the sacred knowledge that was so lovingly passed down to him.  But, to add some contrast to the conflict, I would like many of you to get a small glimpse of “The Other Side of Bikram”.  peace & love, g

Meditation like no other… the Bikram way

Love him or not, the results speak for themselves.  Bikram has built a dynasty in the face of opposition and disbelief.  You rarely see Bikram or his Yoga highlighted in the many yoga publications.  There is absolute bias against this man, and his yoga, by the self declaring yoga enthusiasts.  I have found that many of the people who don’t like him, have never met him.  Many more have never even attempted a hot yoga class.  Mostly, it is something they heard or read and they won’t be shaken.   I had a real moment of pause early on with this yogi Bikram myself.

It was the summer of 1996 and I was attending the Bikram Teacher Training in LA, at his studio located at Wilshire and Robertson.  It was in the upper 90’s outside and the room had to be, or at least seemed to be, well over 110 degrees.  There were only 28 or so teacher trainers, while in today’s trainings there are well over 300.  It was on this piercing hot day, with sweat pouring down my face and body, that Bikram, as he often did, began one of his stories.

“When I was a young boy in Calcutta I was the fastest boy, no dog could out run me!”

Perfectly timed. We were in a triangle pose. A physically challenging moment for many, myself included, and as I am trembling and sweating, really dying, I thought, “who cares? Shut up and get us out of this posture!”

“And there was this one dog,” He would continue, “nobody thought I could catch that dog!  But I CAUGHT that dog!” he would boast proudly.

By this point my mind was screaming. Shut the fuck up!  I came here for this lunatic? What am I doing here? I need to leave this place- “Continue to do your afternoon meditation.” His voice would interject.  Meditation? Meditation! I honestly don’t remember the rest of the class. I was fuming, and after class I set out to tell him a thing or two.

“You say we are doing our meditation,” I began, “Well, if you would stop telling those stupid fucking stories maybe I could!”  Now granted, in hindsight it was an inappropriate way to approach your yogi, yet nevertheless, without hesitation, he simply held my gaze. I remember as vividly as though it had just occurred. He said, in a kind, patient, unlike him voice,

“You idiot… you Americans meditate, I like it when you meditate, makes my life peaceful.  I like calm Americans.  You go to your room, you play your music, light your candles and incense. You meditate and are happy.  Makes my life more easy…. BUT, ” (and this was a big BUT),  “someone cuts you off in traffic, someone steal your peace at work and you don’t have your candles, you music, your little room, you cry like a baby!

You learn how to meditate in that hot, smelly, stinky room while I talk all my shit and you  can meditate anywhere, nobody steal your peace… NOW GO!”

I have to say, that is a kind of understanding of meditation that is rarely found in yoga circles…and for me it was brilliant….maybe he had something to teach me after all.  We often struggle in life when it doesn’t show up the way we hope or expect.  Bikram’s way of finding that meditative peace in the midst of the challenge..in the midst of our struggles; physical or emotional, this is the invitation of yoga.