Yogiraj Bikram Choudhury is the founder of the Yoga College of India and is a graduate of Ghosh's College of Physical Education in Calcutta. He has over 4000 studios of Bikram Yoga worldwide (otherwise known as "Hot" Yoga with a base temperature of at least 105 degrees Fahrenheit and 40% humidity).
I met Bikram at an absolutely stunning downtown loft, owned by one of his students and studio owners here in Memphis. Natural light streamed in through the back glass paneled walls, and right away I was excited to shoot. He was here for a couple of days until he shuttled back to Los Angeles, where later in the interview while unafraid to 'name-drop', he would reveal that he's "healed" many a celebrity. We were immediately ushered to a waiting area at the back of the loft, whilst our hosts finished up their lunch.
Bikram sauntered over to our part of the loft upon finishing his hoagie; his host right behind him, "Alright, Boss, here's your medication." Apparently, Bikram has been told by doctors to refrain from yoga for 4 to 6 weeks due to a hip injury sustained during a somewhat hazily recounted incident during a session. You can tell right away that this news is unsettling to him. Dismayed myself that I will not be able to shoot this Yogi Master doing poses, I proceed to snap shots while he makes himself comfortable by propping his legs upon an ottoman; even in a reclined position, he retains a dignity of posture and presence hard to describe.
I usually show up to a shoot with a basic knowledge of my subject, though I like to keep an open mind as to what they offer during the course of getting to know them. Three others accompanied me, two writers and editors and perhaps Bikram's biggest fan. But even
before the editor of Skirt! magazine and the youth editor of the Commercial Appeal began asking questions, Bikram starts chatting. He begins discussing his 26 poses based on the Alphabet, the unimportance of eating, his weightlifting accident that left him crippled until he went back to Ghosh's College of Physical Education in Calcutta where he healed in 6 months after being told that he would never walk again...
He trails off, sips his drink (what appears to be cherry Kool-Aid), and Anna Mullins, editor of Skirt! magazine takes the opportunity to steer the interview, attempting to retrieve the answers from prepped questions. *
It becomes difficult, however, when he begins to answer his phone during the interview; it seems that there are problems at home in LA with some of the studios based there. Bikram takes the calls without moving, explaining each one as he hangs up. He admits to not wanting to charge for sessions, but that there must be a profit involved (according to his manager), as well as keeping "smelly hippies" from "taking over the studio, because no one else would come if they did." (He really is an open book regardless of what he reveals, there is no shame; and there really is something endearing about that.)
Bikram has flown all over world, opening studios, doing interviews, and he seems impatient with us, wanting us to ask him questions, maybe questions that he has not already answered. But he is incredibly open, prompting us to ask him anything that we wanted. My role during all of this was shooting... I wanted to capture his dignity, his grace, his insistence. (It does become ironic to me that he is drinking Kool-aid given his absolute certitude of Bikram Yoga's ability to heal, his proselytizing of specifically Bikram Yoga, over "regular" Yoga.)
Bikram describing one of his client's injuries, and how his Yoga poses helped heal him.
Towards the end of the interview, he asks if we would like pictures with him, the answers being, "yes, yes, yes...".
After the last group shot was taken, he imparts on us a bit of wisdom, "Media is too negative."
I thought he was worried about the interview for a second before he says, "In my country, we do not report on the bad stuff that happens because it promotes too much negative energy." He is emphatic in his remark, "Be positive and everything that follows will be positive. No one needs to hear about murder or bombing. Focus on the good things in life, just be positive and positive energy will follow."
This was, possibly, the most revealing thing he has said during the course of the interview. At first I found the statement repugnant; journalism is already biased enough, right? The public is already ill-informed or not informed enough on what is really happening in the world- so how could I even artificially support his suggestion? But then I began to recount the different events in my life that profited from Eric Idle's philosophy. It doesn't always work, it shouldn't always work, but who knows, maybe I should start taking his classes and see for myself.
Because even after waiting a couple of hours for his arrival (on the hottest day of summer yet, which is fitting, in my opinion), it was worth it to meet Bikram, consort with some remarkable people and continue doing what I love to do, taking pictures. What could be a better way to spend an afternoon?
*The reporters on site will give their full acount in Skirt! and the Youth Commercial Appeal (and possibly the Commercial Appeal proper). Please keep a look out!
