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The National Enquirer has a new interview with the founder of the the Bikram Yoga empire, Bikram Choudhury. Bikram Yoga is a popular form of yoga done in a room heated to 105 degrees. It’s a real trend, with over 600 Bikram studios worldwide. I’ve never tried it, but I know people who swear by it.
The Bikram guy is fabulously bitchy about several celebrities he’s worked with, and it’s worth covering this story just to repeat some of his quotes. He says that Madonna is a piece of work, basically, and calls Britney a “burnout.” Choudhury does have some kind words for celebrities willing to take his classes with others and show up without making demands, like George Clooney and Jessica Simpson. They’re not your typical “undisciplined lunatics in Hollywood,” he adds:
“Most Hollywood celebrities who take up yoga do so because they’ve already tried therapies which haven’t worked,” Choudhury, 63, explained….
[Bikram] Choudhury has worked with hundreds of stars over the years – and pulls no punches when it comes to dishing the dirt.
Although he admires Madonna for being “extremely ruthless” when it comes to keeping in shape, he says she “treats people like dirt.”
“If you disagree with her, you’re immediately blacklisted.
“She came to me and asked for private lessons. I would have none of that. If you are to learn from me, then you will have to come to my classes. You have to leave your starry airs and ego behind.”
Madonna ended up receiving private lessons from an associate of Choudhury. Beyonce didn’t want to mingle with the public, either – but she used a different approach.
“She simply bought the whole class – and then did yoga with her friends and family,” said Choudhury.
The only star who’s ever received a private lesson was Sophia Loren.
“But, then, I was young,” said Choudhury. “Now, I call the shots and nobody messes me around.”
Jessica Simpson and George Clooney are among his favorites. “They do 90 minutes of yoga whenever they’re near a Bikram school – even when they’re overseas. I find that surprising among the crazy crowd of undisciplined lunatics in Hollywood.”
[From The National Enquirer, print edition, October 26, 2009]
Among Choudhury’s other favorites are Jim Carrey, Quincy Jones, Goldie Hawn, Brooke Shields and Diana Ross. He also loves Shirley MacLaine and speaks fondly of her. Britney he could do without, though. He says Spears is going “downhill,” and that “she’s already a burnout.” I wonder what she ever did to him, because he doesn’t elaborate other than to put her down.
It sounds like this Bikram guy thinks the only person allowed to have an ego in his class is him. It really takes one to know one I guess and I’m sure he has his diva moments too.
Here’s a photo of Choudhury standing on someone’s back in class. Look at how all the people in the room are staring at him all wide-eyed. The photographer writes on Flickr “Please don’t try this at home. Janushirasana with Paschimottanasana and a little help from Bikram himself pretending to be Jesus Christ on the cross.”
