Bikram Choudhury Quotes

Powerful Bikram Choudhury for Daily Growth

About Bikram Choudhury

Bikram Choudhury (born July 27, 1946) is a prominent yoga guru known worldwide for developing the Bikram Yoga method, a style that incorporates a specific sequence of 26 postures and two breathing exercises, performed in a heated room. Born in Calcutta, India, Choudhury was introduced to yoga by his father, a yoga instructor himself, at an early age. He began practicing intensively under the tutelage of Bishnu Ghosh, a renowned yoga master and the brother of Paramahansa Yogananda. In 1971, Choudhury moved to Los Angeles, bringing his unique style of yoga with him. Over the following years, he established Bikram's Yoga College of India, which later became Yoga College of America. His method gained popularity due to its emphasis on health benefits and its accessibility to people of all fitness levels. Choudhury's teachings spread globally, with Bikram Yoga studios opening in various countries. He authored several books on yoga, including "Bikram's Beginning Yoga Class: Learn and Master the 26 Postures & 2 Breathing Exercises", which serves as a comprehensive guide for his practice. However, Choudhury's career has been marred by allegations of sexual misconduct, which have led to numerous lawsuits and the dissolution of his yoga empire. Despite these controversies, Bikram Yoga continues to be practiced worldwide, influencing countless individuals seeking physical and mental well-being. In conclusion, Bikram Choudhury's life and work have significantly impacted the world of yoga. His innovative style, although tarnished by allegations, has brought the practice of hot yoga into mainstream fitness culture. Despite the controversies, his influence remains undeniable.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"Yoga is the happy marriage between fitness and philosophy."

Bikram Choudhury's quote "Yoga is the happy marriage between fitness and philosophy" suggests that yoga combines physical well-being (fitness) with a deeper exploration of life, self, and spirituality (philosophy). It implies that practicing yoga not only enhances one's body but also enriches their mind and soul, fostering overall wellness in a holistic sense.


"In reality, it's just you and your mat."

This quote emphasizes the essence of yoga practice as a personal and introspective journey. In the simplicity of one's mat, Bikram Choudhury suggests that we find ourselves, devoid of external distractions or expectations. It underscores the idea that the true value of yoga lies in the self-discovery and inner peace attained during practice - a solitary quest for balance, strength, and awareness.


"If you will just copy what I do, in three to five years you can be as good as I am."

This quote by Bikram Choudhury suggests that if someone diligently imitates his teaching and practice of Bikram Yoga, it would take them approximately 3-5 years to achieve a level of proficiency comparable to his own. The idea is that mastery can be achieved through consistent learning and practicing from an established expert, rather than through self-taught or spontaneous means. However, it's important to note that every individual has unique strengths, limitations, and rates of progress; therefore, achieving mastery may take more or less time for different people.


"The pose doesn't make the yoga body, we make the pose. The pose is not the goal; the pose is only a tool to help us go within."

This quote emphasizes that mastering physical yoga poses is not the ultimate goal of practicing yoga, but rather a means to an inner journey. It suggests that our mental focus, discipline, and self-awareness play a crucial role in our yoga practice, shaping us both physically and spiritually. By using yoga poses as a tool for introspection, we can develop greater self-understanding, mindfulness, and inner strength.


"If you don't sweat, it means you're already dead."

Bikram Choudhury's quote emphasizes that a vigorous and active lifestyle, characterized by sweating during exercise, is indicative of life and vitality. It suggests that if one doesn't perspire during physical activity, it may imply that they are not fully alive or not engaging actively with their body and health. In other words, the quote underscores the importance of staying physically active as a demonstration of being truly alive and in control of one's health.


I have both English bulldog determination and Bengal tiger strength.

- Bikram Choudhury

Strength, English, Bulldog

Every human being in this world is interested in certain things. Everybody has a hobby. Some people like art; I know nothing about it. Some people like books, some people like fishing, some people like music. I like to look at cars.

- Bikram Choudhury

Some, Everybody, About, Hobby

I'm a yogi, not a businessman.

- Bikram Choudhury

Businessman, Yogi

I fix the human chassis, I tune up human engines, I recharge human batteries, and I adjust human transmissions.

- Bikram Choudhury

Fix, Adjust, Batteries, Engines

You cannot drive the car if you do not have a driver's license. You cannot do brain surgery if you are not a brain surgeon. You cannot even do a massage if you don't have a license.

- Bikram Choudhury

Brain, Surgeon, License, Brain Surgery

My system works, as long as people let me do my job my way. It is not just the sequence, it is how you do it: the timing, the mirrors, the temperature, the carpet. But if people only do it 99% right, it is 100% wrong. When someone tries to mess with it, the people won't get the yoga benefits.

- Bikram Choudhury

Benefits, Tries, Works, Sequence

Since my asana techniques increase circulation to all organs in the body and increase lung efficiency, I recommend Bikram Balance natural whole food beverage as a way to provide all the critical nutrients to oxygenate the blood and restore the acid/alkaline balance.

- Bikram Choudhury

Critical, Recommend, Whole, Lung

I like money. You like money. We need the money. But, money is not going to bring humanity and spiritualism into your life.

- Bikram Choudhury

Money, Need, Like, Spiritualism

I always forgave my students, like Jesus.

- Bikram Choudhury

Always, Jesus, Like, Forgave

If you want to live a hundred years, how do you want to live your life? At the age of 100, you should go shopping with your great-grandchildren, but not in a wheelchair.

- Bikram Choudhury

Want, Wheelchair, Hundred, Hundred Years

Natural hydration is a key factor in any type of sports performance.

- Bikram Choudhury

Sports, Performance, Natural, Factor

Maintaining spirituality and humanism are the keys to success. It's a balance.

- Bikram Choudhury

Success, Balance, Keys, Maintaining

The meaning of yoga is connection of mind, body and spirit. If you have a bad telecommunication system, your body gets sick. Yoga helps fix that.

- Bikram Choudhury

Mind, Bad, Yoga, Meaning Of

One student was mixing my yoga up with other kinds, and I said, 'No, you cannot do that.' You cannot put calamari in the sushi and call it sushi.

- Bikram Choudhury

Student, Other, Mixing, Sushi

I didn't come here without a visa, like everyone from China and Vietnam and Cuba. I came here by special plane... received by the ambassador, by the president of the United States. I should be the most honored man in your country.

- Bikram Choudhury

Country, Here, Plane, Visa

Indians do not like Indian teachers; they prefer foreigners, but there is a huge demand for Indian teachers around the world.

- Bikram Choudhury

World, Foreigners, Prefer, Indian

Yoga competition is an old Indian tradition.

- Bikram Choudhury

Competition, Old, Yoga, Indian

It wasn't easy in the 1970s when I initially started on my mission - to take yoga to the world. Nobody knew what it was in Japan. When I met Bill Clinton for the first time, he asked me if it was a form of yogurt that you eat! But I kept my faith and never gave up on my quest.

- Bikram Choudhury

Yogurt, Japan, Bill Clinton, 1970s

Most researchers sit at a table and read books. My research, since three years old, has been to use my own body.

- Bikram Choudhury

Been, Read, Researchers, Table

Why must everyone need a doctorate to teach? You can be a graduate from my institute in two months and for $11,000.

- Bikram Choudhury

Need, Everyone, Months, Institute

I have the biggest and the longest mouth in the world. Everybody's scared of my mouth.

- Bikram Choudhury

Mouth, Everybody, Longest, Scared

When in Rome, I must do as the Romans do. When in America, make Bikram copyright and trademark.

- Bikram Choudhury

Rome, Copyright, Romans, Trademark

Before me, there was no money, no business with yoga.

- Bikram Choudhury

Business, Money, Before, No Business

I bought a 1964 Bentley for $1,600 and re-built it over five years. When I drove it in Tokyo after that, it was the pride of the road. That car would command at least $150,000 today because 'Bikram' has restored it.

- Bikram Choudhury

Over, Bought, Drove, Restored

I have so many choices in America; it's home to so many good things. I'm smart enough to enjoy all the good things that are offered.

- Bikram Choudhury

Enjoy, Enough, Many, Good Things

Do you know, every yoga school in India is free?

- Bikram Choudhury

School, Know, Yoga, Do You Know

You cannot steal somebody's intellectual property. Law and justice protect.

- Bikram Choudhury

Law, Property, Steal, Protect

For months, I slept at work, even though I had an apartment. I'd fall asleep on the floor at 4:30 A.M. By 7 A.M., I was up and ready to start teaching every class.

- Bikram Choudhury

Work, Months, Though, Slept

I always teach celebrities, all my life.

- Bikram Choudhury

My Life, Teach, Always, All My Life

So many people are stealing Bikram Yoga. It's like you're practicing medicine, but you're not a doctor.

- Bikram Choudhury

Like, Practicing, Yoga, So Many People

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