24/11/2019
Statement regarding the Netflix film:
When I opened my 1st yoga school, Bikram Yoga Den Haag in 2006 and my 2nd yoga school, Bikram Yoga Rotterdam in 2008 the idea was simple. Create a safe and welcoming space to teach and practice Bikram Yoga.
Since opening the 1st school, I have witnessed 1000’s of people give this yoga the dedication it requires (which is not easy) and experience profound life changing results. Bikram Yoga, in it’s simplicity of 26 postures, 2 breathing exercises done in a heated room for 90 minutes, was and still is the best tool I have found to have a healthy and profound impact on the lives of so many people, regardless of age, size, ability or health conditions.
Over the past few years there have been unpleasant revelations about Bikram Choudhury (BC), the man who introduced the 90 minute 26 posture series known as Bikram Yoga. Accusations include abuse of power, sexual misconduct and assault.
To be clear, I unequivocally condemn this behavior. I support the women and men that were victims of this abuse. I do not financially contribute to Bikram Choudhury in any way, nor have either one of my yoga schools ever been part of a franchise or sent Bikram Choudhury any money from the daily operations of either school. As for the names Bikram Yoga Den Haag and Rotterdam, there was no payment whatsoever.
In 2012 rumors about misconduct at a Teacher Training surfaced, though the details were murky. In 2013, Sarah V went public with her story. I made the decision to inform students interested in Teacher Training about the accusations, and to no longer write the required recommendation letter for admission to Bikram’s teacher training.
Since opening my 1st school I followed the same strong procedure for new teachers that was started by my predecessors at Bikram Yoga Amsterdam. When yoga students showed interest in the teacher training, they all received the same criteria: practice for 2 years minimum, 5 classes per week. The reason for this was simple, to develop a team of strong, enduring and dedicated people to become teachers at my yoga schools.
The name of Bikram Yoga Den Haag and also (also Bikram Yoga Rotterdam) refers to the practice that is taught there. I and all the other Bikram schools in the Netherlands have worked very hard and diligently to create a strong and positive reputation for the yoga series. ‘Hot Yoga’ has become an umbrella term for all yoga practiced in a heated environment. The name Bikram Yoga differentiates us from all the other ‘hot yoga’. What we do is a specific series with specific conditions that have fantastic results. At Bikram Yoga Den Haag, we only teach the Bikram Yoga series, hence the name Bikram Yoga Den Haag.
If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out and send an email to me (Lydia) info@bikramnl.com.
