Bikram: Yogi, Guru, Predator, Netflix's latest documentary, tells the dark origin story of Bikram Yoga, a hot yoga that began in a basement ...SearchStoriesForOprahInsidersSetYourIntentionWithOprah!Subscribe!SubscribeNowOprah'sFavoriteThingsBooksYourBestLifeAstrologyFoodRelationships&LoveWellnessWork&MoneyTravelBeautyHairSkin&MakeupStyleEntertainmentTV&MoviesMusicSummerFallHispanicHeritageMonthAboutNewsletterFollowInstagramFacebookTwitterPinterestShopDoNotSellMyPersonalInformationBecomeanOprahInsiderSignInMyAccountSignOutTypekeyword(s)tosearchCourtesyofNetflixBikram:Yogi,Guru,PredatorpremieredonNetflixonNovember20.ThedocumentaryexposesthedarksideofBikramChoudhury,thecharismatic,founderoftheBikramYogaempire.Afteraseriesofsexualassaultandharassmentlawsuits,ChoudhuryfledtoMexicoin2017,wherehelivestoday.Bikram:Yogi,Guru,Predator,Netflix'slatestdocumentary,tellsthedarkoriginstoryofBikramYoga,ahotyogathatbeganinabasementinSanFranciscoin1973andbecameaglobalempirebythemid-2000s—beforefilingforbankruptcyin2017.Thestudio’ssuccessanditsdownfallallstemsbacktooneman:celebrityyogiBikramChoudhury,now75.LordingoverhisclasseswearingnothingbutaSpeedoandaRolexwatch,Choudhurystruckquiteanimage.“WelcometoBikram’storturechamber,whereyou’llkillyourselfforthenext90minutes,”Choudhurywouldsaybeforeclassstarted.Forthenext90orsominutes,participantswouldgothroughacycleof26strictposturesandtwobreathingpositions,allin105-degreeheat.Duringclass,Choudhurywouldoftenmakefunofparticipantsfortheirweightandappearance,accordingtothedocumentary.RelatedStoriesTheBestPlus-SizeYogaPantsforaBetterWorkout9BooksThatTackleSexualAssaultHeadonThepracticewasextreme,oftencausingparticipantstofaintorvomitinclass(Choudhurydidnotbelieveinbathroombreaks,naturally).Somepeoplelovedthefeelingofbeingpushedtothelimit.Afterherharrowingfirstclass,PatriceSimon,aformerBikramYogateacher,recalledintheNetflixdocumentarythatsherememberedthinking,“Itfeltsogood.”OthershadtheoppositereactiontoBikram’spressure-cookerofaclass.“Bikramfelt