Please note the following changes to the schedule for the Labor Day Weekend…

Friday, Regular Schedule (10 AM, 1 PM, 4:30 PM, 6:30 PM)
Saturday, 10 AM & 4 PM ONLY
Sunday, Regular Schedule (10 AM & 4 PM)
Monday, 10 AM & 4:30 PM ONLY

Bikram Yoga is an offshoot of the Kriya Yoga lineage. Bikram’s guru, Bishnu Ghosh, was trained at the Ranchi School for Boys which was founded by his older brother, Paramahansa Yogananda, author of “Autobiography of a Yogi.” Paramahansa Yogananda was an early and major contributor to the introduction of hatha yoga to the West. You can read more about Bikram’s lineage in this Wikipedia article.

The current lineage master of Kriya Yoga, Paramahamsa Prajnanananda is making his first visit to Atlanta this weekend and will be holding two public lectures.

Thursday, August 28, 7:00 - 9:00 pm
Cypress Room at the Carter Center, 453 Freedom Parkway, Atlanta

Friday, August 29, 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm
Atlanta Marriot Century Center Hotel, 2000 Century Boulevard, Atlanta

Download a flyer for the events.

Posture 22 of 26

Rabbit Pose

Benefits: Increases flexibility of the back, spine and disks. Reduces tension in the back. Improves digestion. Regulates metabolism. Increases blood flow to the brain. Reminds one to be humble.

Issues & Maladies: Back and neck pain, thyroid conditions, digestive problems, insomnia, arrogance, hubris.

Body Parts Affected: Thyroid, para-thyroid, pituitary gland, pineal gland, spinal cord, digestive system organs.

Notes: It’s important to keep a strong grip on the heels. Also, make sure it’s the crown (the exact top) of the head on the floor and not the forehead or the back of the head.

Raj Bhavsar is an alternate on the US Olympic Gymnastics team and he’s been chosen to replace Paul Hamm who had to pull out due to an injury. The NBC schedule has been hard to find so I’m not sure but I think he’s competing tonight. Here’s an inspiring video that was made before he was selected to compete.

update - Congratulations to the team for winning a bronze medal.

It’s been a while since Bikram has done an interview so if you haven’t got an opinion about the man this new one, with the Chicago Tribune in advance of his workshop there next weekend, should help. There’s not much he hasn’t said before including the usual reference to “American circus yoga” but aside from saying there is “no crime” in India the shock-inducing rhetoric is minimal. My favorite quote is his response when asked why he’s so strict with his teachers,

In India we say an empty barn is much better than one full of naughty cows. I control my kingdom like a gangster.

I guess I should start calling him ‘Don’ instead of ‘Boss.’

Talking with “hot” yoga founder Bikram Choudhury