Yogiraj Bikram Choudhury is the founder of the worldwide Yoga College of India. Born in Calcutta in 1946, Bikram began Yoga at the age of four with India's most-renowned physical culturist at that time, Bishnu Ghosh, the younger brother of Paramahansa Yogananda (Author of the most popular book on Yoga, The Autobiography of a Yogi, and founder of the Self-Realization Fellowship in Los Angeles).

Bikram practiced Yoga at least four to six hours every day at Ghosh's College of Physical Education in Calcutta. At the age of thirteen, he won the National India Yoga Championship. He was undefeated for the following three years and retired as the undisputed All-India National Yoga Champion.

At seventeen, an injury to his knee during a weight-lifting accident brought the prediction from leading European doctors that he would never walk again. Not accepting their pronouncement, he had himself carried back to Bishnu Ghosh's school, for he knew that if anyone could help to heal his knee, it was his teacher. Six months later, his knee had totally recovered. Ghosh was a celebrated physical culturist and the first to scientifically document Yoga's ability to cure chronic physical ailments and heal the body.

Bikram was asked by Ghosh to start several Yoga schools in India. The schools were so successful that at Bishnu's request Bikram traveled to Japan and opened two more. He has since brought his curative methods of Yoga therapy around the world

According to Bikram -- Bikram yoga is a routine of 26 poses which works the whole body in 90 minutes. The poses work synergistically and cumulatively to return the body to a balanced state. The yoga builds energy, stamina and flexibility. It incorporates strength, challenge, gravity, balancing and most importantly the tourniquet effect. This technique allows the stretching, squeezing and massaging of the internal organs, flushing out the cardiovascular system and stimulating the endocrine and nervous systems in order to release any deficient hormones and enzymes. The body is self-regulating and self-adjusting.

A regular yoga practice:

Regulates cholesterol in the blood Supplies oxygen and nutrients to parts of the body that have been blocked or stagnant Eliminates toxins Flushes the lymphatic system Strengthens the immune system Balances the endocrine glands Improves the spine's flexibility and health Expands lung capacity and strengthens the heart Lubricates joints Strengthens bones, and stretches and tones the muscles

As we age our muscles tend to get stiffer, creating more pressure on the joints. By regular stretching we prevent this gradual stiffening and joint deterioration and that is why yoga has a rejuvenating effect. Through a regular workout we liberate a vast amount of energy which we can use in our daily life to feel more alive and self fulfilled. We look, move and feel younger. The room is intentionally warm so that your muscles will stretch more easily. The series works equally well for beginning as well as advanced students. Bikram say: "Never too late, never too old, never too bad and never too sick to do yoga and start from scratch again."

It's best to wear light stretch clothing, shorts, tank top or swimsuit. No matter what, bring a towel, water - many people bring frozen water or Gatorade.