The founder of Bikram yoga was accused by a former student of discrimination and sexual harassment.

Bikram Choudhury, the 67-year-old founder of the "hot yoga" franchise had reportedly forced his student to give him massages, brush his hair, and engage in sexual activities, the International Business Times reported.

The student, 28-year-old Sarah Baughn had considered Choudhury to be her hero until his unwanted advances in 2005, according to The New York Times.

Baugh was 20-years-old at the time and had claimed she expressed discomfort when she watched other female students brushing Choudhury's hair, washing his feet, and giving him massages. She had attributed the behavior at the time to cultural differences.

According to the Times, Choudhury started his first yoga studio in the early 1970s, after emigrating from Calcutta, India, to Beverly Hills, Calif. The former Indian national yoga champion slept in the studio, offering free classes while accepting donations. The report claims that Choudhury didn't start turning a profit until receiving a crucial piece of advice from Shirley MacLaine, a former student.

Nowadays, the legendary yoga instructor charges $25 per class across hundreds of studios, earning the moniker "Yoga's Bad Boy" from Yoga Journal, the Times reports.

This is not the first time that a fitness instructor has been accused of sexual harassment. In February, Zumba instructor Alexis Wright was accused of attempting to solicit a pizza delivery man for sex. 

 

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