Bikram Yoga Founder Bikram Choudhury Ordered To Pay Total Of $7.4 Million For Sexual Harassment

Bikram Choudhury, the yoga guru behind the Bikram hot yoga craze, must pay more than $7 million as a result of sexual harassment allegations.

Bikram Founder Ordered To Pay Up For Sexual Harassment

On Tuesday, a Los Angeles jury awarded more than $6.4 million to women who have accused Choudhury of sexual misconduct. On Monday, jurors had awarded Choudhury’s former legal advisor Minakshi Jafa Bodden $924,500 in compensatory damages, bringing the total of the sum near $7.4 million, reported the Los Angeles Times.

“I feel vindicated, I’m elated,” Jafa-Bodden said after the jury announced its decision. She added that she was shocked by the sum awarded to her personally, but that Choudhury is “a dangerous, dangerous predator.”

During the stretch of time Jafa-Bodden worked for Choudhury, he had apparently not only sexually harassed her, but had tried to keep her from investigating and reporting allegations that he had raped a yoga student.

In addition to Jafa-Bodden, six other women have filed civil lawsuits against Choudhury alleging sexual assault.

While the cases have done well in civil court, Los Angeles County prosecutors have opted not to file criminal charges in many of the cases, believing that there is insufficient evidence.

Choudhury, 69, moved from India to California in the early 70s and became a big name in the yoga world. His hot yoga routine features a series of 26 poses, which are completed over 90 minutes in 104 degrees.