EFR 855: BIKRAM YOGA Comeback! How 90 Minutes of Hot Yoga Can Give You More ENERGY & Better Health with Laju Choudhury

00:00 - Chase (Host) The following is an Operation Podcast production.

00:03 - Laju (Guest) It's hard, there's no other way to say it. It's not easy. When I'm having a bad day, the best thing to do is separate yourself from the problem or the situation and create space so you can see it clearly. That's what the third eye is when you go into a Bikram class and you're trying to take that space for yourself. There's nothing else in life that's going to be harder than that class. I'm not even joking.

00:25 - Chase (Host) I feel like you are really kind of this yoga community, yogi royalty.

00:29 - Laju (Guest) Royalty. You know the definition of it. For me, you know, it's not even about highlighting myself, as you know, this yoga expert, but it's the voice that I can share and the message that I'm trying to convey through the yoga. What's interesting is this sequence of yoga has actually been around in this country longer. Than any other kind of sequence. It's the most popular because of the franchise and the standardization in 40 years. So it's interesting because I feel like now we're going back and re-educating in comparison to what is out there now. And the difference is is Hi guys, lajri Chowdhury here, egram Yoga's successor. Welcome to Ever Forward Radio. Let's get hot.

01:14 - Chase (Host) This episode is brought to you by Strong Coffee Company. Are you ready to revolutionize your morning routine? Meet Strong Coffee Company, the world's premier on-the-go coffee drink mix that's transforming the way you start your day. I know it has mine. I've been drinking it almost every day for about eight years. I swear by it. I love it. It's delicious, hot or iced.

01:35 Imagine this a coffee that not only energizes, but also nourishes your body and sharpens your mind. Your body and sharpens your mind. Strong Coffee combines organic, fair trade instant coffee with grass-fed collagen, protein and MCT oil powder, delivering 15 grams of protein and five grams of MCTs. That's a lot of healthy fat coming your way per serving. But they didn't stop there. Their blends introduce adaptogens like L-theanine and reishi mushroom to reduce stress and eliminate jitters, plus neurofactor to boost brain health. There's no brewing, no blending, no nonsense. Just add water and you got yourself a delicious, lactose-free, keto-friendly latte in seconds, with flavors like cacao, vanilla, hazelnut, mocha, snickerdoodle. There's a strong coffee for every palate. Looking for just a black cup of joe? Yeah, they got that too. So join the movement that's fueling go-getters everywhere. Visit strongcoffeecompanycom today and use code CHASE at checkout that's code C-H-A-S-E to enjoy 15% off each and every purchase and start your day strong Linked for you, as always in the show notes. But again, that's strongcoffeecompanycom. Check out code Chase C-H-A-S-E for 15% off.

03:02 What's going on, everybody? Welcome to Everford Radio. I'm so glad you're here with me today. If you're new, welcome. If you're returning, welcome back. My name is Chase. I'm an Army veteran, certified health coach, wellness entrepreneur and someone that has committed his life and this podcast to my own advancement forward in a lot of different areas of my well-being physical, mental, emotional, spiritual and my goal with each and every episode is to help you do the same to remind you of a foundational mindset or habit or tactic that you can go back to that maybe you've forgotten, or to introduce something new that you can possibly try to help advance your day, your mindset, your finances, your relationship, to help you keep living a life ever forward.

03:48 My guest today is Laju Chowdhury, the successor to Bikram Yoga. You've probably heard of it. Bikram Yoga, often called hot yoga, was founded by her father, bikram Chowdhury, in the early 1970s, and this practice consists of a series of about 26 postures and two breathing exercises performed in a room heated to around 105 degrees, pushing 40% humidity and plus. Look, I've done many classes with Bikram and Laju has been my instructor each and every time. She is an incredible teacher, very well versed, quite literally, not only grew up in it, but grew up because of it. With Bikram Yoga, the heat is said to enhance flexibility, detoxify the body and improve circulation.

04:32 Bikram Yoga quickly gained popularity for its structured, challenging sequences and health benefits, becoming really a global phenomenon. Despite its success, the practice has faced controversy, prompting many studios to rebrand, as quote, hot yoga, while maintaining the signature sequence and environment. I asked allows you to come on the podcast, because I really admire how she and her brother are really picking up the torch, so to speak, and they are doing one hell of a job, in my opinion, of a rebrand or reintroduction to a way of yoga that is so unique and has truly transformative powers. People that follow Bikram Yoga are true believers. So if you're ready to sweat it out and if you're ready to learn one of the most difficult sequences but rewarding sequences that yoga can offer, you're in the right place. Lajah was in studio with me here in LA.

05:26 If you want to check out the video, it's always available at everforwardradiocom. I'll have it linked for you in the show notes. You can also check us out on YouTube. Just search Ever Forward Radio. Subscribe to the channel over there if you prefer video. But if you're tuning in here today, if you're listening right now, that means audio is more your jam right.

05:42 So, whether that's on Apple, spotify or wherever I got one, ask for you right here right now. Take five seconds, tap, follow, tap, subscribe on your podcast platform of choice. It really truly does help support the show in big, big ways. If you've already done so, thank you immensely. And if you're about to thank you in advance, join me in welcoming you to the show. Welcome to Ever Forward Radio. And you know you're not just someone who has a bunch of yoga teaching hours and you know teaches all over town. You're someone that grew up with it like, quite literally. I'm not I'm assuming here. Maybe were you doing downward facing dog before you were crawling, kind of thing. At what point was yoga introduced in your life and when did it really click for you? As this is something I want to do with my life, not just oh, this is just something that I was born into.

06:32 - Laju (Guest) So the first time I experienced yoga was actually in my mom's stomach. She also was of course.

06:39 - Chase (Host) Of course she's in utero.

06:42 - Laju (Guest) She was a five-time national, india national world champion. So when she came to the United States and she was married, she married my father. They developed the Bikram Yoga sequence and the brand together. Also, the pregnancy sequence was established. So that's when you know. She tested out the sequence and tried everything with me. I was the first child. I have one younger brother.

07:08 - Chase (Host) So you weren't just born into it, you were developed into it. Yes, yes.

07:13 - Laju (Guest) So, like, the pregnancy sequence is a little bit different than the regular sequence. There's modifications. So, um, I guess I I guess you could say I was the first one to really test out that pregnancy sequence that now everybody's doing. So, yeah, that would be my first experience. But growing up, you know, as a kid I would say I was in the room like around two years old. Yeah, you don't want to be in the heat for more than 30 minutes before puberty because your pituitary glands aren't developed so children can overheat. So 30 minutes.

07:47 We recommend doing the floor series and that helps a lot with the spinal growth and development, which is everything, you know all the nerves, the spinal cavity, everything the brain activity starts from there. So that's what the floor is kind of focused on for children. So I started out when I was two and it's actually an interesting story, cause, um, I don't really share this with people or anybody really. But, um, you know, being born into a yoga family, into the royalty family, you know, everybody thought that my brother and I would come out, you know, physically perfect, cause my parents are yoga experts, yoga champions. So to speak.

08:29 - Chase (Host) Healthy parents should equate to healthy children.

08:31 - Laju (Guest) Exactly Now. I was born with bilateral clubfoot, and my brother too. It is genetic and basically what that means is your pigeon code, and there's different degrees of it too. So it could. It starts, you know, it affects all the way from your tarsals, metatarsals, ankles, hips, knees, the whole thing. So, depending on the alignment of the joint, from one joint it affects everything else, it's the same. So all the way through the leg. So basically, you know, when I was born the ankles were really affected by it, so I couldn't walk like I was casted for two years.

09:10 - Chase (Host) Casted for two years. Wow, I didn't know that part.

09:12 - Laju (Guest) I know Nobody knows this. I don't share this with anybody. It's like a really personal story.

09:16 - Chase (Host) So thank you.

09:18 - Laju (Guest) Yeah, of course, basically you won't find any baby pictures of me, like until after the casting. So the casting actually didn't work because they tried to mold the feet so that it grows into the right form and shape so you can walk properly. So it didn't work and my brother was born two and a sure that everything structurally forms correctly.

09:51 - Chase (Host) Was this? Only you and your brother? Were your parents? Did they have the same issue?

09:54 - Laju (Guest) No, but my, my it's, it's like a skip generation thing.

09:58 So I think my grandfather on my mom's side had the gene, but they never it didn't like show up in their feet or anything. You know my mom has a little bit of like bunions and things like that, but there was no like problem. So, to be honest with you, I really got into the yoga because I really needed it for myself and, um, you know, it wasn't until like 13 when I really I practiced all the way until you know, middle school, pretty much regularly after school. The alternative to, uh, surgery is yoga. Right, people want to go to yoga if they, if there's an injury or a tear or something. So it's interesting because before you know, my father and my mother had children. Everybody would go to them for these things. And to be a child being born into this where now they're facing surgery and now I'm facing surgery.

10:52 It was almost like people, I mean, it would there was no other option, you know, cause otherwise I wouldn't be able to walk properly.

10:59 So I'm actually grateful that I was born into this, because had I not had the yoga, you know be there my whole life for when I needed it, for when my feet feel tight, because after the surgery there's so much scar tissue, as a kid, your ankles, the mobility there's, the flexibility, it's just not there. So thank God I had the yoga practice, you know, alongside everything else I was doing. You know I played three sports, three varsity sports, all the way through high school, plus yoga, and it really, bikram yoga specifically, was really able to keep my body in a place where I was comfortable and at ease and not in pain. And it was interesting because on my right foot my right foot was a little bit worse, the left foot wasn't as bad so they had to fuse my ankle on my right foot, which means it doesn't move. So, like I can't wear a heel on one foot, did not get to wear, you know, higher than three inch heels to prom. So, like you know, it's still the case today.

12:02 - Chase (Host) But I mean, there's platforms and things like that now.

12:03 - Laju (Guest) So, like you, know it's still the case today, um, but I mean there's platforms and things like that now. So, like you know, I make it work, but but, um, uh, long story short. As I, um, as I got older and I hit puberty and things started to get tighter, I saw the foot, um the foot problem, develop into my hip and into my spine, so I started to get scoliosis at 13.

12:28 So it was just going up the chain, it was going up the chain Cause when, when you have no arch in one foot, the hips are off balance, which means your shoulders are off, your spine is off, you're sitting a certain way, the the the most beautiful thing about Bikram yoga and the sequence is that it restores balance within your body. So any sort of imbalance that you have, the postures, the positions, it's synchronized perfectly to start from top to bottom. Inside out. Every posture prepares you for the next one, so there's no room for injury and everything is in the natural range of motion. So as soon as you feel like you're starting to lose a posture, you can't do one. That means that's the position that you need to do, because your body is deteriorating in that way. So it was interesting because at 13, when I started doing my back bends, I started to go to the side backwards because of my hips. So then what do you have to do? You do the opposite.

13:23 - Chase (Host) Yeah.

13:24 - Laju (Guest) So you do the spinal stretches forward, anything like you know, to get it in the proper alignment Forward, backwards, side to side. The last four postures in the Bikram sequence are really the ones that straightened out the back and everything. So I actually started this for myself and I really became a believer when I saw what it did for my body. Now, if I don't practice for two days, you know, it's like I feel like I can't even walk, like everything's stiff. You know, cause I've become so uh my body's adapted yeah.

13:56 Without it, I don't feel the same anymore.

14:00 - Chase (Host) Bikram is, uh, very different from traditional yoga and, as someone that loves yoga and has a fairly regular practice, I've been off my game recently. But when I stepped into your class for the first time, I was like, oh, like, what the hell did I sign up for? And I think a lot of people feel that way. You know, it's warm, it's very warm and you go through a different variety of sequences that I've never experienced in any other yoga class. So for someone who is like stepping into this world and they're faced with this hard reality of this is going to be a totally different, probably much more challenging experience. Like, what do they need to do to prepare mentally before stepping on that mat?

14:43 - Laju (Guest) need to do to prepare mentally before stepping on that mat? Yes, that's a very good question. And what's interesting is this sequence of yoga has actually been around in this country longer than any other kind of sequence. It's the most popular because of the franchise and the standardization in 40 years. So it's interesting because I feel like now we're going back and re-educating in comparison to like what is out there now.

15:06 And the difference is is I mean, all yoga is great, you know, something is always better than nothing, Even if you can't do the full hour and a half 90 minute Bikram class and you can do an hour, still good getting the postures in. But ultimately, you know this class the way I like to look at it is you know, it's hard. It's really freaking hard. There's no other way to say it. It's not easy. When I'm having a bad day we all have those right. The best thing to do is separate yourself from the problem or the situation and create space so you can see it clearly. That's what the third eye is right, without any judgment or anything like that. Now, when you go into a Bikram class and you're trying to take that space for yourself, there's nothing else in life that's going to be harder than that class. I'm not even joking.

15:58 - Chase (Host) Probably not, definitely not that hard. No, not for sure.

16:01 - Laju (Guest) So you're instantly going to feel this gratification that I already did something that's better.

16:08 - Chase (Host) Why is this so different and why do these postures and this sequence of postures matter?

16:13 - Laju (Guest) Yes, so the Bikram yoga sequence is a 90-minute class. First things first. You want to have your water with you.

16:20 - Chase (Host) We have two water breaks throughout the class and some electrolytes in there.

16:24 - Laju (Guest) Yeah, electrolytes as well. So the first warmup is three postures, and those three postures increase your heart rate. So you start with half moon pose, which warms up your skeletal system right Side side, backwards, forwards, and you do everything twice in the Bikram class. That's what makes it 90 minutes and that's what makes it different than any other yoga. Do everything twice in the Bikram class, that's what makes it 90 minutes and that's what makes it different than any other yoga.

16:48 - Chase (Host) Why everything twice?

16:49 - Laju (Guest) Because the first set, everybody's body is different that day, depending on what you put in, depending on what you did physically, what activities. You know you might stretch different, you might be more tight. Maybe you went to the gym, maybe you drank a little bit. You know, every day is different. So the first day is really to just acclimate your body and see where you're at. And the second set of the pose is really where you're going to improve the posture and gain the elasticity. So that way you have, like you have two chances to do the posture and and the class is difficult you have to pace yourself. So I always tell my students it's better to take a couple breaths than entering a pose in fight or flight mode, because the resting in an asana-focused class is the most important thing.

17:34 Bikram is all asanas. There's no flow. Asanas are poses that you hold and when you hold them you're restricting the circulation to a certain internal organ. So that's the difference is that the standing in the, the beginning of the sequence, warms up your skeletal system and your muscular and your muscles right. Then when you hit the floor, that's we always say that's the real class, because, um, your heart rate is up, you've already been active in the heat for 50 minutes, so you don't need to be standing up to burn the same amount of calories to get the same internal benefits from the poses. So the standing is skeletal muscles muscular. When you get to the floor, you're going to work on the internal organs.

18:18 Now this is the only exercise that I've ever done that actually detoxes the internal organs in order. So you start with Pavanmuktasana wind removing posture, right. You do your ascending colon, your descending colon. You're holding for 10 seconds, releasing for 10 seconds, and then you rest for 10 seconds. So when you do the posture, whatever gunk you have in whatever organ that needs detoxifying, right. If you do fixed firm posture, uh, supta vajrasana, that detoxes your spleen. So each pose has is relative to an organ how, how do we know this to be true?

18:56 - Chase (Host) how do we know? By just positioning the body, going through a movement, holding a pose? You're actually affecting things internally.

19:04 - Laju (Guest) So I mean it's. It's also, it's. There's medical science and testimonials, we have studies proven. But also, like, if you're compressing, you're restricting the blood circulation to going to getting to that organ, right, okay, then when you release the circulation, that's when the push happens, it's like a pump. You get extra flow. So, um, an example uh, we have a posture, um to learn to us in a balancing stick posture, what you're doing is you take a big step forward and you're stretching forward with the arms and you're uh kicking back and up with the leg I remember this one.

19:41 - Chase (Host) Yeah, you actually did this really well, it's the T.

19:44 - Laju (Guest) So what's happening is, when you're stretching forward and you're kicking back and up, you're compressing the rib cage. It's literally restricting circulation to the heart. So we and then, when you release, you feel that rush right away. It's only 10 seconds. You do, you feel dizzy right, so over time you're going to feel the difference also.

20:05 - Chase (Host) Yeah, gentlemen, are you tired of dress shirts that don't complement your athletic build? Look, we're in the gym, we're hitting the trails, we're on the yoga mat, we're putting in the work to build strong bodies. So isn't it time to upgrade your wardrobe that fits and even highlights all of that hard work? It's time to upgrade to State and Liberty, the brand that's redefining menswear for the athletically built guy. Their dress shirts are crafted from performance stretch fabrics, offering a true athletic fit that highlights your V-shaped physique. So say goodbye to baggy waist and tight shoulders. Their shirts provide a modern, tapered look tailored just for you.

20:49 I swear by State and Liberty. I have so many of their pieces jackets, button downs, trousers, suits, even a couple tuxedos. There's nothing like your daily street wear to look and feel your best. But I got to tell you the State and Liberty formal wear is going to put you on the next level. Their shirts are moisture-wicking, lightweight and wrinkle-free, ensuring you stay comfortable and sharp from the boardroom to the gym. Plus, this is the best part, I think they're machine washable, so no dry cleaning necessary, saving you a lot of time and money. So join me and the ranks of professional athletes and athletic build guys all over the world who have trusted State and Liberty to keep us looking our best. Visit stateandlibertycom. Use checkout code EVERFORWARD for 10% off every purchase. That's S-T-A-T-E-A-N-D-L-I-B-E-R-T-Ycom. Check out code EVERFORWARD to save 10% and experience the difference of performance. Menswear designed for your build.

21:50 Today's episode is also brought to you by one of my favorite brands, cured nutrition, and their brand new product, the flow gummies. Are you seeking a natural way to enhance your focus, memory and overall performance? Introducing flow gummies by cured nutrition, the smart, delicious solution to fuel both your mind and body. That's because each gummy is packed with organic lion's mane, this functional mushroom that helps boost cognitive function and memory. Ginkgo biloba to improve blood flow and support mental clarity. And green coffee bean extract for a natural energy lift. Without the jitters. It's perfect for busy, health-conscious individuals. The Flow Gummies offer sustained energy and mental clarity in a convenient, on-the-go form. Not to mention, they're vegan, gluten-free and made without artificial flavors or preservatives, ensuring you get clean support whenever you need it. So simply take two gummies whenever you need a boost in energy, focus or even physical performance, whether it's to kickstart your morning power through a midday slump or prepare for a big project or workout.

22:53 I love Cured Nutrition. I've been using their products daily for years and I'm so excited to introduce this new one to you. I love the taste. I love the way I feel on them. Not to mention I love knowing that Cured makes products that I can trust. I wouldn't steer here wrong If I trust them. You can, too. So elevate your daily routine with the Flow Gummies and experience the natural way to stay sharp and active. Got an exclusive deal for you. You can get 20% off the new Flow Gummies or any other amazing Cured Nutrition, functional mushroom and adaptogenic product, linked for you as always in the show notes under episode resources. But again, that's curednutritioncom. Check out code EVERFORWARD to save 20%.

23:34 - Laju (Guest) So always, doing less is better than pushing yourself too much in this class because, just like life, you want to pace yourself, you know you want to breathe, you want to make sure that at the end of the class you're going to be getting the benefits from it, which means you have to be mindful in all your movements, all of your breath, everything. So I have people coming into class that really want to. Just it's like yoga, face in the mirror they want to hit it hard.

24:00 - Chase (Host) And it's quite humbling.

24:01 - Laju (Guest) That's the point. There you go, and somebody that can do the class perfectly beautiful, flexibility, balance, no problem Doesn't have to sit down. They're actually gaining way less than somebody that's having a hard time because there's so much more mileage to be gained, right. So, like you, as a student, actually have way more you know to gain than the professional ballerina who's actually in there to adjust her hips from all the deteriorating from years ago. So it's a different practice, right.

24:30 - Chase (Host) Yeah, so are we doing everything twice? There's a unique flow and sequence, so we started standing and now we're getting to the floor.

24:37 - Laju (Guest) So you have the-up, the first three. Uh, we don't, uh, we don't have a water break until after the first three. You want to keep the heart rate up that, so you do half moon. Then you do awkward posture the ones, uh, uh, warming up the hips and the knees and the ankles.

24:51 Remember that you're going going down three steps yeah and then you do garbos in the eagle pose, which warms up the major joints in the body. So after the warmup you have a break, a water break. Then you do the balancing series, which is all one-legged postures. Those increase your heart rate, gets your blood circulation More likely to feel dizzy in those, which is okay. They are depending on you. Know the person.

25:16 I. I love the balancing because of my feet problem, the imbalance. I like to actually work on the one that's weaker to see if I can get them. It's a way to test you know your balance and the internal balance within the body as well. Balancing. And then you do the separate legs, everything split leg, so there's three of each in each. Uh in each, like sequencing, uh for the standing and then, once you get to the floor, you do the pavanmuktasana to detox the um, ascending, descending colon, and then you do the spine strengthening which is, in my opinion, like this is. This is my expertise because I had the spinal problems. Let me explain the spinal series a little bit in detail.

26:02 - Chase (Host) Okay.

26:02 - Laju (Guest) So you start with Cobra posture. Cobra posture you put the arms underneath the hands underneath the shoulders and you come up 90 degrees right and just 90 degrees. So there's enough compression in your lower back and just 90 degrees. So there's enough compression in your lower back. So once you release the posture, you lay there. Blood circulates to the place that was compressed. You do it again twice. Then you move to the upper back right. Once you get to the upper back, your arms are underneath. One leg goes up, second leg goes up. Both legs go up 10 seconds.

26:38 Look, it's all about the breathing also. You know the breath is the most important thing, especially in the asanas, when you're holding it and coming out. You want to make sure you know inhale when you go in, exhale when you're coming out, or vice versa, depending on the pose. Now, what's interesting is so there's four in the spine, strengthening. You do the lower back, the middle back, and then you do Purnasalavasana, full locus, which is the middle back, strengthening. You bring arms, legs, head, chest, everything up, hold it there for 10 seconds. You don't even need weights. Try to do that for an hour, or a minute even, and see what happens. You know you don't even need dumbbells or anything. You just need to hold your arms and legs up and you're going to build the same amount of strength straight up and then you do after the center of the spine.

27:25 You do it twice, you rest, then we do the entire spine, so each individual part of the spine is warmed up before compressing the entire 360. Now a lot of doctors tell us you know, if you're having neck pain, don't go backwards. I mean, you're having neck pain because the muscles are tight, because you can't go backwards. So we always encourage whatever you can't do, do a little of so that eventually you're going to be able to gain that mileage back. So the spine strengthening. I have a lot of clients that come to me that have lost mobility or have tightness. So, or if there's an injury or like a fusion or something in the spine right, it's important to have that break and the two sets so that the blood goes to the right place to heal.

28:13 - Chase (Host) Yeah, pain Pain. In a lot of other yoga classes or just working out, I've noticed people will be prompted to hey, if you ever get into a range of motion or a movement and you experience pain, stop, don't do that. In Bikram I've noticed when you get to pain you kind of encourage to stay there a little bit with it.

28:37 - Laju (Guest) Yes, why is that? Yes, so here's an example in stretching posture, your legs are out, you're holding your toes right, you're pulling on your legs and the goal is to touch the feet to the head, to the toes, which every human body actually physically can do. We just lose that amount of elasticity in our spine over time. As a child, you'll see, you can do it right away Now, um. See, you can do it right away Now, um. There's a difference between a sharp pain and a muscle like pain. Right, if you're sitting there pulling on your legs, it's hurting underneath. Keep breathing, that's where the tightness is. You need to acclimate in that position.

29:13 So are we really saying pain or just discomfort, discomfort, I would say Look, if there's a sharp pain in any way, we always say ease off of it, don't put too much onto it. There could be something wrong there, you know. But if you're coming back from a surgery or a recovery of some sort and you're feeling some pain, that might be more normal, just because you're gaining back the tightness that was lost from whatever procedure you had there's a difference.

29:41 Now, if you're there's, if you're sitting on your hips or you're sitting on your knees and it's like a meniscus pain that's really sharp. You know that might be something different, but we've had people that we've had this. This lady came to. This woman came to teacher training last time and she had a torn meniscus and she just did not want to go get surgery. So she did the class, no problem, and she's maintaining the whole thing no pain anymore. Wow, so what happened was the alignment of the postures, the positioning of the postures realigned whatever was going on inside. And you're doing two classes a day for nine weeks. So that's enough to alter the body.

30:15 - Chase (Host) Yeah, where did this sequence come from? Was this something that your parents just were trying around a bunch of different stuff? Oh yeah, like this is the one that we really like. Was there, you know, some like ancient discovery? You know, where did all this? Because it is so specific and sequential. Where did this sequence come from?

30:32 - Laju (Guest) So my dad was actually a bodybuilder and he crushed his knee a long time ago in his teens and he had been exposed to yoga as a young boy. So he ended up going back to his guru and practicing and rebuilt his knee. So he it took him nine years to put the sequence together. There's 2000 yoga asanas out there and he picked up a piece of it and put it together.

30:57 - Chase (Host) So, he. Asanas are poses.

30:59 - Laju (Guest) Postures, postures. Okay, so out of 2000,.

31:01 - Chase (Host) he came up with With 26. With 26. Yes.

31:04 - Laju (Guest) And put it together in the sequence that worked for him to rehabilitate his body and his knee and it's worked. It worked for Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. That was his first student when he came to America in the 70s Quincy Jones he had opened his studio on Camden and Beverly Hills. It was like an underground basement Actually. Like have very funny stories from then because he would say that it was like you know, the hub that people would come and hang out with, you know, after going out at night and they detox and sweat and like mingle and meet people.

31:36 Quincy Jones was his first student, raquel Welsh and Quincy brought Kareem to class after he retired from the Lakers the first time because his knees, his cartilage, it was all busted. Certain poses fix. Firm is the fixer, is what we call it, because the more that you do the pose that you need, there is regrowth. That happens within the body. In those, in the places that need it, there's a blood circulation, fresh, fresh oxygenated blood going to that part that you're holding and positioning. Let the release is the most important thing, because that's the growth, just like when you're sick right, you need to rest, you need to drink water and that's the only way to heal your body. Imagine it's the same thing with the cartilage in your knee right. It's alive.

32:24 - Chase (Host) Yeah, same. Thing.

32:26 - Laju (Guest) So you got to feed that place that needs the love. So what do you do? You pump? Same thing with the joint right. So after doing yoga, he healed his knees, came back out of retirement and broke all of his records. So, yeah, and um, it's in his documentary too. He's doing an Eagle posture in there. It's him and Joe Johnson, who is also a student. Uh, they are actually working with the NBA to put hot yoga rooms.

32:52 There's yoga rooms in the facilities for the for the sport, for the training centers, but they're actually heating the rooms now. I think there are six of them that have been heated so is.

33:01 - Chase (Host) Uh, is yoga really? Is it making a comeback, like in general? Because you know I haven't really heard that professional sports organizations are going to this level of having it in-house. I know a lot of athletes use it in their own kind of thing, but are we seeing kind of this resurgence of yoga, you know, mainstream?

33:17 - Laju (Guest) You know, I don't think it really went anywhere. I just think Pilates kind of took a popularity, like it became a little bit trendier than yoga, for whatever reason for the time being. Now, all my Pilates girls love you guys, love what you're doing, but when your hips are sore from doing all those reps I'll see you in class. Seriously, there is some deteriorating that happens from Pilates too in the joints. So over time you might need that yoga and that heat to regenerate whatever's happening there. Good for muscles. You don't know about the joints, though, right?

33:54 - Chase (Host) Yeah, yeah. So do you think that there's a place for hot yoga, bikram yoga? Actually, let's go back. There is a difference between hot yoga and Bikram yoga, correct?

34:03 - Laju (Guest) Yes, hot yoga can be any style that's heated.

34:05 - Chase (Host) Okay.

34:06 - Laju (Guest) Bikram yoga is the 26 and two breathing, two breathing exercise.

34:11 - Chase (Host) So Bikram is temperature and sequence Hot yoga is just temperature.

34:14 - Laju (Guest) Yes, and we have a standardized dialogue that is exactly verbatim.

34:20 - Chase (Host) Every teacher knows it, it's the direction there's a yoga script.

34:23 - Laju (Guest) It's a yoga script for what you're doing, how you're doing it, why you're doing it. Every fingertip to the muscle, to the like, literally to the breath, all the way down to the T.

34:33 - Chase (Host) Okay.

34:33 - Laju (Guest) So that when you go into a regular 26 and 2 class, there is, you know, other studios that have adapted our form but maybe are not aligned with us, with our brand. They might do things a little bit differently, the dialogue might be different. And now the dialogue is the key to everything, because that is what maintains the timing of the postures. So if you shorten a few of the words, it shortens the pose. So, um, that's when you'll know that you're like really walking into a specific, like Bikram classes like you hear that proper dialogue.

35:09 - Chase (Host) Who can benefit most from Bikram yoga? Is this for the stay at home dad? Is this for the professional athlete? Is this for somebody you know working through an injury? What does Bikram have to offer for certain types of people?

35:20 - Laju (Guest) I mean it's literally for everybody, like the kid, if you're a child and you want to maintain your body, you know, all the way until you're 80 years old, keep doing Bikram yoga. You're not going to deteriorate. You're going to keep the flexibility, you're going to maintain that health and that mobility which is going to keep you feeling good. Ultimately, anytime you get tight that's when people get in a bad mood, I feel like you know. So, yeah, keep it loose. Um, injuries, you know we were recommended after surgery to go in and do B cream yoga.

35:52 Obviously, after you know, um, you have doctor clearance and stuff like that we have a lot of hardcore practitioners though that believe like right out of surgery, I want to get into the room because I don't want to waste any time for any tightness anywhere.

36:03 - Chase (Host) They want the heat, they want the blood flow, the oxygenation, yeah.

36:06 - Laju (Guest) Yeah, so it's really really good for recovery. Also, I mean for your mental health. Like I said, I've gone through so many ups and downs. You know nothing is easy. Like I said, I've gone through so many ups and downs, you know nothing is easy and I feel like challenging myself in the class is really what builds that discipline and over time, that discipline leads to the most positive attitude because you always find a way out of anything. You know in a not out of anything, but you always come out in a good way and on top with that sort of mindset.

36:37 - Chase (Host) I know that you, you know kind of travel the world teaching this and teaching to students, teaching to other teachers Um, what's different for you when you're leading a class? Uh, you know, teaching a group of people here to do hot yoga versus someone who's there to like learn from you, and then kind of go on championing this brand.

36:55 - Laju (Guest) Yeah, I mean it's really interesting. I'll give you an example. Um, I won't name my client because, uh, he's pretty well-known but he's elderly, it's me. Oh elderly Damn. 50 years from now. Yes, We'll repeat that.

37:16 - Chase (Host) It would be interesting, though, if you start now to see in 50 years how much, how much we've gained.

37:20 - Laju (Guest) We'll put a timestamp here. We'll come back to that. Yeah, so like somebody that's older, who's gone through maybe you know hip replacements and you know aneurysms and things are just off, you know they might need assistance in figuring out how to get up off the ground the most comfortable way if they fall, you know. And then how to strengthen those parts you know to make sure that if it happens it doesn't get re-injured or things like that. So it's a different sort of class. When I have a client like that Now, when I'm teaching a beginner, it's actually so interesting because when a new guy comes into the class, everybody's like amped up and then they get their ass kicked literally ass kicked wiped out on the floor dead and I always hit them up.

38:03 I'm like, hey, are you good? What's up? No answer for that day. But then the next day it's like, oh my God, I feel amazing, I need to come back tomorrow. I'm sold. And it's the challenge. This class is a gas station, it's you're. Not. Every exercise that you do creates impact. Here you're taking space. You're creating space within your body, allowing, you know, energy fascia breakdown, which which stimulates your brain, new thoughts, all that. It's really after the class that you feel the effect of the class and how good you feel and you're honestly like kind of on a high it's a natural high for 24 hours and then, once it goes away, because you just feel better, you know you've stretched yourself out, you're standing taller, your chin's up, you feel more confident, you feel like you can breathe better All of the above and then suddenly you don't feel as good again. So you need to come back. That's the difference.

39:00 - Chase (Host) So she trapped us. It's this never ending cycle of just sweating it out. Do you find, when you bring in teachers, are they all already practicing yogis, yoga instructors, or are they all brand new? Is there any like unlearning that needs to happen if maybe a yoga teacher comes to learn Bikram?

39:18 - Laju (Guest) Yeah, so absolutely, that's such a good question In our training. I like to describe it as like karate kid, mr Miyagi, right, my dad's teaching style is very old school, where you know you kind of like, want somebody to come in with a clear head. No expectations, no preconceived notions, nothing like that. Clean slate, break them down.

39:35 No expectations, no preconceived notions nothing like that Clean slate, break them down, let them absorb as much as they can, you know fresh. Whereas me, you know being here, I have a sort of different teaching strategy where I like it's the rule of threes for me I will constructively criticize, I will correct and then I'll encourage, and I feel, with new beginners and new students, that cycle really works. I will constructively criticize, I will correct and then I'll encourage, and I feel, with new beginners and new students, that cycle really works. It's interesting, like new students really. Sometimes they want attention, but not too much attention, you know. So you need to know, like when that is. So, yeah, I always like go back to the threes, like making sure, like, oh, it is a new student, I corrected them. Did I also encourage them, you know, to make sure that they feel like it. Maybe they didn't do the correction right too. It's good that they tried, though. Yoga is about trying it the right way. You don't do it.

40:30 - Chase (Host) What is maybe one of the biggest preconceived notions that you can think of, that a already practicing yoga teacher comes into to learn Bikram. What is the biggest preconceived notion or biggest unlearning they have to do? Is there like one thing that you're like man? Every yoga instructor, the majority of yoga instructors, I have to. Really. We have to undo this before we can build up on here.

40:54 - Laju (Guest) Yeah, I mean, I think it's. It's really about, you know, being the best student that you can be, and it's not about accomplishing a posture or finishing the class better than somebody else. It's not about that.

41:08 - Chase (Host) Is there like one thing that you find most common when you're teaching to other teachers to become Bikram teachers? That's like, oh man, like anybody that goes through this yoga training that's like, oh man, like anybody that goes through this yoga training.

41:21 - Laju (Guest) No see, most of the people, most of our students that come to teacher training have been trained pretty well from a studio that's affiliated. So they've at least done six months of yoga and have a recommendation from yeah, there's a process. There's a screening process.

41:31 - Chase (Host) So walk us through. So not just anyone can become a Bikram yoga teacher. That has to be a application, a process.

41:37 - Laju (Guest) Yes, it's. There's an application process. We have around 1,100 studios worldwide and we have two trainings a year in Thailand and they're nine weeks long. Now, the reason for the nine weeks is because you know, like in India, when you go on like a journey or like an ashram right, it's really about separating yourself from your life so you can immerse yourself in what you're doing and really take advantage of the experience. You do your karma yoga. Sometimes you trade duties for services, all that sort of thing. Now, we really wanted to recreate this sort of format, but also with the bootcamp in the Bikram right. So we have the nine week process, but in the meantime, you're also doing two classes a day, morning and night. You're learning um about the yoga sutras, patanjali, mahabharata.

42:29 - Chase (Host) What are these?

42:30 - Laju (Guest) These are all the scriptures, the um, it's all theology, yoga, theology.

42:35 - Chase (Host) Okay.

42:35 - Laju (Guest) So the Mahabharata is um. It's kind of like the Bible for. Hindus I guess you can say and yoga did come from, you know, india is from Hinduism, but also now has become so mainstream. It's, you know, in yoga sport. It's about to be in the Olympics also. So we do try to teach a little bit of the history as well, but it's also going into, you know, the modern age too.

42:59 - Chase (Host) So yeah, Uh, I love the theology aspect. I love the, the, the approach to life, the mindset part of yoga Um. Can you kind of share with us some high level yoga theologies that you have found um to maybe influence class, influence posture?

43:17 - Laju (Guest) Yeah, absolutely. I mean, look, the ultimate destination in life is self-realization. What does that mean? Right, it means understanding your own spirit. Now there is a misconception.

43:29 People think, you know, you practice yoga, you're a spiritual person, you don't believe in religion. There's a separation. I don't think that's true. I think you know, being a spiritual person means and mindfully means recognizing what it is that feeds your spirit to make you the best version of yourself. And if that means going to temple or going to church, you know, brings me that peace of mind and gets me to that enlightened place, there's nothing wrong with that. I actually encourage it. I love learning about different cultures and religions. I actually took a class about Judaism. I love going to mosques when I travel. I just, you know, it's all or nothing for me Because everybody, it's. Yoga means union, and without understanding each other, there's no way we're going to ever get to one place, all of us, and I think that's um, that's the third eye. You know, you see something for what it is and try to make the best of the situation, no matter what it is. That's just how you have to come out on top.

44:30 - Chase (Host) What has been a yoga theology or a yogi practice that you find yourself going back to more often than others when life's adversities come knocking on your door?

44:44 - Laju (Guest) I mean, I always go back to the class.

44:47 - Chase (Host) The actual, the actual, the actual class, the physical part of it.

44:51 - Laju (Guest) Yes, being in the room is my meditation. People ask me all the time do you meditate? I meditate when I'm in there because I'm not doing anything else or thinking about anything else besides what's going on here. That is my meditation. That is where I gain my sense of peace after I come out. You know, and it's not necessarily your standard definition of meditating right, but you know, the theory is Hatha yoga. There's eight different kinds of yoga. You know Raja yoga, karma yoga, hatha yoga, kriya yoga, which is Paramahansa Yogananda, the breath right. To get to that point, you have to be able to control your body and breathe through the pain and the discomfort. So, if you think about it, bikram yoga, hatha yoga, is almost like a stepping stone to get to the place where you can sit still and not be disturbed by anything.

45:44 Most of us can't even sit still cross-legged for 10 minutes without feeling uncomfortable, right? So that's another thing that puts you at ease when you're sitting in the position. And now another thing is yogis. You know, when they're in the Himalayas, naked, naked, sitting there in lotus position, what are they doing? They're sitting there. They cut off the oxygen to their femoral arteries, which slows down your blood circulation, so you literally feel like you're levitating, right.

46:14 - Chase (Host) Wow, I I mean I can see the picture, but that's actually what's going on. That's the theory. So yeah, so I mean I can see the picture, but that's the theory. That's actually what's going on.

46:20 - Laju (Guest) That's the theory. So yeah, so you're, you're concentrating on your breath, the circulation, and then you don't feel cold.

46:29 - Chase (Host) That's kind of blowing my mind right now. Yeah, Like of course that's happening.

46:32 - Laju (Guest) Yeah.

46:34 - Chase (Host) Interesting, so interesting.

46:35 - Laju (Guest) Yes.

46:37 - Chase (Host) So maybe shift into kind of like what you and your brother are doing with, like the business side of it and kind of more like put your entrepreneur hat, your business hat on.

46:44 - Laju (Guest) Yes, so Bikram yoga has been around since the seventies, which is almost 50 years. We've graduated 17,000 teachers 17,000 teachers. Wow, Wow Since 1993, some of our trainings had 500 people twice a year, so those were like big ones. Yeah, my training had 456.

47:05 - Chase (Host) You're teaching that many people at one time.

47:06 - Laju (Guest) No, I had my group. My training was that many. So we graduated, but I am teaching that many people too. I've taught like thousands of people, um so uh. It's been around for 50 years. We've had 17 000 teachers, 8 000 studios in the span of 50 years, globally globally, yes, now, after covid, you know, everything kind of closed down. Half of the studios had to shut, so after covid we came out with around 1,000, 1,146 still existing.

47:41 - Chase (Host) How was it going through COVID like that as a business owner, as a physical business owner, a place you know, a business that really thrives and relies on people coming together in person sweating it out during a time when everyone was doing the opposite of that, wanted nothing to do with that. When everyone was doing the opposite of that, wanted nothing to do with that.

48:01 - Laju (Guest) How did you all survive that period? I mean, a lot of us didn't. To be honest with you, it was really, really difficult for studio owners. You know leases were not being. It was a mess.

48:11 - Chase (Host) And I know you and your brother are kind of spearheading this comeback I know you're doing a lot with, now that you know, locations are opening back up people are, you know, in my opinion, really fine coming back together for community, for exercise. What is maybe happening now, as you guys are doing this kind of reintroduction of the brand and in physical spaces, how are you doing it? What are struggles you're having getting this back out there and what is the community's response now?

48:38 - Laju (Guest) Yeah Well, to start with the community's response now. Yeah, well, to start with the community's response. Everybody is really excited that there is an opportunity to come back together Now. The studios are all in different places. We were standardized for a long time. You find the same class at the same place, same time, same schedule, same same cost, right? But then, after COVID, it was a battlefield out there to try to figure out how to stay open. A lot of studios had to change the classes. You know, maybe they're not all Bikram Yoga now, some of them have other classes too. What I found, though, is the ones that have stayed open and not changed anything like Bikram Yoga, irvine, bikram Yogaaga San Jose, several studios. They have actually managed to keep the clientele, you know, very, very strong, and they're doing better than the ones that actually have shifted.

49:28 - Chase (Host) Oh, wow.

49:29 - Laju (Guest) Yeah, because I think you know, when you're a customer for a long time at a place and you see a change, that can also kind of throw it off.

49:37 - Chase (Host) Yeah, we don't like it.

49:38 - Laju (Guest) Yeah, nobody likes that. We all like to go in and know what we're getting.

49:41 - Chase (Host) Yeah, I know what I like. I want to come back and get the same thing.

49:44 - Laju (Guest) And that's what the beauty of Vikram is is because, for the person that doesn't want to go into a class and have to use their brain to think and listen to the instructor, God knows even where the instructor has been trained. You know what I mean. There's so many different trainings out there. I mean I've heard of instructors that are teaching hot yoga that have not even done a hot yoga training in the hot room, you know, so I'm I'm fearful of that. Like I really advise um to really look into where you're getting your class from and who your teacher is, because you never know there could be an injury. You don't know what they're're teaching. So when you go to Bikram, you know exactly what you're getting and you know exactly what you're going to do. You know exactly what you need to work on for the next day. Maybe one day this leg was bad. Okay, now I need to work on this leg, you know. So you have that peace of mind going into it so the community response sounds like it's been great.

50:34 - Chase (Host) Yes, but also I know you. You and your brother are kind of like the next generation of this business, of this movement, of this practice. What are you doing differently now and what is your biggest focus for this reintroduction?

50:47 - Laju (Guest) Yeah, I mean, our brand has been around for a long time. We're reinventing the wheel for the second time. Yeah basically my brother runs the teacher training he's handling. You know the international side of that. I have been working mostly on the U S studios, and the franchise and trying to figure out what is needed for our community takes a lot of assessments, Um, but there's so much love out there and there's nothing else I'd rather be doing. I grew up, you know, in the studio community Like these are this is my world.

51:20 So yeah, it almost. There's nothing else I'd rather do.

51:25 - Chase (Host) So what, as you and your brother have been going through with this reintroduction, this rebrand of Bikram Yoga? What has been the biggest obstacle you've had to face and why haven't you given up on it?

51:41 - Laju (Guest) you've had to face and why haven't you given up on it? I mean, I think the biggest obstacle I've had to face is, you know, just media ups and downs, um, people who believe in yoga, people who don't believe in yoga, stigma, this that um. But I know what keeps me going is the practice, cause I know that it works. And when you have something that works unconditionally, I don't think, you know, they say like you don't need to fix something that's not broken, kind of thing. Yeah, the product works for itself.

52:12 - Chase (Host) So you don't feel like Bikram Yoga was broken?

52:14 - Laju (Guest) I don't feel like it was broken. I don't at all. I don't feel like it was broken. I don't at all. I just you know. I think when something is really, really popular and exposed, there's always going to be some sort of you know, questions or controversy or anything that comes with something. Community itself as well. Our practitioners have been practicing for years. Once you're hooked, you're hooked, you know, and that's really. It speaks for itself. You know there's going in being able to travel around the world and walking into a room and everybody knows the same movements, you don't even have to say anything that's doing it, that's power, that's community that's, that's community.

52:56 I have thought about like other career paths. But I mean I designed a fashion line but it turned into yoga clothes, so somehow, I just keep going back into bridging some worlds here.

53:08 - Chase (Host) Yes, exactly, okay.

53:09 - Laju (Guest) I love it, though, like being able to see my students in the outfits. We're actually doing a brand launch right now. We're bringing back all the original styles from the 70s. They're all these retro shorts, really cool designs. I actually brought one for you.

53:22 - Chase (Host) I'll give it to you. All right, I'll give it to you on camera. I have a podcast uniform, so we'll have to check it out afterwards, okay.

53:29 - Laju (Guest) Well, no, I want to give it to you, thank you, of course, thank you? Yeah, so all those styles are coming back now, because Bikram Yoga was originally founded in the 70s. So we're bringing back the original 70s styles for the rebrand and the launch. Okay, yeah, so that's kind of what I've been focusing on right now.

53:47 - Chase (Host) What has been a surprise in a positive way, as you know, again, you and your brother kind of like next generation of this movement of this practice of this business, kind of like next generation of this movement of this practice of this business. What is something that has come your way, that has like gone right? You know, in the entrepreneur journey we get, so we learn a lot right, we fail forward, but sometimes it's like great to just like take ownership of when, like I decided we're going to do this. This was the plan, we executed it and it was successful. How have you also kind of received that, that positive light? And it was successful.

54:19 - Laju (Guest) how have you also kind of received that, that positive light? Yeah, you know, I think um, I think my dad really being my biggest supporter, like I've always, I felt like I was always like living under his shadow honestly for a while.

54:30 - Chase (Host) Well, yeah, I mean, when you have someone like in your house that is leading a global movement, it's probably going to cast a shadow.

54:37 - Laju (Guest) There was a lot of pressure. You know, even when I did my training, people expected me to teach a certain way or to be like him or maybe, you know, be as harsh or maybe be as funny or whatever. You know, there's like that comparison. So it took me a really long time to kind of find my own identity within the community. Took me a really long time to kind of find my own identity within the community, and that's also, you know, along with that comes, sorry, you know, finding my own identity within the community came with being vulnerable also and accepting that I'm not going to be like my dad always, you know.

55:12 Yes, of course there's things that I love about him and I want to, you know, take with me forever. But there's things that you know I do differently as well. And once I was able to like get over that that people are going to look at me a certain way Cause they think I'm going to be like him or or like my mother you know she's also a teacher as well Total opposite of my dad. He's, he's, he's direct, I guess you could say, whereas my mom is more like she massages around the directness.

55:39 - Chase (Host) Right yeah.

55:40 - Laju (Guest) But same outcome.

55:42 - Chase (Host) Was it expected of you? You know, I think when there's any family business, there tends to be an expectation of you. Know, I created this business. I'm going to pass it off to the next generation, my children. Was there an expectation of your father, of you guys to to take up the mantle, so to speak?

55:58 - Laju (Guest) of your father, of you guys, to take up the mantle, so to speak. I think there definitely was an expectation, but the good thing about my journey is that my parents never forced me to do the class. You know, they definitely encouraged me until high school because of my foot and my problems and just puberty and growth and development, but that I did on my own. Then there was a period of time where I didn't practice consistently at all, like high school, college, kind of early college.

56:25 - Chase (Host) Were you trying other exercise modalities or just kind of being a teenager? I was just busy with sports.

56:31 - Laju (Guest) You know I also cheered. I played soccer. I was like just busy with other stuff, but I always, like, went back to the yoga when I felt like I needed. It was always there for me. To be honest with you, it's the most real relationship I've ever had with anyone or anything.

56:44 - Chase (Host) Really.

56:44 - Laju (Guest) Yeah, yoga, yoga, because it's always there. You know, sometimes I really don't like it, don't want to go, don't want to show up, but you need it, you know. And then sometimes you don't know that you need it and it's there for you. And then other times you know it's giving you the love that you need. Sometimes it doesn't, it's really a relationship, and it's there. It's still there. Sometimes you don't even want to acknowledge that it's there.

57:10 It's like I need a break. No, I need it even more. You know what I mean. So I actually um the expectation, the expectation. So what happened was I ended up going to? I think it was like EDC or something whatever.

57:23 - Chase (Host) That's very on brand for you, yeah. Something like that Were you teaching at EDC In my twenties.

57:28 - Laju (Guest) No, but maybe I will do that soon.

57:31 - Chase (Host) That would be interesting.

57:32 - Laju (Guest) Yes, yeah, burning man maybe too. Um, but uh, I had come back and I just was in the worst place, like couldn't sleep, had anxiety, fought with my boyfriend at the time, like just was unhappy. Nothing was you know, nothing was easing me. So what did I do? I went to class at eight o'clock in the morning at Bikram Yoga headquarters. That day Bobby McInnes was teaching. I did the full class, died because it had been a while.

58:07 - Chase (Host) Even the daughter of Bikram still dies in Bikram Yoga.

58:10 - Laju (Guest) If you don't die, you don't come back to life, so you have to push through it to get the benefits.

58:15 - Chase (Host) It's true, that's what it is If you die before you die, you won't die when you die.

58:19 - Laju (Guest) Touche.

58:21 - Chase (Host) That's more like a, that's like a psychedelic belief, but yeah, it kind of applies a little here.

58:27 - Laju (Guest) So I started practice. I did that one class and then I slept for eight hours straight. I didn't wake up. I slept like a baby, felt completely rejuvenated, all my problems were gone. I felt like a human being, like again. And this was the first time I really saw what the yoga class did for my mind, because growing up I always saw what it did for me physically. But this time I was like holy shit, now I feel it. So I went to class the next day, the next day, the next day, I practiced for a month straight, every single day, and then I started doing doubles. And then I realized, like you know what I'm conditioned, I feel good, this is my time. So my dad was in his room I go upstairs and I was like Baba, I'm not doing much right now. I've been doing yoga every day Now two classes. I've done six doubles. Can I do teacher training? I straight have asked him. He literally looked at me. He's like huh, really. And I was like yeah, is that okay? He's like of course, mommy, of course of course.

59:30 So I think it was really finding it on my own was what did it for me? Had my dad pressured me, or pushed me? If you have any kids, you're going to be a dad. No kid wants to do what their parents do. Let's just be real. They don't. Unless you really see what it does for you and you're, you know, I, I, I became a believer in my own way, even though it was always there for me.

59:55 - Chase (Host) I like that. I like that yeah.

59:58 - Laju (Guest) And how can you, how can you, you know, teach what you preach if you don't actually believe it? You know so.

01:00:06 - Chase (Host) Kind of getting towards the end here. I'm curious what would you, what would you say to someone that wants to come back to Bikram, that hasn't been for a while, for whatever reason? How would you kind of let them know that, hey, there's a new generation here, there's a facelift, but there's the familiarity of the poses and the practices and the conditioning that you have come to love and enjoy, that your body and your mind really appreciate, cause I feel like you're kind of on both sides of the fence now. It's a reintroduction in bringing people back into Bikram, but you're also going to be bringing in a lot of new people that are just finding Bikram for the first time ever.

01:00:48 - Laju (Guest) Right.

01:00:49 - Chase (Host) So how are you bringing people back at the same time bringing new people in? You're kind of bringing like this funnel in of two different worlds.

01:00:57 - Laju (Guest) Yeah, we have a lot. We have a list of brand ambassadors who just I'm telling you just off the bat, you know there's some athletes they are going to be advocates for this yoga and kind of help facilitate this into the next generation, reintroducing it. I do believe that's the best way to go about this.

01:01:18 - Chase (Host) You got new champions for the brand I got new.

01:01:21 - Laju (Guest) I got athletes, yeah, that are going to be essentially ambassadors. Um, I don't want to name them right?

01:01:28 now, of course, of course but um time will speak, you know also the studios that that are going to be aligned with us. You know they're going to be going through. They're going to have marketing, all that stuff that are going to be aligned with us. They're going to be going through, they're going to have marketing, all that stuff that's going to come with the new franchise plan once it's implemented. I think it's really up to the existing community to encourage and support the newcomers that are coming in, because it is a little bit intimidating, you know, to go into the Bikram room. You know someone that's been doing it for 30 years. You don't know what you're doing, but everybody in there has been at the same place that you're at at one point or time and everybody is there to encourage everybody and work through it.

01:02:13 It's not easy, right? It's never going to be an easy class. Let's just put it that way. Even for me, every day is hard, every class. But you pace yourself, do a little bit less one day, don't push yourself too much, it's okay. Then the next day. You know, in training we always tell them you're going to have a bad week, you're going to have a good week. The good weeks are actually the ones you feel good but you're not gaining anything.

01:02:37 The week that you're tight is when you've actually the muscles have torn, your joints are opening up. You can't move. That's the changes happening. That's the time that you put in.

01:02:49 - Chase (Host) Well, I'll say this allows you. Having gone through a couple of your classes, you're an incredible teacher, thank you. You are so present individually, so present with the group. The way that you prompt, cue, constructively criticize, coach and encourage Did I get it right?

01:03:07 - Laju (Guest) It was.

01:03:09 - Chase (Host) I can't remember what you just said it was constructively criticize, correct and encourage.

01:03:15 Exactly. You do them all so well and, as someone who has come into Bikram yoga classes, having done a lot of yoga, a lot of other strength training, a lot of just exercise and still being humbled but then also feeling empowered at the same time, I think is something that everyone would appreciate. So just want to say props again to you. You're so good at what you do. I love how you do you. You're so good at what you do, I love how you do it. I got so much out of the classes. I don't know if I can commit to regular Bikram yoga just because it is so much.

01:03:50 - Laju (Guest) Twice a week.

01:03:52 - Chase (Host) Honestly, personally, I found my body, my journey in, like healing old injuries and, just like my preferred, like feeling in my body. I had this great balance of training, regular physical activity. But, man, if I do yoga at least once a week, ideally twice a week, that is everything I feel. My best before my best, I can get back into life, get back into weight training and I am just like on. I feel so much more fortified and strengthened in my body. My mobility is better, my mood's better, my sleep's better. So I'm going to take this as an opportunity to have an incredible teacher encourage me and remind me again to get back to the things that I just said really influenced my life in a positive way, and I know that you're so good at it, so I would love to see you back out there.

01:04:40 - Laju (Guest) Thank you, I appreciate that and you're a great student. I know I mean it's hot in there but it's hard, but you, I mean you know you came out. You felt so good afterwards, yeah.

01:04:48 - Chase (Host) And it's also great, too, to kind of look to your left and to your right and see people like all right, like all right, he's doing a little bit better, like oh, she's not that great. So you kind of feel like I'm doing okay, I got room to grow all at the same time. So a question I ask every guest is you know, bring it back to the theme of the show ever forward. The whole point of this show is for me to continue to learn ways from community leaders and experts and authors and scientists and just amazing people that I find in life, but also to help my audience, you know, extract something in their physical, mental, emotional, spiritual wellbeing. To help my audience, you know, extract something in their physical, mental, emotional, spiritual wellbeing to help move them forward and to keep living a life ever forward. I say but I want to get your interpretation ever forward. Those two words, what do they mean to you?

01:05:31 - Laju (Guest) Lajie, yeah, it means forever moving forward and that's completely aligned with what we do with Bikram Always forward thinking, trying to come out on top. I believe, forward thinking, trying to come out on top, I believe, I mean, I believe in what you're doing.

01:05:43 - Chase (Host) And I believe in what you're doing as well. So there's never a right or wrong answer.

01:05:47 - Laju (Guest) I mean, I really, I really feel that, you know, strength comes into this moving forward. You know, Bikram is all about finding the strength, building the strength, the discipline and the positivity to keep moving forward with whatever obstacles you have.

01:06:04 - Chase (Host) So there it is. I love it. I love it. For more information on everything you just heard, make sure to check this episode's show notes or head to everforwardradio.com