Lawler is one of seven women currently suing Choudhury for a litany of charges that include sexual assault, gender discrimination, sexual harassment, intentional infliction of emotional distress, and sexual battery."Honestly, one of the most painful things I've ever experienced was finding out the person I thought was my idol, my guru, the man I had devoted my life and entire life savings to was full of so much darkness," Lawler tells Broadly. "I was in denial for years. I think there are people out there who are still in denial that Bikram is an abusive man."The unifying theme of the lawsuits is Choudhury as an obnoxious misogynist who uses his status and fame in the yoga community to pressure young teacher trainees into sex through lavish praise, promises of career advancement, financial gain, and incessant pestering that his life depends on the act.In a lawsuit filed by a former student, Sarah Baughn, Choudhury allegedly pleaded that she have sex with him because "I am dying. I can feel myself dying. I will not be alive if someone doesn't save me."Read More: Female Massage Therapists Face Persistent Sexual Harassment
But that's peanuts compared to the pile of money Bikram yoga has made for the guru. Choudhury sits at the very top of a highly lucrative yoga empire. With 650 franchises, 7 percent of each studio's revenue, plus yearly teacher trainings at $12,500 a pop attended by 300 to 500 clients per session, Bikram Choudhury is a very rich man. The only way to be certified in Bikram yoga and operate a studio is to go through Choudhury's grueling nine-week training course. The course, as outlined in Lawler's lawsuit and several others, can be characterized as despotic and sexually charged."I remember a few different people saying they were disappointed in Bikram's behavior when they saw the real man at training," Lawler says. "Mostly [they were] women, offended by Bikram's offensive language and obvious sexism—almost to the point of misogyny."Choudhury, tawny and short, usually teaches his classes barefoot in a black Speedo; he commands hundreds of students at a time to contort their bodies into strenuous positions while panting through a 105-degree heat with forty percent humidity. For $12,500, the teacher trainees spend nine weeks living in a hotel where Choudhury dictates their schedules. According to the Lawler complaint, activities start at 7 AM with back-to-back 90-minute sessions of hot yoga training. Eating is banned, and drinking even water is frowned up during class. Students are not allowed to wear green, as the color upsets Choudhury. Next, the trainees spend five hours in posture clinic, practicing poses and reciting from verbatim from "The Dialogue," a script created and provided by Choudhury to be recited during poses.Honestly, one of the most painful things I've ever experienced was finding out the person I thought was my idol, my guru, the man I had devoted my life and entire life savings to was full of so much darkness.
Lawler originally assumed that Choudhury's interest in her was due to some preternatural talent she possessed for yoga. Now, looking back, Lawler believes he narrowed in on her for other reasons. "He will pick the vulnerable out of a crowd and prey on them," Lawler says. "Young women who attend his trainings are putting themselves in danger by being in the same room as him."Young women who attend his trainings are putting themselves in danger by being in the same room as him.
She ran outside, crying, to a gazebo outside of the Vegas Hilton. Two other trainees saw her, and asked her what was wrong. Lawler told them, and, according to the lawsuit, one of them responded blankly, "Yeah, I've hard about things like this happening… it's just because he's from another culture."You are so beautiful, I felt drunk while you were massaging me,' Choudhury said, 'I couldn't control myself.'
For the remainder of the seminar Lawler claims she avoided Choudhury, renting a room at the Motel 8 across the street from the training to keep her distance. Lawler did not leave the training because she says she was afraid he would destroy her career if he became angry.Lawler went home to Vancouver following her trip to San Diego, but she returned to Los Angeles in April of 2011 in order to work on staff for the at another nine-week teacher training event at the LAX Radisson Hotel. According to her lawsuit, Lawler's role during this time wasn't so much a training staff member as it was a "body servant" for Choudhury. She claims she was forced to eat dinner in his room every night, despite her attempts to avoid him.Choudhury allegedly demanded constant massages from Lawler, to the point that she developed blisters on her thumbs and couldn't stay awake. If she began to fall asleep or stop massaging, the complaint alleges, Choudhury would kick her and yell at her. On one occasion, Choudhury screamed at her, "Use more pressure, you're so fucking lazy!"Lawler left that training event early after another staff member, whom Lawler says she had begun to fall in love with, was allegedly fired for playing loud music and smoking weed. Lawler claims instead that the guru dismissed the fellow teacher because of jealousy. Feeling threatened, Lawler returned to her home in Canada.Lawler lived briefly in Florida following the incident in San Diego, where she dated the other teacher training staff member. The relationship was short-lived, however: Lawler's case cited trauma as the cause for the break-up.In September of 2012, Lawler returned to Los Angeles to confront Choudhury over his actions. She claims Choudhury assaulted her again when she arrived. That same night, however, Lawler was allegedly persuaded by Choudhury's niece to work for the Yoga College in India. Lawler, wanting to flee the country, accepted and signed a contract. While in India, in February of 2013, Lawler claims Choudhury raped her again.Choudhury's yoga empire was opened up to scrutiny in March of 2013, when Sarah Baughn filed her suit against Choudhury. Lawler learned of the suit, read it, and decided at that point she should separate herself from the Bikram Empire. Two years later, she decided to file her own lawsuit."I don't know if I would have ever had the courage to come forward if it hadn't been for Sarah speaking up," Lawler said. "Sarah and the four other women who came forward gave me the courage to speak out, but it still took time."Mary Shea and Carney Shegerian, a pair of California attorneys who specialize in sexual and employment discrimination, represent the six women. "Men in positions of power making unwanted and illegal sexual advances toward women who are their employees or students is a problem of epidemic proportions that simply must stop," Shegerian says.As for Lawler, she doesn't really practice yoga any more. "I don't blame people for loving the 26 postures and 2 breathing exercises," Lawler says. "The yoga practice itself certainly has benefits. But Bikram the person created a culture around him that was not healthy or safe. Practicing yoga is a challenge for me mentally; I don't do it very much anymore."Lawler's suit against Choudhury goes to trial on August 15 of this year in downtown Los Angeles.Choudhury would kick her and yell at her. On one occasion, Choudhury screamed at her, 'Use more pressure, you're so fucking lazy!'