Current state of Bikram Yoga in 2026 is a practice that has separated from its founder, rebranded its name in most markets, continued to grow its research base, and retained a large global practitioner community. Understanding its current state of Bikram Yoga requires separating what has changed from what has not and the answer to both questions is more specific than most available accounts provide.
The 26-posture Bikram yoga sequence is practiced daily in hundreds of studios globally in 2026. In most Western markets it is called 26 and 2 yoga or original hot yoga rather than Bikram yoga. The sequence, the temperature specification, and the 90-minute format are unchanged. Bikram Choudhury was convicted in absentia by a California court in 2023. He has not returned to the United States. He continues to teach internationally. The Harvard MGH 2023 randomised controlled trial on hot yoga and depression, the most significant study yet conducted on the practice was published four years after the 2019 documentary controversy. The research base is growing, not declining.
What Is Bikram Choudhury Doing Now?
Bikram Choudhury left the United States in 2016 as multiple civil sexual assault lawsuits were active and a criminal investigation was underway. He relocated primarily to India and has continued teaching yoga internationally, primarily in Spain, Mexico, and India.
| Year | Development |
|---|---|
| 2013 | First civil lawsuit filed by former legal director Minakshi Jafa-Bodden alleging wrongful termination and sexual harassment |
| 2016 | First civil trial: jury awards USD 6.4 million in punitive damages to Jafa-Bodden. Choudhury appeals. Additional civil lawsuits filed. |
| 2016 | Choudhury leaves the United States. Criminal investigation begins. |
| 2017 | USD 7 million award to Jafa-Bodden confirmed on appeal. Netflix documentary 'Bikram: Yogi, Guru, Predator' begins filming. |
| 2019 | Netflix documentary released globally November 7. Global studio rebranding accelerates. |
| 2020 to 2022 | Criminal investigation continues in California. Choudhury teaches in Spain, India, Mexico. |
| 2023 | California court convicts Bikram Choudhury in absentia on criminal charges including rape and false imprisonment. Sentence issued. He has not returned to the United States. |
| 2024 to 2026 | Choudhury continues teaching internationally. His Yoga College of India organisation operates in reduced form. The 26-posture sequence is taught globally by thousands of independent instructors. |
As of 2026, Choudhury has not returned to the United States to serve the criminal sentence. His Yoga College of India website (bikramyoga.com) continues to advertise teacher training programmes. The practice he systematised is now overwhelmingly taught by instructors operating independently of any organisation he controls.
What Is Bikram Yoga Called Now?
The naming landscape for the 26-posture sequence has fragmented significantly since 2017. The following names are all in active use in 2026, all referring to the identical practice:
| Name | Who Uses It | Context |
|---|---|---|
| 26 and 2 yoga | Most widely adopted alternative. Used by the majority of independent instructors and studios. | Describes the practice by content: 26 postures plus 2 breathing exercises. No founder reference. |
| Original hot yoga | Used by the Original Hot Yoga Association (OHYA) network and associated studios. | Signals lineage authenticity without the Bikram name. Common in US and Canada. |
| Hot 26 and 2 | Hybrid name used by some studios. | Combines both identifiers: heat and sequence content. |
| Bikram yoga | Still used by some studios, particularly those with direct lineage credentials. | Continues in use particularly outside North America where the controversy has lower cultural penetration. |
| Original 26 and 2 hot yoga | YogaFX and similar direct-lineage programmes. | Emphasises both original method and natural heat environment. |
| Hot yoga (with 26-posture sequence) | General studios offering the sequence under a generic brand. | Least specific naming but widest market reach. |
The practice is identical regardless of what name a specific studio uses. The 26 postures, the 2 breathing exercises, the 40-degree Celsius specification, the 90-minute duration, and the scripted verbal dialogue are all unchanged. The naming variation reflects marketing decisions and community affiliation, not any variation in the practice itself.
At YogaFX, the practice is taught as Original 26 and 2 Hot Yoga. This naming specifically acknowledges the lineage (original method from direct Choudhury training) and the heat environment (natural tropical heat in Bali without electric heaters) that distinguish YogaFX from generic hot yoga offerings.
Is Bikram Yoga Still Popular?
Yes, with a significant rebranding caveat. Searches for 'Bikram yoga' show lower search volume in 2026 than their peak in 2010 to 2015. Searches for '26 and 2 yoga', 'original hot yoga', and 'hot yoga' show growth over the same period. The practice itself has not declined, the name most associated with it has shifted.
Several indicators of continued and growing engagement in 2026:
- The Harvard MGH 2023 randomised controlled trial on hot yoga and depression (Nyer et al., PubMed: 37883245) attracted mainstream media attention including BBC, The Guardian, and major US health publications
- The Reddit r/bikramyoga community has 25,000 or more members in 2026 with active daily discussion about practice, teacher training, and studio recommendations
- Major fitness centres and dedicated hot yoga studios globally continue to offer 26 and 2 classes as a core programme element
- YogaFX has trained instructors from 80 or more countries since its founding, with graduates actively teaching across all major markets
How the Community Has Reorganised
The Original Hot Yoga Association (OHYA)
Founded in 2018 by Val Sklar Robinson, OHYA is the most established independent 26 and 2 certification organisation. It provides teacher training approval, studio affiliation, and community infrastructure for instructors who want an organisational framework independent of Choudhury. OHYA's 300-hour training standard exceeds the Yoga Alliance 200-hour minimum. The association has approved training providers across multiple countries.
Independent Direct-Lineage Instructors
A significant number of instructors who completed their training directly with Choudhury continue to teach independently under their own or their studio's brand. These instructors carry the most direct connection to the original teaching methodology and operate without organisational affiliation. YogaFX represents this category: Mr. Ian Terry's 5 direct training events with Choudhury (2012 to 2019) and E-RYT 500 Yoga Alliance credential provide the lineage connection of the original system, delivered through an institution that is entirely independent of anything Choudhury controls.
Yoga Alliance RYT 200 as the Portable Standard
The practical consequence of the 2015 US court ruling that yoga sequences cannot be copyrighted (Bikram's Yoga College of India v. Evolation Yoga) is that any certified instructor can teach the 26-posture sequence without licensing fees. The Yoga Alliance RYT 200 has become the de facto international portable credential for 26 and 2 teachers, verifiable globally at yogaalliance.org. Studios that previously paid Bikram franchise fees now operate independently, typically affiliated with OHYA, Yoga Alliance, or neither.
The Research Base current state of Bikram Yoga in 2026
The peer-reviewed research on Bikram yoga has continued to develop independently of the organisational and reputational events surrounding its founder. This is one of the clearest indicators of the practice's continued vitality.
| Study | Year | Key Finding |
|---|---|---|
| Tracy and Hart, Colorado State University (PubMed: 23438366) | 2013 | 20 percent deadlift strength increase, 9 percent balance improvement, significant flexibility gains after 8 weeks |
| Porcari et al., University of Wisconsin (PubMed: 24700459) | 2014 | 333 to 460 kcal per 90-minute session. Heart rate averaged 80 percent of maximum. |
| Hewett et al. systematic review (PMC4609431) | 2015 | Systematic review confirming cardiovascular, metabolic, and musculoskeletal benefits across multiple studies |
| Nyer et al., Harvard MGH (PubMed: 37883245) | 2023 | Randomised controlled trial: approximately 60 percent of participants with moderate to severe depression reduced symptoms by 50 percent or more. 44 percent achieved full remission. |
The Harvard MGH 2023 study is the most significant development in the research base in the post-documentary period. Published four years after the Netflix documentary aired, it is the highest-quality study yet conducted on the practice, a randomised controlled trial with a clinical population, published in the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry. The study validates the practice entirely independently of its founder's conduct or any organisational event.
The Practice Globally in 2026
United States
The US market shows the most significant name shift away from Bikram to 26 and 2 and original hot yoga. The OHYA network is concentrated in the US. Many former Bikram-branded studios have rebranded while maintaining the identical practice. The studio count in major US cities has stabilised after a post-2019 period of attrition and rebranding.
United Kingdom and Europe
The UK and European markets show more continued use of the Bikram name alongside the 26 and 2 alternatives. Several established UK studios continue to use Bikram branding. The hot yoga teacher training market in Europe is active, with multiple programmes operating across London, Barcelona, Berlin, and Amsterdam.
Australia and New Zealand
Australia has one of the most active 26 and 2 yoga communities globally. Multiple established studios operate in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, and Auckland. YogaFX graduates are among the most active teachers in the Australian market.
Asia
The Asian market shows the most continued use of the Bikram name. Studios in Japan, South Korea, Singapore, and across Southeast Asia continue to use Bikram branding with less pressure to rebrand than in North America. This reflects the lower cultural penetration of the US documentary and court proceedings in these markets.
Bali, Indonesia (YogaFX)
YogaFX operates two dedicated studios in Seminyak and Canggu. Daily classes run in natural tropical heat without electric heaters, the original humid-heat environment the sequence was designed for. Teacher training cohorts run continuously, with graduates teaching in studios across 80 or more countries. The YogaFX programme is one of the very few operating with verified direct Choudhury lineage credentials through an entirely independent institutional structure.
Why the Practice Has Survived
The Method Produces Documented Outcomes
The peer-reviewed research validates the practice's specific outcomes. Practitioners who experienced genuine improvements in flexibility, strength, cardiovascular fitness, and mental health from consistent Bikram practice retained those improvements after the controversy became public. A method that demonstrably works retains its practitioners.
The Scripted Dialogue Made It Transferable
The Bikram teaching methodology is built around a memorised verbal script. Any trained instructor can deliver the complete method. Unlike personality-dependent teaching systems, the Bikram sequence does not require its founder's ongoing presence to be delivered effectively. Every instructor who mastered the dialogue became an independent carrier of the method.
The Legal Ruling Freed the Sequence
The 2015 US Ninth Circuit ruling that yoga sequences cannot be copyrighted freed every studio and instructor to teach the 26-posture sequence without licensing fees or organisational affiliation. When the Choudhury institutional infrastructure collapsed, there was no legal mechanism to take the sequence with it.
The Lineage Has Distributed
The thousands of instructors trained in the original method through Choudhury's training events, OHYA-approved programmes, and independent direct-lineage schools carry the pedagogical content independently of any institution. The content is distributed, not centralised. No single event can eliminate it.
What Has Changed and What Has Not
| Element | 2015 Status | 2026 Status |
|---|---|---|
| The 26-posture sequence | Unchanged | Unchanged, identical in every authentic class globally |
| Temperature specification | 40°C, 40% humidity | 40°C, 40% humidity, unchanged |
| Primary name in North America | Bikram yoga | 26 and 2 yoga, original hot yoga |
| Primary name in Asia | Bikram yoga | Bikram yoga (largely unchanged) |
| Certification pathway | Primarily through Choudhury's YCOI | Yoga Alliance RYT 200 plus style certification (OHYA, YogaFX, others) |
| Research base | 2 major studies (Tracy 2013, Porcari 2014) | 4 major studies including Harvard MGH 2023 RCT |
| Founder status | Teaching globally, US-based | Convicted in absentia 2023, teaching internationally outside US |
| Studio licensing fees | Required for Bikram-branded studios | Not required, 2015 copyright ruling freed the sequence |
| Practitioner community | Primarily organised around Choudhury's institutions | Primarily organised independently, OHYA, Yoga Alliance, independent studios |
FAQ
Is Bikram yoga still practiced in 2026?
Yes, widely. The 26-posture sequence is taught daily in hundreds of studios across North America, Europe, Asia, and Australia. In most Western markets it is now called 26 and 2 yoga or original hot yoga rather than Bikram yoga. The practice, the sequence, and the temperature specification are unchanged. The Harvard Medical School 2023 randomised controlled trial on hot yoga and depression was published four years after the 2019 controversy peaked, the practice's research base is growing, not declining.
What is Bikram yoga called now?
The most widely used alternative names are 26 and 2 yoga, original hot yoga, and hot 26 and 2. All refer to the identical 26-posture sequence practiced at 40 degrees Celsius with 40 percent humidity for 90 minutes. The name shift reflects the community's decision to separate the method from its founder. Many studios outside North America, particularly in Asia and Europe, continue to use the Bikram name.
What is Bikram Choudhury doing now?
Bikram Choudhury was convicted in absentia by a California court in 2023 on criminal charges including rape and false imprisonment. He has not returned to the United States to serve the resulting sentence. He continues to teach yoga internationally, primarily in Spain, Mexico, and India. His Yoga College of India (bikramyoga.com) continues to advertise teacher training programmes. He is not involved in OHYA, YogaFX, or the majority of 26 and 2 yoga teaching organisations operating in 2026.
Why do people still practice Bikram yoga after the controversy?
The practice produces real outcomes. The flexibility improvements, the cardiovascular conditioning, the strength gains documented by Tracy and Hart, and the mental health benefits documented by Harvard MGH are not dependent on the founder's personal conduct. Practitioners who came to the practice for the yoga and encountered the controversy did not lose the benefits they had experienced. The method and the man have been separated in practice if not always in cultural perception.
What is the difference between Bikram yoga and 26 and 2 yoga?
No practical difference. 26 and 2 yoga is the most widely adopted name for the identical practice: 26 postures and 2 breathing exercises in a fixed sequence at 40 degrees Celsius. The name change reflects the community's decision to separate the method from its founder, not any change to the practice itself. A 26 and 2 yoga class and an authentically taught Bikram yoga class are the same practice.
Which celebrities have practiced Bikram yoga?
During its peak growth period in the 1980s through 2010s, notable Bikram yoga practitioners included Lady Gaga (who publicly attributed mental health benefits to her practice), Andy Murray (who credited it with extending his professional tennis career), Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (who cited it during his NBA playing career), and Shirley MacLaine (an early practitioner from the Los Angeles studio years). Following the 2019 documentary, most public figures have distanced themselves from the Bikram brand specifically while the practice itself continues under alternative names.
