Yoga Legend To Teach Special Classes In Palm Desert

From Bikram Yoga Plus Coachella Valley: Rajashree Choudhury, founder of the United States Yoga Federation and winner of the very first National Yoga Championship held in India in 1979, will lead sessions in “Yoga Philosophy” and “Yoga as Therapy” as well as teach classes at Bikram Yoga Plus – Coachella Valley.

The schedule follows:

Saturday, November 18

• 2-4 p.m. – Hot Yoga Master Class
• 4-5 p.m. – “Yoga as Therapy” Lecture

Sunday, November 19

• 2-3:30 p.m. – Therapeutic Hot Yoga for All Levels
• 4-5:30 p.m. – “Yoga Philosophy” Lecture

Inspired by yoga competitions at an early age, Rajashree won several titles by age 11. In 1984 she moved from India to the United States, where she worked with her husband at the time, Bikram Choudhury, to create the instructor-training program for his chain of Bikram Yoga studios. “The creation of the Bikram Yoga Teacher Training helped contribute to the growth and practice of Hatha Yoga in the West,” said Rajashree, who has made it her life’s journey to encourage the practice of Hatha Yoga throughout the world. In that effort, she motivates people of all ages in their yoga practices, and she founded the International Yoga Sports Federation (IYSF) to promote Yoga Asana as a sport in the Olympic Family.

A true blend of East and West, Rajashree promotes yoga as a drug-free treatment that controls and prevents chronic diseases. Her lecture on “Yoga as Therapy” will describe the important connection between body and mind and how yoga balances energy to improve both physical and mental health. “My heart leads me to share yoga with others, but then seeing the transformations yoga brings to people’s lives, my mind knows the power of the practice,” said Rajashree.

“We are very honored to welcome back Rajashree to our ‘happy place’,” said Denise DuBarry Hay, founder of Bikram Yoga Plus – Coachella Valley. “She helped us open the studio in 2010, and before and after that she has been an inspiration to me and so many others who make yoga part of their lifestyle.”

Pre-registration for any of Choudhury’s classes and lectures is recommended. Go to coachellayoga.com or call 760-346-2988 to sign-up or for more information or for a complete list of classes and seminars. Located at 36869 Cook St., Suite 101 & 102 in Palm Desert, Bikram Yoga Plus – Coachella Valley offers a variety of exercise classes for all skill levels and interests.

Photo courtesy of Rajashree Choudhry