>>>
from hollywood to
middle america
and dozens of countries around the world
bikram yoga
has developed a cult-like following. "today" correspondent
jenna wolfe
caught up with the man behind the fom nanphenomenon. i didn't realize it was a man.
>>
it is a man. this is the
hot yoga
. people will try to convert you. the reason for that? a man with a big plan. he's been called many things, evangelical, egotistical, but with millions in the bank clearly
bikram
is doing something right.
>>
you don't look or sound like a typical yogi. so many people embrace you and this practice. why do you think it is?
>>
that's why i'm
bikram
. i'm the yogi. open your lungs and fill up.
>> reporter:
he's attracted quite a following with names like
michael jackson
,
lady gaga
,
richard nixon
and a former pope.
>>
the pope came to learn from me. for one week i taught him all about india.
>> reporter:
bikram
started practicing yoga at 4 in india. he was crowned yoga champion by 13. and at age 27 he moved to the
united states
to start his dynasty.
>>
it will be the best in the world.
>> reporter:
we caught up with the 65-year-old yoga guru turg a recent
bikram
teacher training program in
los angeles
. quite a speech you gave.
>>
oh, that's nothing.
>> reporter:
it's here people come to get certified in
bikram
.
>>
you won't recognize your face in the mirror at the end.
>> reporter:
jennifer lobo was a former graduate. she went on to teach and open her own studios in new
york city
.
>>
it's very healing yoga. it's a beginning series yoga so anybody can do it.
>> reporter:
with over 500 certified studios and a million people practicing around the world, almost anyone, anywhere can experience
bikram
.
>>
take a deep breath.
>> reporter:
what is
bikram yoga
? of the thousands of postures
bikram
chose 26 along with two breathing exercises. he took an
ancient art
form and copy righted it, branding the unbrandable.
>>
i'm the only person in the
history of india
to create a system in
bikram yoga
.
>> reporter:
then there is the heat.
bikram
calls it a
torture chamber
with class temperatures around 105 degrees and 40% humidity. he says the heat allows the muscles to loosen up and deeply stretch.
>>
when the room is more hot you never hurt, never injury, never any problems.
>> reporter:
ask him about the benefits of
bikram
and this is what you get.
>>
ruscoliosis, osteoporosis, tendinitis. anything else?
>> reporter:
his claims of a miracle cure also come with criticism.
>>
the main medical risks with
bikram yoga
would be dehydration and
heat stroke
. as a physician i would be skeptical about trains that you can treat and cure all those disease states with one exercise regimen.
>> reporter:
from someone whose practice is pure, his own habits seem less than ideal.
>>
i work
24 hours a day
, no food, no sleep?
>> reporter:
you really don't sleep much?
>>
hardly. not 30 hours a month.
>> reporter:
come on. you don't sleep 30 hours a month? do you drink coffee?
>>
never. you will never meet another
human being
in this earth more pure than me.
>> reporter:
some may argue that
bikram
is a contradiction to his
own brand
. he sells yoga, the purest, most ancient form of spirituality. its wealth comes from within.
bikram
's wealth -- and he doesn't hide it -- comes from the outside.
>> reporter:
do you like money?
>>
yeah, i like money. why not? i'm 110% in what i do. i sell the truth.
>> reporter:
perhaps it is that very truth that fills up his classes year after year.
>>
every time you are in the room you learn something about yourself.
>> reporter:
people come to my class. they give up everything from their life. the mind is gone, spirit is gone. those people come to me. i bring hope to them and give them brand new life.
>> reporter:
we should mention
bikram
and his wife want to make yoga an
olympic sport
. they are trying hard to do it. i took this class. i take
bikram
regularly and have been for nine months now. i took the class from
bikram
. i don't have a problem with the heat. if you can stand it -- i know, ann, you take yoga. if you can stand the heat this pushes you to your edge and allows you to really stretch as deeply as you can.
>>
and you relax.
>>
if you call that relaxing.
“ ”