INTERVIEW PART II: ZOË KORS
Rajashree Choudhury YOGA
THE U.S. YOGA FEDERATION FOUNDER + PRESIDENT AND FIRST LADY OF BIKRAM YOGA
Bikram put challenge in front of me, and to overcome that challenge, that’s my education from him. And I love that. I have no problem with that. People can think whatever they think, but that’s my strength to go forward.
Zoë Kors: What inspires you?
Rajashree Choudhury: Women. I was raised by my grandmother. She had a very difficult time, raised all her kids, my father and everybody. Listening to those stories and finding her so strong, poised. Anybody who came close to her was made to feel blessed. And at the same time, it didn’t matter how strong a person was—in front of her, their head would go down. She carried through her life raising everybody. That is my model. ZK: Tell me about getting involved in yoga competition. You’re a champion.
RC: Yes, I am a champion. My mom made sure that I did yoga every day. She dragged me because that was something she was doing for herself. She would have a great time with her friends. All the mothers would sit together and the kids all did yoga. ZK: Like dance moms.
RC: Yeah, exactly. It was a social time for them. But it helped build me. Through competition, I loved yoga. I won my first Bishnu Ghosh Cup in 1982. Which was federation-based. I won several before that, but it was a private open, where men and women both were challenged together and one winner.
My teacher and Bikram are contemporaries, they are friends. One stayed back to promote yoga in India and one came here to the Western world. That’s Bikram, because he is the best salesman, you know that. [smiles]
RC: Things just happen, it will pass, it’s your learning process. You know, in my dialogue when I teach classes, I use “please.”
Bikram wasn’t big in India at that time. Here he was called, “Guru of the Stars.” I had seen his book and it was a beautiful practice but I didn’t like it. I was used to a more personal practice. So I was like, only twenty-six poses, every day, very routine. It didn’t appeal to me. And I didn’t like the heat at all, because I come from hot country. So it was like, Oh my god! But people were talking about it and feeling great benefit, so I finally gave it a try. And then I really started to see the possibilities of growing the school. I started to talk to him about teacher training. It took me ten years to convince him. Men are always right, right? I said, Well, try it, try it, try it. We did the first five teachers, unofficially, and it worked. Then we condensed the typical American three-year training into a three-month intensive. And that’s how we got to this point.
RC: Yes, Bikram. You know, nobody says “please.” Because the Bikram dialogue is a very solid drilling method. And someone says, why do you even say it? I say, That’s the way I am. I love to say “please” and you have to accept me that way. If you don’t, it’s your problem.
ZK: How do you handle criticism?
RC: I listen to my own heart, stand for only that. That’s it. Doesn’t matter. Whoever, however close to me you may be. Nobody can change my emotions. Even if I am sad, it’s my own problem, not somebody else’s.
ZK: Men and women against each other? And you won.
ZK: You take responsibility for yourself.
RC: I won. At the time, Bikram was giving the biggest trophy, he would bring the winner to America. So I came to Los Angeles.
RC: It’s much better that way. You don’t accuse people. You aren’t a victim of anything. Becoming a victim is your choice. Cry, for what?
Bikram and I, we come from the same lineage. But you know, there’s a generation gap.
ZK: We tend to take things personally...
ZK: [gasps] Bikram classes?!
ZK: [laughs] Has your husband taken your class?!
RC: My husband wouldn’t like to take my class. Any time I am up there on the stage, I think he thinks I’m the most boring teacher! No, I don’t let him. But you know, he supports me. ZK: He must support you. You are very empowered in this organization.
RC: Bikram put challenge in front of me, and to overcome that challenge, that’s my education from him. And I love that. I have no problem with that. People can think whatever they think, but that’s my strength to go forward. ZK: And you answer to your own heart.
RC: Exactly, exactly. And I don’t expect it will be easy. If it is easy, something’s wrong. But I expect it not to stop me. ZK: That’s beautiful, Rajashree.
RC: Thank you, Zoë.
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