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I spoke directly with Neil (studio owner) about how problematic having a workshop with Bikram’s daughter and wife was, on two separate occasions. Each time was atrociously disappointing.
The first time I spoke with him, he told me he “didn’t know anything about it.” As a studio owner, there is a responsibility to stay informed about serious misconduct within the yoga community, especially when choosing who to bring into the studio or associate with. Claiming ignorance about abuse that has been public for 12 years is unbelievable and unacceptable. Especially given the seriousness of the offenses.
When I specifically asked Neil, if Bikram’s wife and daughter had denounced all association with him and weren’t condoning his behavior, he replied “What is she supposed to do? That’s her father.”
The next week I spoke with Neil to reiterate the gravity of this, I asked whether any of the proceeds from the workshop were going to support the women abused by Bikram. I still believed that the workshop should be canceled, but I asked this out of curiosity. Neil responded, “No, but that’s a good idea. We should talk about it later I’m in a meeting now.” To my knowledge, none of the victims received any support or acknowledgment connected to this workshop.
I believe it is deeply hurtful, harmful and inappropriate to host a workshop with Laju & Rajashree Choudhury. It appears that they condone the behavior of Bikram by not denouncing him. Inaction and silence can be a harmful parallel of the initial abuse. A true wellness community prioritizes emotional and physical safety for everyone. Accountability, being proactive and making amends is essential for all students and especially for survivors.
What I found most disgusting and repulsive was the overall complicity on Neil’s behalf. The alleged ignorance, lack of urgency, empathy, and accountability in both responses I received shows this. Neil is spending time and money to make the studio bigger, but not safer or a more trustworthy place. It became clear to me that the priority here was profit rather than the wellbeing and safety of the community.
This is a clear case of institutional betrayal and what makes it worse this neglect lies directly on Neil as the owner of a Private Yoga studio. Until there is true accountability and a genuine commitment to overall wellbeing of the students who trust this studio, I won’t be a part of the studio. I refuse to feed into the cognitive dissonance and to enable potential for abuse.
Reply from Hot Yoga Chelsea / Flatiron NYC
2025.04.03
Dear Cat,
Thank you for taking the time to leave us a 5-star review on Google. We are glad to hear that you chose to move closer to our studio and that you appreciate our variety of class times and adjustable shower heads. We are also happy to hear that you are a frequent visitor, coming to class 4-6 times a week.
We apologize for any issues you may have had with some of our instructors. We strive to create a welcoming and inclusive environment for all of our students, and we understand that each person's needs and boundaries may differ. We encourage you to communicate with our instructors about your preferences and we will do our best to accommodate your needs. We also appreciate your feedback about our amenities and will take it into consideration for future improvements.
We are thrilled to hear that you enjoy Andy's HIIT class and the energy of Myrna and James. We are grateful to have such dedicated and passionate instructors on our team. Thank you again for your support and we look forward to seeing you in class soon!
Thank you for taking the time to leave us a 5-star review on Google. We are glad to hear that you chose to move closer to our studio and that you appreciate our variety of class times and adjustable shower heads. We are also happy to hear that you are a frequent visitor, coming to class 4-6 times a week.
We apologize for any issues you may have had with some of our instructors. We strive to create a welcoming and inclusive environment for all of our students, and we understand that each person's needs and boundaries may differ. We encourage you to communicate with our instructors about your preferences and we will do our best to accommodate your needs. We also appreciate your feedback about our amenities and will take it into consideration for future improvements.
We are thrilled to hear that you enjoy Andy's HIIT class and the energy of Myrna and James. We are grateful to have such dedicated and passionate instructors on our team. Thank you again for your support and we look forward to seeing you in class soon!
