In September, Bikram Choudhury, the founder of Bikram Yoga, filed a $1 million lawsuit against his former student Greg Gumucio, founder of the wildly popular Yoga to the People chain. Mr. Choudhury copyrighted his series of 26 poses and two breathing exercises in 2002, and he’s been known to sue people who infringe on it. The Bikram guru has said the poses were designed in a series for health benefits, and to effectively teach the courses, instructors must become certified, which costs $10,000. The million-dollar question: Can yoga be owned?
YOGA TO THE PEOPLE
Yoga to the Courtroom
By STEPHEN REX BROWNThe East Village’s most well-known yoga studio, Yoga to the People, has been sued by the originator of the Bikram variety of yoga for stealing poses, DNAInfo reports. Bikram Choudhury, the creator of the yoga done in sweltering studios, alleges that instructors at Yoga to the People were illegally using his copyrighted poses. Mr. Choudhury is seeking over $1 million in damages.
Seven Days, Zero Dollars, Good Eats
By SOPHIE HOELLER
Sophie Hoeller The Continental, 25 Third Avenue.Whether you’re broke, a student, or just plain stingy, here’s how to mooch your way through the week in the East Village, a neighborhood known for its cheap (but good) eats.
Read more…
First Person: At Yoga to the People
By AL KAVADLO
Courtesy Al Kavadlo The author strikes the Warrior II pose.Community contributor Al Kavadlo, a personal fitness trainer, offers his perspective on Yoga to the People.
I’ve done yoga on and off for nearly a decade and made my living as a
personal trainer in this neighborhood for almost as long. I’ve walked by
Yoga to the People countless times over the last several years, but never
attended a class until recently, when my curiosity, coupled with the
fact that I’d recently been neglecting my yoga practice, finally got me into the old pre-war walk-up to sweat it out.
The vibe inside was welcoming, and the instructor was friendly and
professional, yet there were some negative aspects to the experience. Most yoga studios that I’ve encountered in the city are typically crowded, but I’d never before seen this many people in one room.
