r/ashtanga
Bikram influence on Jois?
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The Question
Hello, I've heard that Jois was inspired by Bikram's initiation of led classes – no idea if that's true but wondering if anyone's heard more on this influence or these two's relationship? I suspect surely Jois would be aware of what Bikram was doing in the US in the mid 70s, but just a supposition submitted by /u/jarjartwinks
— via r/ashtanga
Our Response
No.
This is backwards.
Pattabhi Jois was teaching led primary series classes in Mysore in the 1940s. Bikram didn't start teaching in the US until 1971.
Jois wasn't inspired by Bikram. Chronologically impossible.
Did Jois know about Bikram? Probably. Did he care? Doubtful.
Here's what matters: led classes aren't an innovation. They're a teaching method. You gather students. You count. Everyone does the same thing. This isn't revolutionary. It's practical.
Jois learned this format from Krishnamacharya. Who was teaching led classes in the Mysore palace in the 1930s.
Bikram took hot yoga to America and built a franchise. Different project entirely.
So no relationship. No influence. Just two teachers doing different things in different decades.
If you want the actual history of how Jois developed his teaching method, check out the Ashtanga History study guide on the site.
But this one's just a timeline problem.
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