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Published on October 17, 2007

He is the founder of the worldwide Yoga College of India. Born in Calcutta in 1946, Bikram began yoga training at the age of four with India's most-renowned master at that time, Bishnu Ghosh.

Bikram practised yoga four to six hours each day and at the age of 13 won the National India Yoga Championship. Then he started his own schools and spread his teaching over the world.

Yesterday, Bikram was in Bangkok as the honorary guest of True Fitness, which has recently introduced a second branch, at Zen in CentralWorld.

The branch is the authorised licensee to conduct the renowned Bikram Yoga Classes in Thailand.

With the master in town, the fitness centre needed to do something to impress the guest and the media.

Yoga practitioners showed off a position recommended only for the extensively trained: the toe stand.

It is difficult to perform this position, given that the practitioner needs to lift one leg onto the other thigh and lower his body until he stands on one toe, with hands clapped over his chest. Obviously, this is a position that demands perfect balance.

However, after several attempts, the yoga practitioners failed to perform the position. To save their face, Bikram in his official business suit volunteered to show it. Alas, after two attempts, he also failed.

The reporters were overwhelmed with concern for True Fitness. Would this be a bad omen for the new fitness centre? Hopefully not.

After years of practice, Bikram certainly can do the toe stand as well as any practitioner can.

This unsatisfactory episode was simply a result of his inappropriate outfit.

achara_d@nationgroup.com

The Nation