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Bikram Choudhury, the founder of the hugely popular “hot yoga” practice done all over the world, is at the center of multiple claims of sexual assault and rape.

The cases trace as far back as 2006 and include six women who trained with Choudhury through his program to become Bikram instructors. Like Bill Cosby’s sexual allegations, none have been brought to trial just yet. The latest victim, a woman named Jill Lawler, claims that during her training, Choudhury would place his hand in her pants. His alleged groping turned into rape.

Choudhury’s practice is a mind-body-health challenge that requires an individual to perform 26 basic yoga poses in searing heat.

According to CNN:

“She was ashamed, and embarrassed. She did not think that anyone would believe her, and she was afraid that if Defendant Bikram Choudhury heard that she had told, that he would kick her out of training and she would have lost both the $10,000 from her college fund, and her ability to work as a yoga instructor in order to pay for college,” the suit reads.

It accuses Choudhury of rape at that training, and at a variety of other locations, including India, where he visited Lawler in 2013.

The suit says Lawler feared speaking out earlier because she needed her Bikram Yoga certification to support herself. She was also physically afraid of Choudhury.

In addition, Larissa Anderson says she moved to Los Angeles to practice (after paying an estimated $12,000) under Choudhury as therapy after suffering a separate sexual assault. Anderson, who was 22 at the time, says she was raped in Choudhury’s home while his wife and children were downstairs. Mary Shea, the lawyer representing the women, claims they believed the spiritual leader was “too big to fail,” causing them to stay quiet for years.

“Larissa was broken and traumatized. She felt sick to her stomach but too scared of Bikram to say anything. He was too powerful for her to go against,” the lawsuit reads.

It alleges she was assaulted again in 2011. That time, Anderson refused Choudhury’s advances but, as a result, was retaliated against in her business, the suit says.

“There have been women, suffering in silence, who now feel that there is security in numbers,” said Shea, adding that she wouldn’t be surprised if more victims step forward.

“We are moving in the right direction. We are confident, and we believe in our clients, and I believe in the justice system,” she said. “Truth will prevail.”

Choudhury’s lawyers have denied the allegations and released a statement following Lawler’s recent suit.

“Their claims are false and dishonor Bikram yoga, and the health and spiritual benefits it has brought to the lives of millions of practitioners throughout the world,” the statement reads. “After a thorough investigation [of the most recent allegations], the Los Angeles County district attorney declined to file any sexual assault charges against Mr. Choudhury or the college for lack of evidence.”

Subsequently, many Bikram studios across the country are trying to rebrand the art to distance themselves from the allegations. A Times report revealed that some have decided to close down, leaving the business with a questionable future.

SOURCE: CNN | VIDEO CREDIT: News Inc.

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