The year 2005 marks the 102nd anniversary of the birth of Bishnu Ghosh, one of the greatest and most influential yoga masters of the past century, guru of Bikram Choudhury and brother of Paramahnsa Yogananda. Ghosh, born in Lahore, India in 1903, was a celebrated physical culturist and the first to scientifically document Yoga’s ability to cure chronic physical ailments and heal the body. Beginning in the 1920’s, Bishnu Ghosh, developed a school if Yoga that provides a unique blend if spiritual inspiration and a highly disciplined physical regimen.

Ghosh came from an extraordinary family. He was initiated into the field of yogic exercise and physical education by his guru and older brother, Paramahnsa Yogananda, the world renowned Yogi and spiritual healer. Yogananda founded the "Self Realization Fellowship Center" and his book "Autobiography of a Yogi", continues to be one of the best known and influential works of our time.

Ghosh developed a Yoga regimen that provides a unique blend of spiritual inspiration and disciplined physical exercise. His view of the body as the temple of the Living God has been a major force in the renaissance of Hatha Yoga in the west. In 1923, At the young age of twenty, he founded the first "Ghosh College of Physical Education" in Calcutta and his name quickly spread throughout India. Other schools were opened, first in India then in other locations around the world.

In 1939 Bishnu Ghosh came to the United States to educate people on the subject of yoga by giving demonstrations of amazing yoga feats. He lectured at Colombia University in New York, generating a great deal of interest in the field, ands was widely acknowledged and respected in the academic community. In 1968 he went to Japan with his troupe and traveled all over the country giving lectures and yogic demonstrations. Bishnu Ghosh’s were the first yoga exhibitions to be televised outside of India and were seen and loved by millions if Japanese. He passed away in 1970. His legacy is being continued by his son, Biswanath Ghosh, the current director of the Ghosh College in Calcutta.

His students and disciples have gained worldwide recognition. One of them Bikram Choudhury, has carried the message of the curative powers and benefits of Hatha Yoga and the possibility of a disease free long life, around the world. He has trained thousands of teachers and has over 1000 affiliated schools.