Some like it hot

THE spiritual practice of yoga was invented in ancient India. The practice of Bikram yoga – otherwise known as "hot yoga" – was invented (and copyrighted) in California. This is surprising as Bikram yoga is practised in a room heated around 40C with a humidity of 40 per cent; yet everyone knows they have air conditioning in California, even in their cars.

The inventor of hot yoga is a certain Bikram Choudhury, a four-times winner of the National India Yoga Championship. "Before me, there was no money, no business with yoga," Bikram claims. Mr Choudhury sues people who infringe his copyrighted postures...