"Bikram Choudhury Yoga Inc" agrees to fines

LOS ANGELES — A company operated by an Indian yoga guru pleaded no contest to three safety violations at one of its studios and agreed to pay more than $8,000 in fines and penalties.

Bikram Choudhury Yoga Inc., founded by Bikram Choudhury, pleaded no contest Tuesday to misdemeanor operating without a fire permit, failing to provide required parking for customers and operating the studio without a certificate of occupancy.

Choudhury, 60, became a multi-millionaire popularizing "hot yoga" in America. In exchange for the plea, prosecutors dropped charges against him, the city attorney's office said.

Choudhury was given a year to correct the violations at his West Los Angeles studio. When the company meets safety standards, the court record will be expunged, said Choudhury's attorney, Victor Sherman.

Sherman said that entering the plea and agreeing to pay the fine is cheaper than fighting the case.

Choudhury said he plans to move his world headquarters to Honolulu.