--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It wasn't easy in the 1970s when I…" description: "\"It wasn't easy in the 1970s when I initially started on my mission - to take yoga to the world. Nobody knew what it was in Japan. When I met Bill Clint..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e32/bikram-choudhury-7642_asked_it-wasn-t-easy-in-the-1970s-when-i-initi_377061.png" --- # It wasn't easy in the 1970s when I initially started on my… ![“It wasn't easy in the 1970s when I initially started on my mission - to take yoga to the world. Nobody knew what it was in Japan. When I met Bill Clinton for the first time, he asked me if it was a form of yogurt that you eat! But I kept my faith and never gave up on my quest.” quote by Bikram Choudhury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e32/bikram-choudhury-7642_asked_it-wasn-t-easy-in-the-1970s-when-i-initi_377061.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e32/bikram-choudhury-7642_asked_it-wasn-t-easy-in-the-1970s-when-i-initi_377061.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e32/bikram-choudhury-7642_asked_it-wasn-t-easy-in-the-1970s-when-i-initi_377061.png) > “It wasn't easy in the 1970s when I initially started on my mission - to take yoga to the world. Nobody knew what it was in Japan. When I met Bill Clinton for the first time, he asked me if it was a form of yogurt that you eat! But I kept my faith and never gave up on my quest.” [Bikram Choudhury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bikram-choudhury/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He faced skepticism and cultural ignorance while introducing yoga to Japan, yet persisted despite misunderstandings. **In simple terms:** Introducing yoga met disbelief, but he persisted. Key Takeaway Persevere despite doubt. Themes determination cross‑cultural exchange well‑being Mood determined optimistic Type motivational inspirational When to use this quote - launching new fitness programs - teaching workshops abroad - overcoming language barriers - building brand awareness Key Concepts yoga cultural diffusion resilience Questions to Reflect On - How do you maintain belief when others mock your vision? - What strategies help translate unfamiliar concepts for new audiences? A Different Perspective Not everyone will understand or support new ideas initially. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Faith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faith/) [Goals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goals/) [Japan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/japan/) [Mission](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mission/) [Quest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/quest/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) [Yoga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/yoga/) ## Related quotes > [I met Bill Clinton; he's a very nice guy. Yeah, Bill Clinton's cool.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-sheeran/i-met-bill-clinton-he-s-a-very-nice-guy-yeah-bill-clinton-s-cool/) [Ed Sheeran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-sheeran/) > [Well, you know, I had been a peanut farmer. I had - you know who was the first president - Democratic president I ever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-carter/well-you-know-i-had-been-a-peanut-farmer-i-had-you-know-who-was-the/) [Jimmy Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-carter/) > [I met Gerald Ford. I met Richard Nixon. I met Jimmy Carter. I met Dwight Eisenhower when he was a general. George Bush senior.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pete-rose/i-met-gerald-ford-i-met-richard-nixon-i-met-jimmy-carter-i-met-dwight/) [Pete Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pete-rose/) > [I've met Bill Clinton, Obama a couple of times... I certainly didn't meet George Bush, and wouldn't want to.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-crosby/i-ve-met-bill-clinton-obama-a-couple-of-times-i-certainly-didn-t-meet/) [David Crosby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-crosby/) > [I guarantee you, yoga will compete with computers, music, sports, automobiles, the drug industry. Yoga will take over the world!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bikram-choudhury/i-guarantee-you-yoga-will-compete-with-computers-music-sports/) [Bikram Choudhury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bikram-choudhury/) > [More yoga in the world is what we need.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diane-lane/more-yoga-in-the-world-is-what-we-need/) [Diane Lane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diane-lane/) > [I can be highly competitive, which is ultimately why I chose yoga as a career. I thought it would drain the competitive drive out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathryn-budig/i-can-be-highly-competitive-which-is-ultimately-why-i-chose-yoga-as-a/) [Kathryn Budig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathryn-budig/) > [Chinese president Jiang Zemin met with former Bill Clinton in Hong Kong Wednesday. What a contrast. 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I know; I was there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-brock/the-right-has-been-trying-to-take-down-bill-clinton-for-20-years-i/) [David Brock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-brock/) > [I didn't eat for two days when Bill Clinton won, but after Obama's election, I was genuinely depressed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-fleischmann/i-didn-t-eat-for-two-days-when-bill-clinton-won-but-after-obama-s/) [Chuck Fleischmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-fleischmann/) > [Nobody has ever gotten a bigger push than Bill Clinton gave to Obama.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-cuomo/nobody-has-ever-gotten-a-bigger-push-than-bill-clinton-gave-to-obama/) [Mario Cuomo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-cuomo/) ## More by Bikram Choudhury > [My friend said to me, 'You don't look good,' - because all the time I have to think about law and justice and courts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bikram-choudhury/my-friend-said-to-me-you-don-t-look-good-because-all-the-time-i-have/) [Bikram Choudhury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bikram-choudhury/) > [You cannot steal somebody's intellectual property. Law and justice protect.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bikram-choudhury/you-cannot-steal-somebody-s-intellectual-property-law-and-justice/) [Bikram Choudhury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bikram-choudhury/) > [If you want to live a hundred years, how do you want to live your life? At the age of 100, you should go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bikram-choudhury/if-you-want-to-live-a-hundred-years-how-do-you-want-to-live-your-life/) [Bikram Choudhury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bikram-choudhury/) > [Truth is the most bitter to accept, swallow and digest it. The moment you speak truth, you lose your popularity. But I don't care.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bikram-choudhury/truth-is-the-most-bitter-to-accept-swallow-and-digest-it-the-moment/) [Bikram Choudhury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bikram-choudhury/) > [In life you only have to travel 6 inches. That is the distance from your mind to your heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bikram-choudhury/in-life-you-only-have-to-travel-6-inches-that-is-the-distance-from/) [Bikram Choudhury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bikram-choudhury/) > [When you practice yoga, first your personality changes, the faith increases, then confidence improves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bikram-choudhury/when-you-practice-yoga-first-your-personality-changes-the-faith/) [Bikram Choudhury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bikram-choudhury/) > [Women like me. Women love me, so if I really wanted to involve the women, I don't have to assault the women.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bikram-choudhury/women-like-me-women-love-me-so-if-i-really-wanted-to-involve-the/) [Bikram Choudhury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bikram-choudhury/) > [Our ultimate destination is mental peace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bikram-choudhury/our-ultimate-destination-is-mental-peace/) [Bikram Choudhury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bikram-choudhury/) > [For months, I slept at work, even though I had an apartment. I'd fall asleep on the floor at 4:30 A.M. By 7 A.M.,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bikram-choudhury/for-months-i-slept-at-work-even-though-i-had-an-apartment-i-d-fall/) [Bikram Choudhury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bikram-choudhury/) > [“Never too old, never too sick, never too bad to start again.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bikram-choudhury/never-too-old-never-too-sick-never-too-bad-to-start-again/) [Bikram Choudhury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bikram-choudhury/) > [I started with nothing. Zero.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bikram-choudhury/i-started-with-nothing-zero/) [Bikram Choudhury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bikram-choudhury/) > [You go to Starbucks, and you know what you're going to get. It's the same with my yoga.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bikram-choudhury/you-go-to-starbucks-and-you-know-what-you-re-going-to-get-it-s-the/) [Bikram Choudhury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bikram-choudhury/) > [You are never too old or too broken. It is never too late to begin, or to start all over again.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bikram-choudhury/you-are-never-too-old-or-too-broken-it-is-never-too-late-to-begin-or/) [Bikram Choudhury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bikram-choudhury/) > [Yoga only works one way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bikram-choudhury/yoga-only-works-one-way/) [Bikram Choudhury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bikram-choudhury/) > [If you have a good spine, the gods will chase you. Nobody has psychological or emotional problems, everyone has a bad spine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bikram-choudhury/if-you-have-a-good-spine-the-gods-will-chase-you-nobody-has/) [Bikram Choudhury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bikram-choudhury/) [Explore all 89 Bikram Choudhury quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bikram-choudhury/) ## More Asked quotes > [“Are you sure?" he asked in a low voice. "Because if I had the chance... 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