He is a national sensation in India, his TV shows watched by 30 million households. So I walked up the sweeping steps of Alexandra Palace earlier this week to see Swami Ramdev in the flesh with a tingle of anticipation.
Certainly the other participants, who were arriving in trickles well before the show kicked off to secure the best spots, shared my excitement.
"Have you been to see Ramdev before?", I asked one elderly Indian lady, walking stick clasped in one hand, yoga mat in the other.
"No", she said, eyes sparkling, "but my cousins and family has. He is wonderful man. Breathing exercises bring good health and long life."
Ah yes, I replied, and does he do asanas too? "Yes, some postures too. But mostly breathing."
Breathing takes the stage
To many Westerners, Ramdev's emphasis on pranayama - or breath - and the comparatively small amount of time he devotes to the physical side of yoga, come as a surprise.
In a short one-to-one meeting I had with Ramdev before his workshop began, he said breathing should account for 90% of yoga practice; asanas only 10%.
Three areas in the body are improved, according to the Guru, through regular pranayama practice: oxygen metabolism, the lymph system and the brain and nervous system.
The roll-call of ailments that can allegedly be treated appear to be endless, and include depression, diabetes, blood pressure, asthma, arthritis, sciatica, obesity, heart disease and gastric disorders.
Ramdev has got himself into hot water before by also claiming that the symptoms of AIDS and cancer can be alleviated.
A 300-plus page book about Ramdev and his techniques, "Yog, In synergy With Medical Science", groans with tables and facts claiming to cement these claims with scientific and first person evidence.
Take this, from a breast cancer sufferer quoted in the book: "I was suffering from breast cancer and was operated once.
It recurred after three years. I started practising pranayam since the last six months and there has been a lot of improvement. All my tests are normal and I have recovered completely."
Certainly there were more than a few physically disabled people attending Ramdev's workshop the day I went along - a few in wheelchairs, others brandishing walking sticks.
One elderly man in a wheelchair was accompanied by a helper who blocked his nostrils during the breathing exercises.
But the majority of the hundreds of people present seemed healthy - Indian families, including young children, sitting on the floor on mats and blankets, out to see their guru.
Also, perhaps, to grab their slice of good health and longevity that Ramdev describes as humankind's "birthright".
Stage presence
Ramdev certainly cuts a charismatic presence, his distinctive orange robes either swathing or revealing his body depending on whether he is demonstrating pranayama or asanas.
The latter he did with aplomb. Some of the postures were relatively simple: forward bends, standing postures, twists.
Others were not: at one stage Ramdev deftly swung up to a handstand and proceeded to walk around the stage, upside down.
This move, and other advanced asanas such as the Wheel, were accompanied by gasps of appreciation from the audience, followed by applause.
Ramdev played to his audience deftly, his instructions often drawing chuckles - and girly giggles - and murmurs of wonder.
The breathing exercises were no less flamboyant, his bare stomach sucked into all manner of contortions, while all around the hall, his audience did their best to follow suit.
Perhaps it's my cynical, unconditioned Western mind, but I walked out of Ramdev's workshop - back down those grand steps of Alexandra Palace - less than convinced at the authenticity of what I'd seen.
Or, for that matter, the motivation behind what has now become a huge income generator (tickets for this gig started at £53 and rose to £250).
Clearly Ramdev's millions of followers disagree, their faith and wonder at their guru's methods and healing claims utterly genuine.
From where I'm sitting, however, he's little more than an astute business man and a highly accomplished performer.
Do you have an opinion about Ramdev? Have you seen him 'live'? I'd love to hear from you. Please log in and leave your comments below.
Other articles about Ramdev:
Ramdev to host major London yoga camp
Yoga guru cleared of mixing human bones
Yoga could help fight AIDS, says guru
Lucia Cockcroft, editor
