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The City of Delta has revoked the business licence of a hot yoga studio after the director made false claims about heat destroying the coronavirus and continued classes despite a B.C. ban on gatherings.

Hugh Davies, the manager of property use and compliance with the city, said staff have received numerous complaints from residents in North Delta about the owner of Bikram Yoga in the 8800-block of 120 Street.

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The complaints concern Mak Parhar, director of Bikram Yoga Delta, who told clients that the virus could not survive in the 40 C heat and that by attending yoga they could boost their immune systems.

Davies said residents complained Parhar was holding yoga classes, and indicated on social media that he was not supportive of suspending classes because of the provincial state of emergency declaration.

A Delta bylaw inspector visited the business and found a class in progress.

Davies said the owner indicated he was planning to hold another class later in the day and “was not prepared to voluntarily comply with a request to cancel classes in light of the state of emergency related to the spread of a potentially deadly virus.”