From India to across the world, the centuries-old practice of yoga has transcended borders to spread throughout the world. Essentially a spiritual discipline, yoga is based on the subtle science of achieving inner stillness to bring harmony between mind and body.

Ancient yogic lore has it that several thousand years ago, Hindu God Adiyogi Shiva poured his profound knowledge into the legendary seven sages or “Saptarishis,” who carried this to different parts of the world, including Asia, the Middle East, Northern Africa and South America. Numerous seals and fossil remains from as old as Indus Saraswati valley to tantric traditions have documented yoga’s origination from India.

In the more contemporary context, many Indian yogic ‘gurus,’ or teachers, have been renowned to systematise and codify yoga through their diverse approaches. They have been key proponents of yoga to the West and rest of the world.

Preaching to the Royalties

BKS Iyengar was the founder of the style of yoga known as ‘Iyengar Yoga’ that emphasises precision and alignment

Considered one of the foremost yoga teachers in the world, BKS Iyengar was the founder of the style of yoga known as ‘Iyengar Yoga’ that emphasises precision and alignment. In 1966, Iyengar published his first book, Light on Yoga, which became an international best-seller and has been translated into at least 23 languages. Iyengar’s students ranged from ordinary individuals to royalty, while global influence extended to the United Kingdom and the United States, Russia to even Vatican in Rome. By 2005, his impact had grown so significantly that San Francisco City in the United States declared October 3 as “BKS Iyengar Day” in appreciation of his contributions to yoga.

Father of Yoga in the West

Having introduced ‘Kriya Yoga’ to the west, Paramahansa Yogananda has been named the ‘Father of Yoga in the West’

But Iyengar was not the first to take yoga overseas. Having introduced ‘Kriya Yoga’ to the west, Paramahansa Yogananda has been named the ‘Father of Yoga in the West.’ In 1917, Yogananda established the Yogoda Satsanga Society of India. Two years later, in 1920, he spread it to the United States and called it the Self-Realisation Fellowship. This foundation aimed to build cultural bonds and spiritual understanding between East and West. On September 19, 1920, Yogananda arrived in America from his native land to serve as an Indian delegate to an International Congress of Religious Liberals convening in Boston. Through his public lectures, he contributed to far greater awareness and appreciation of India’s Vedic philosophy.

First Lady of Yoga

Indra Devi was the first woman to study under the yoga guru Krishnamacharya at the Mysore Palace, alongside BKS Iyengar and K Pattabhi Jois

Often called the First Lady of Yoga, Indra Devi was instrumental in the global diffusion of the practice. Latvia-born Eugenie Peterson was so enthralled by the art of yoga that she came to India in her twenties and acquired the stage name Indra Devi. She became the first woman to study under the yoga guru Krishnamacharya at the Mysore Palace, alongside BKS Iyengar and K Pattabhi Jois who went on to become yoga gurus.

Moving to China, she taught the first yoga classes in that country at Chinese political figure Chiang Kai-shek’s house. Her popularisation of yoga in America through her many celebrity pupils in Hollywood, and her books advocating yoga for stress relief, earned her the nickname ‘first lady of yoga’.

Oldest Yoga Centre in the world

Dr Yogendraji founded the Yoga Institute in Mumbai in 1918

Shri Yogendra, also known as Dr Yogendraji, founded the Yoga Institute in Mumbai in 1918, making it the oldest organised yoga centre in the world. His teachings grabbed significant attention both within India and internationally when in the 1920s, he embarked on a series of lecture tours, spreading the knowledge and benefits of yoga across Europe and the United States. His lectures and demonstrations garnered widespread interest and influenced many individuals, including influential figures like Mahatma Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru.

Celebrity followings

Pattabhi Jois popularised Ashtanga vinyasa yoga

Pattabhi Jois was an Indian yoga guru who developed and popularised Ashtanga vinyasa yoga, the physically demanding, dynamic style of yoga embraced by millions of westerners. He visited various countries, including the United States and Europe, conducting workshops and spreading his practices. Over the last two decades or so, Ashtanga has grown into one of the most popular forms of yoga in the world, with a glamorously large celebrity following. With the opening of Ashtanga Yoga Research, the first of his western students arrived in Mysore in the 1960s. As the popularity of Ashtanga began to spread, particularly in America, over the next few years, the school became inundated with foreigners.