Indra Devi

Indra Devi (born Eugenie Peterson; May 12, 1899 – April 25, 2002) was a pioneering yoga teacher who helped to popularize yoga in the Western world. She was often referred to as the "First Lady of Yoga" and played a significant role in bringing the practice to the United States and other Western countries.

Early Life

Indra Devi was born Eugenie Peterson in Riga, which was then part of the Russian Empire (now Latvia). She was the daughter of a Swedish banker and a Russian noblewoman. From a young age, she was interested in the arts and spirituality.

Journey to India

In the 1920s, Eugenie moved to Berlin, where she became an actress and dancer. Her interest in spirituality led her to travel to India in 1927. There, she met the renowned yoga master Tirumalai Krishnamacharya, who initially refused to teach her because she was a woman and a foreigner. However, she persisted and eventually became one of his first female students.

Teaching Career

After completing her training, Indra Devi began teaching yoga in Shanghai, where she opened a yoga studio. She later moved to the United States in 1947 and established a yoga studio in Hollywood, California. Her students included many celebrities, such as Gloria Swanson, Greta Garbo, and Aldous Huxley.

Contributions to Yoga

Indra Devi authored several books on yoga, including "Yoga for Americans" and "Forever Young, Forever Healthy." She was instrumental in making yoga accessible to a broader audience, emphasizing its health benefits and spiritual aspects. Her teachings combined traditional Indian practices with adaptations suitable for Western students.

Later Life and Legacy

Indra Devi continued to teach and promote yoga well into her later years. She traveled extensively, giving lectures and workshops around the world. She passed away on April 25, 2002, in Buenos Aires, Argentina, at the age of 102.

Indra Devi's legacy lives on through her numerous students and the widespread popularity of yoga in the Western world. She is remembered as a trailblazer who broke cultural and gender barriers to share the ancient practice of yoga with a global audience.

See Also

• Yoga
• Tirumalai Krishnamacharya
• Hollywood
• Buenos Aires