Indra Devi

Indra anne harry

Indra Devi (12 May 1899 – 25 April 2002), born as Eugenie Peterson in Riga, Latvia, was a pioneering figure in bringing yoga to the Western world. Known as the "First Lady of Yoga," Devi was instrumental in popularizing yoga outside of India, making significant contributions to its acceptance and practice in the United States and other parts of the world.

Early Life

Eugenie Peterson was born to a Swedish mother and a Russian father in the then Russian Empire (now Latvia). Fascinated by Indian culture from a young age, she was inspired by the Bhagavad Gita and the teachings of Indian sages. Her early interest in India and its spiritual practices set the stage for her later life's work.

Journey to India

In the 1930s, Peterson traveled to India, where she adopted the name Indra Devi. She became a dedicated student of yoga, studying under the renowned guru Tirumalai Krishnamacharya, who also taught other yoga luminaries such as B.K.S. Iyengar, K. Pattabhi Jois, and T.K.V. Desikachar. Krishnamacharya, initially reluctant to teach a Western woman, was eventually persuaded by the Maharaja of Mysore to accept her as a student.

Career and Legacy

After her training, Indra Devi began teaching yoga in India. She later moved to Shanghai, China, where she opened a yoga school in the 1940s, one of the first of its kind outside India. Her time in China was followed by a move to the United States, where she continued to teach yoga, write books, and give lectures. Devi's students included Hollywood celebrities, which helped increase yoga's popularity in American culture.

Devi authored several books on yoga, including "Forever Young, Forever Healthy," "Yoga for Americans," and "Renew Your Life by Practicing Yoga." These works played a crucial role in making yoga accessible to a Western audience, emphasizing its health benefits and spiritual aspects.

Throughout her life, Indra Devi advocated for yoga not just as a physical exercise but as a holistic lifestyle, incorporating principles of health, diet, breath control (pranayama), and meditation. Her teachings emphasized the importance of inner peace and the spiritual benefits of yoga practice.

Death and Legacy

Indra Devi passed away on 25 April 2002, at the age of 102. Her legacy lives on through the many yoga teachers she trained and the widespread acceptance of yoga across the globe. Devi is remembered not only for her contributions to yoga but also for her role in bridging Eastern and Western cultures.

See Also

• Yoga in the United States
• Hatha Yoga
• Spiritual practice