Galery

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                                                                  Swami Sivananda

Swami Sivananda was probably the most prominent figure among the Indian yoga teachers. He embarked on the spiritual path after years of successful medical practice and, after long wandering, opened his ashram in Rishikesh, Himalayas. Later he established the organizations Divine Life Society and Yoga Vedanta Forest Academy. He wrote over 200 books, presenting in them the philosophy and practice of yoga in a unique style and in plain language. Many of his students have become popular in the West.

                                                         Sri Thirumoolar Krishnamacharya

Sri Thirumoolar Krishnamacharya is an eminent representative of hatha yoga in the modern world. He died in 1989, at the age of 101. His son Desikachar continues the work of his father and B. K.S. Iyengar, who wrote the most detailed practical guide, Pattabhi Joyce and Indra Devi are some of Krishnamacharya’s prominent disciples and great teachers as well. Iyengar taught yoga to the famous violinist and conductor, Yehudi Menuhin, who invited him to Europe in 1954, thus opening up his way to the West. Aldous Huxley and the Queen Mother of Belgium were among his students as well.

Many centres for the study and exploration of yoga were opened in the 20^th century CE. In 1918, Sri Yogendra began conducting medical studies of yogi in the Research Institute in Bombay managed by him. Swami Kuvalayananda Kaivalyadhama founded a yoga ashram a hundred kilometres away, in the small resort town of Lonavala, which has significantly contributed to the scientific study of yoga. Swami Satyananda opened the Bihar School of Yoga.

Other famous names are the great Advaita Vedanta teacher, Ramana Maharshi, the former maths teacher, Swami Rama Tirtha, hatha yoga master Dhirendra Brahmachari, Jiddu Krishnamurti who is close to some forms of Zen, the author of thousands of lectures and meditation techniques, Osho, and more.

The activity of many gurus operating in the West is controversial. You can find and assess the value of the large number of teachings presented as authentic yoga only if you know the principles and practices of classical yoga.