For over 60 years, Indra Devi was Yoga's most prominent female force. She pursued the practice of Yoga in an era when women were normally not accepted as students. Of European descent, she not only brought Yoga to her native Russia, she taught Yoga to the Hindus themselves. In America she taught Yoga to celebrities. Even after she reached the very advanced age of 100, she continued a yoga practice which included Ardha Sirsasana, Janu Sirsasana, Ardha Matsyendrasana and, of course, Padmasana. Indra Devi's followers called her Mataji, a rare and well-deserved honor for a woman who exemplified Yoga's principles with her love, light, and a liveliness that lasted nearly all of her 102 years.

The woman who would become Indra Devi was born Eugenie Peterson on May 12, 1899, in Riga, Russia. Her father was Swedish and her mother was a member of the Russian nobility. Although Eugenie had been drawn to India's spiritual ways at a very young age, she first pursued a career with the theater. She became part of a renowned Russian theatrical troupe that toured all over Europe. It was during this period of her life that she met Jiddu Krishnamurti.

Finally, in 1927, Eugenie was able to visit India for the first time. She wound up living there for 12 years, during which she married a Czechoslovakian diplomat, became an movie star in Indian films and befriended Jawaharlal Nehru. In 1937 she became a student of Sri Tirumalai Krishnamacharya, a Yoga master whose other students included a couple of kids named B.K.S. Iyengar and K. Pattabhi Jois. After a year Krishnamacharya urged Eugenie to teach, and when her husband relocated to Shanghai in 1939, she opened her first school of Yoga.

After the end of World War II, Indra Devi continued studying Yoga in the Himalayas and after the death of her husband, her travels took her to the United States. She founded a Yoga studio in Hollywood where she taught stars of the day such as Gloria Swanson, Jennifer Jones, Ramon Novarro and Olivia de Haviland. In 1953 she married a renowned doctor and humanitarian, Sigfrid Knauer.

For the next several decades, Indra Devi took Yoga worldwide. In 1985 she moved to Argentina, where she set up the Indra Devi Foundation. Indra Devi's final book is "Yoga for You".

This book is outdated. However, despite its age, it is a great resource for yoga beginners. I found answers to all of my yoga questions and more. This book was ahead of its time with respect to opinions on eating and general health.

For over 60 years, Indra Devi was Yoga's most prominent female force. She pursued the practice of Yoga in an era when women were normally not accepted as students. Of European descent, she not only brought Yoga to her native Russia, she taught Yoga to the Hindus themselves. In America she taught Yoga to celebrities. Even after she reached the very advanced age of 100, she continued a yoga practice which included Ardha Sirsasana, Janu Sirsasana, Ardha Matsyendrasana and, of course, Padmasana. Indra Devi's followers called her Mataji, a rare and well-deserved honor for a woman who exemplified Yoga's principles with her love, light, and a liveliness that lasted nearly all of her 102 years.

The woman who would become Indra Devi was born Eugenie Peterson on May 12, 1899, in Riga, Russia. Her father was Swedish and her mother was a member of the Russian nobility. Although Eugenie had been drawn to India's spiritual ways at a very young age, she first pursued a career with the theater. It was during this period of her life that she met Jiddu Krishnamurti.

Finally, in 1927, Eugenie was able to visit her beloved India for the first time. She wound up living there for 12 years, during which she married a Czechoslovakian diplomat, became an movie star in Indian films and befriended Jawaharlal Nehru. In 1937 she became a student of Sri Tirumalai Krishnamacharya, a Yoga master whose other students included a couple of kids named B.K.S. Iyengar and K. Pattabhi Jois. After a year Krishnamacharya urged Eugenie to teach, and when her husband relocated to Shanghai in 1939, she opened her first school of Yoga.

After the end of World War II, Indra Devi continued studying Yoga in the Himalayas and after the death of her husband, her travels took her to the United States. She founded a Yoga studio in Hollywood where she taught stars of the day such as Gloria Swanson, Jennifer Jones, Ramon Novarro and Olivia de Haviland. In 1953 she married a renowned doctor and humanitarian, Sigfrid Knauer and continued spreading Yoga throughout the United States and Mexico via conferences, radio and television.

For the next several decades, Indra Devi took Yoga worldwide. In 1985 she moved to Argentina, where she set up the Indra Devi Foundation. Indra Devi's final book is "Yoga for You".

Indra Devi was a student of Sri T. Krishnamacharya, the teacher of B. K. S. Iyengar and K. Pattabhi Jois. She teaches a style of yoga known as "Viniyoga". It is characterized by "vinyasa-krama" (sequential process). It emphasizes a yoga practice that complements everyone's unique physical capabilities. Breathing is coordinated with movements. This is a very gentle type of practice perfect for beginners or seniors.