Luminaries
Bede Griffiths
This Benedictine monk devoted most of his life to exploring a synthesis of Eastern and Western spirituality that he called Christian Vedanta.
By Phil Catalfo
Christopher Isherwood
The writer of the musical Cabaret also wrote a series of books resulting from his decades-long involvement with the Vedanta Society.
By Phil Catalfo
Eknath Easwaran
An English professor and Sanskrit scholar introduced America to a form of meditation the literati would love.
By Phil Catalfo
George Harrison
The "Quiet Beatle" found musical and spiritual inspiration in Eastern philosophy.
By Phil Catalfo
Indra Devi
Often called the First Lady of Yoga, Devi was instrumental in the global diffusion of the practice.
By Helen Kitti Smith
Inward Bound
Swami Kripalu urged yogis to look inward and let their intuition guide their practice.
By Jaimal Yogis
Jiddu Krishnamurti
After renouncing his own religion at the age of 34, Krishnamurti espoused learning the truth experientially, rather than through an organized belief system.
By Phil Catalfo
Krishnamacharya
The teacher of Iyengar, Pattabhi Jois, and Desikachar emphasized individuality rather than one treatment for every illness.
By Jeanne Ricci
Mircea Eliade
The Romanian born scholar of religion and author of more than 1,000 works, wrote his doctoral dissertation about yoga.
By Phil Catalfo
Neem Karoli Baba (Maharajji)
Though he never set foot in America, his spiritual influence manifested in the work of many American devotees, including Ram Dass.
By Phil Catalfo
Paramahansa Yogananda
The late author of the classic Autobiography of a Yogi has inspired nearly 500 Self-Realization meditation centers around the world.
By Jeanne Ricci
Ramana Maharshi
He dared to ask the hardest question: Who am I?
By Phil Catalfo
Sri Aurobindo
A highly educated political activist, Sri Aurobindo spent 40 years spreading the Integral Yoga philosophy.
By Phil Catalfo
Sri Swami Satchidananda
A monk for more than 50 years, Swami Satchidananda galvanized the peace movement of the 1960s and created the path known as Integral Yoga.
By Nora Isaacs
Sufi Sage
Pir Vilayat Inayat Khan embodied the tradition of Rumi, using music and meditation to
achieve oneness with the Divine.
By Phil Catalfo
Swami Radha
Founder of the Sivananda Ashram in British Columbia, this Berlin-born dancer taught students to explore the symbolic meaning of postures and their effect on the spirit.
By Jeanne Ricci
Swami Sivananda
Though he never visited the United States, this Indian guru had a profound influence on yoga in America.
By Phil Catalfo
Swami Vivekananda
This disciple of Ramakrishna is credited for "introducing yoga to the West" and founding the Vedanta Society.
By Phil Catalfo
Vanda Scaravelli
Though she came to yoga later in life, her subsequent 50-year practice and teachings have made a profound impact on hatha yoga.
By Phil Catalfo
Walt Baptiste
This early yoga pioneer and former Mr. America left a family legacy to carry on the yoga tradition.
By Richard Rosen
Yogi Bhajan
Founder of Skih Darma, this Kundalini master had a large and loyal following.
By Phil Catalfo
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