Krishnamacharya

Tirumalai Krishnamacharya (1888–1989) was an Indian yoga teacher, Ayurveda physician, and Sanskrit scholar whose work helped revive and modernize yoga in the 20th century. He spent much of his professional life in Mysore, Karnataka, where he instructed students and developed a systematic approach to practice.

Krishnamacharya taught a synthesis of asana, pranayama, and philosophy, emphasizing breath, alignment, and the therapeutic potential of yoga. He formulated Vinyasa Krama Yoga, a progressive sequencing of postures designed to build strength and flexibility while guiding practitioners toward meditation.

Many of his students became influential teachers who spread his methods worldwide, including Pattabhi Jois, B. K. S. Iyengar, Indra Devi, and his son T. K. Desikachar. Through them, his influence shaped the modern yoga landscape, including the development of Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga and Iyengar Yoga.

Krishnamacharya studied under various teachers in yoga, Ayurveda, and Sanskrit, integrating traditional practices with contemporary ideas on health and physiology. He authored works such as Yoga Makaranda (1934), which presented his teaching principles and asana sequences, and contributed to the popularization of therapeutic yoga.

His legacy lies in the globalization of yoga and the emphasis on adapting practice to individual needs while maintaining a foundation in classical yoga philosophy. He is often regarded as a pivotal figure in the transmission of traditional Indian yoga to the modern world.