Famous Yoga Teachers

Using the term “famous yoga teachers” is almost an oxymoron, as many instructors of caliber would not be courting fame. Nevertheless, as the proliferation of yoga DVDs makes the practice more accessible, some yoga teachers are more recognizable than others.

A Snapshot of Famous Yoga Teachers

In yoga circles, a few notable people stand out. It’s hard to say “this person” or “that person” is more famous, but in this list, some instructors definitely learned from others. You’ll find the 20th century leaders make way for the possible new yogic gurus for the 21st century.

Each teacher and yoga style has merit; the key is deciding which person and method is right for you. We won’t base this list of famous yoga teachers on who was the first instructor or who is the most popular. Instead, we’ll simply provide a brief rundown of names you might have heard in passing or people about whom you may be curious.

Baron Baptiste

Baptiste is the inventor of Power Yoga, and the son of healthy living and Western yoga pioneers Walt and Magana Baptiste. Power Yoga is an energized practice in a heated room that allows a yogi to reach greater dimensions of self.

Bikram Choudhury

As the founder of Bikram Yoga, Choudhury introduced the world to a particular series of poses conducted in extreme heat. Practitioners move through 26 postures designed to “bring the body back to the brain.” This yoga style has hundreds of thousands of devotees.

T.K.V. Desikachar

Desikachar is the son of Sri T. Krishnamacharya. He is the co-founder of the Krishnamacharya Yoga Mandiram, a yoga institute in India. At one time, Desikachar’s discipline was called Viniyoga, but he doesn’t use that term any longer.

Lilias Folan

Consider the “First Lady” of Western yoga, Folan was one of the first instructors to encourage enthusiasts through television and home video. Now in her 70s, Folan is a vibrant instructor and workshop leader. Learn more about her in this LoveToKnow Yoga interview.

John Friend

Friend is a pioneer of Anusara Yoga. Since 1997, Friend has led a revolution of this practice, considered a “celebration of the heart.” A former student of B.K.S. Iyengar, his schooling in Hatha Yoga helped him create Anusara.

B.K.S. Iyengar

Many regard yoga guru Iyengar as the preeminent Hatha Yoga instructor. He was a student of Sri T. Krishnamacharya, and popularized Hatha in the Western world. Many other famous yoga teachers, including Patricia Walden and Rodney Yee, credit him with their development. To learn more about Iyengar, start by reading Light on Yoga: The Bible of Modern Yoga.

Sri K. Pattabhi Jois

Also a student of Sri T. Krishnamacharya, Jois was the principal leader of Ashtanga Yoga. Until his death in 2009, he operated the Ashtanga Yoga Institute in India. Popular teachers of Jois’ method include Larry Schultz, Beryl Bender Birch, and David Kelman.

Sri T. Krishnamacharya

The founding father of modern yoga, Krishnamacharya translated ancient yoga texts, taught thousands, and ushered the practice out of India and into the world. Learn more about his legacy here.

David Life and Sharon Gannon

Creators of Jivamukti Yoga, Life and Gannon teach yoga as a form of spiritual activism and action. Time magazine listed Jivamukti as “one of nine major Hatha Yoga methods in the world today”.

A.G. Mohan and Indra Mohan

A.G. Mohan is the co-founder of the Krishnamacharya Yoga Mandiram. A.G. and his wife, Indra, were students of Sri T. Krishnamacharya. They teach Svastha Yoga, Ayurveda, and yoga therapy around the world.

Kate Potter

This Vancouver, British Columbia-based instructor and yoga therapist is the host of “Namaste Yoga”. Specializing in dynamic Hatha Vinyasa Flow yoga, Potter’s approach is serene, yet purposeful. Her sequences challenge even the most experienced yogi, but each session is friendly to a beginner. Read her interview with LoveToKnow Yoga here.

Beth Shaw

Shaw is the founder of YogaFit, a combination different fitness routines and yoga. She developed the program to encourage individuals at every level of fitness to embrace yoga. Considered “Yoga for the Fitness Industry”, this school is one of the more popular styles found in gyms around the world. We have more information about Shaw in this LoveToKnow Yoga interview.

Shiva Rea

A specialist of yoga chant and dance, Rea separates herself from other yoga instructors by demonstrating just how powerful music is to a yoga practice. She develops unique soundscapes for her routines, especially her yoga trance dances, and for others to incorporate into their practices as well.

Lakshmi Voelker

Voelker, a Kripalu-certified yoga instructor, developed Chair Yoga as a way to provide more accessibility to the practice. Read more about her in this LoveToKnow Yoga interview.

Patricia Walden

Walden is one of the premier Iyengar yoga teachers, and a popular DVD instructor for LivingArts, Gaiam Media, as well as the popular “Yoga for Beginners” DVD for Yoga Journal. She is the author of The Woman’s Book of Health and Yoga and teaches around the world.

Rodney Yee

A famous yoga teacher on the worldwide conference and workshop circuit is Rodney Yee. He has also created numerous innovative yoga media for all levels of experience through LivingArts and Gaiam. A former gymnast and ballet dancer, Yee’s fluidity of yoga practice is attractive and compelling.

Post Details About Your Favorite

Did we miss someone? Oh, most certainly! In the “Comments” section below, please post a famous yoga teacher you think deserves mentioning. Please tell us why she or he inspires you, a little about the instructor’s style, and if the individual has a book or DVD available.

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