Indra Devi

Indra Devi – Life, Work, and Legacy

Discover the life of Indra Devi (1899–2002), the pioneering Latvian-born yogini who brought yoga to the Hollywood elite and helped popularize it in the West. Explore her biography, philosophy, achievements, and memorable insights.

Introduction

Indra Devi (born Eugenie “Zhenya” Peterson on May 12, 1899; died April 25, 2002) is widely regarded as one of the key figures who introduced and popularized modern yoga in the West. Though born in what is now Latvia, she traveled extensively, studied under the legendary T. Krishnamacharya in India, taught in China, the United States, Latin America, and beyond, and became known as the “First Lady of Yoga.”

Her life story bridges multiple cultures, historical upheavals, and spiritual movements—and her impact on how yoga is perceived and practiced in modern times is profound.

Early Life and Family

Eugenie Peterson was born in Riga, then part of the Russian Empire (in the Governorate of Livonia). Her father, Vasili (or Vasilius) Peterson, was a Swedish bank director; her mother, Aleksandra (or Alexandra) Labunskaya, was a Russian noblewoman and actress.

From early on, her life was touched by upheaval. After the Russian Revolution, her family lost much of their fortune. She and her mother fled eastward, eventually settling in Germany (Berlin) during her youth.

She received some schooling and cultivated literary and artistic interests. She also studied drama and dance in Moscow as a youth.

The combination of cultural, linguistic, and personal dislocations shaped her openness to new spiritual and physical traditions.

The Pull of India and the Path to Yoga

Early Encounters

Indra Devi’s fascination with India and spiritual literature began in her teens. She read Rabindranath Tagore and works on Eastern philosophy—including yoga instruction books—that stirred in her a longing for deeper meaning.

In 1926, she attended a Theosophical Society meeting in the Netherlands where she heard chanting and Sanskrit mantras, which had a strong emotional impact on her. That experience deepened her sense that she must connect more fully with India’s spiritual traditions.

Journey to India & Transformation

In 1927, she traveled to India. She later adopted the name Indra Devi (where “Devi” echoes an Indian root meaning “goddess” or “divine”) as her spiritual and public persona.

During her time in India, she acted in films (in Bombay) and moved in cultural, spiritual, and social circles.

A turning point came when she became a disciple of Tirumalai Krishnamacharya, one of the most influential modern yoga teachers. Krishnamacharya initially declined to accept her, in part because she was a foreign woman, but eventually, with the intervention of the Maharaja of Mysore, she was admitted.

In Krishnamacharya’s school at the Mysore Palace, she studied asanas and pranayama. She was reportedly one of his first female Western students (alongside figures like B.K.S. Iyengar and Pattabhi Jois) in that era.

Krishnamacharya encouraged her to teach—thus formally beginning her role as a yoga instructor.

Teaching, Influence & Global Work

China & Early Teaching

In 1939, Devi moved to Shanghai, China, where she opened one of the first yoga schools in China. She taught inside the home of Soong Mei-ling (Madame Chiang Kai-shek), among others.

Her style was gentle, focused on relaxation, breath work, and a limited series of poses, making yoga more accessible to newcomers.

Move to the United States & Hollywood

After World War II, in 1947, she moved to the United States (California).

In 1948, she opened a yoga studio on Sunset Boulevard in Hollywood, Los Angeles—one of the first in America.

Her social grace, her prior acting/diplomatic experience, and her distinct persona (often wearing a sari) helped her attract celebrity clientele.

Among her famous students were Greta Garbo, Eva Gabor, Gloria Swanson, Jennifer Jones, Robert Ryan, Yul Brynner, and violinist Yehudi Menuhin.

Her published works, notably Forever Young, Forever Healthy and Yoga for Americans, presented yoga as a health and beauty discipline suitable for modern Westerners.

Latin America, Later Years & Legacy

In 1961, her husband Sigfrid Knauer acquired a ranch in Tecate, Mexico, where she established the Indra Devi Foundation.

In 1985, she relocated permanently to Buenos Aires, Argentina. There she continued teaching, building her foundation networks, and serving the Latin American yoga community.

In 1987, she was named honorary president of the International Yoga Federation and of the Latin American Yoga Union.

Toward the end of life, her personal practice was modest—select postures like Padmasana, Janu Sirsasana, and gentle twists—and she emphasized giving “light and love” universally.

She died in Buenos Aires, Argentina on April 25, 2002, at the age of 102.

Philosophy, Style & Contributions

• Accessibility over austerity: Devi adapted yoga in a way that Westerners could approach without feeling overwhelmed by mystical or ascetic elements.

• Gentle approach: She taught a small number of asanas (about 12, plus Surya Namaskar) done slowly, with emphasis on breathing, ease, and stress relief instead of extreme flexibility or intensity.

• Yoga as a modern lifestyle: Her books emphasized that yoga can be integrated into daily life for physical health, mental calm, beauty, and longevity.

• Bridging East and West: She functioned as a cultural mediator, translating traditional Indian yoga concepts into forms and language that resonated with Western sensibilities.

• Women’s role in yoga: As one of the earliest Western women to train and teach yoga, she opened the path for many female yoga teachers in modern times.

Her legacy is also captured in how yoga grew from niche spiritual practice to a global phenomenon—she is often credited with planting key seeds of that transformation.

Notable Quotes

Here are a few reflective and inspirational statements attributed to Indra Devi:

• “You give love and light to everybody — those who love you, those who harm you, those whom you know, those whom you don’t know. … You just give light and love.”

• On yoga’s power for women: she asserted that “Yogic exercises … are particularly suited to a woman … they make her more beautiful.”

• “Yoga is the shortcut to happiness.” (often quoted in yoga literature)

These reflect her blend of idealism, practicality, and inclusive spiritual language.

Lessons and Inspirations from Indra Devi

1. Courage to break boundaries
   As a foreign woman in a traditionally male-dominated Indian context, she persisted and earned respect—breaking social and cultural boundaries.

2. Adaptation over imitation
   Rather than imposing rigid traditional schemes, she adapted yoga to fit modern life, making it approachable and sustainable.

3. Consistency over showmanship
   Her emphasis was on enduring practice, calmness, and transformation—not flashy tricks or extreme displays.

4. Lifelong learning and growth
   Even into advanced age, she continued teaching and embodying yoga principles—she lived her message.

5. Universal kindness
   Her spiritual posture was one of generosity—seeing yoga as a gift to share rather than a secret to hoard.

Conclusion

Indra Devi’s life spans cultures, wars, revolutions, and spiritual revolutions. From her birth in Riga to her final years in Argentina, she bridged East and West, art and discipline, celebrity and spiritual humility. Her work helped transform yoga from a largely esoteric tradition into a global phenomenon, especially among women and Western practitioners.