My Yoga Journey

In 1979, in her early twenties, Orit Sen Gupta arrived in India for the first time, driven by an unstoppable desire to learn yoga. She stayed at the ashram of Sri Aurobindo, practicing meditation and studying yoga texts. Later, she came to learn about the wisdom of the body under the tutelage of two teachers, B.K.S. Iyengar and Pattabhi Jois, whose powerful influence on modern yoga is felt to this day. The gap that she experienced between the outlook expressed in classical yoga texts and the practice of yoga asana that she was learning sent her on a fascinating journey zigzagging across India to sit at the feet of major teachers of the day. They illuminated yoga as a complete path encompassing worldview, lifestyle, and the practice of meditation, pranayama, and asana—an understanding that continues to guide her and light her way. This book presents a pivotal period in modern yoga from a unique, profound perspective that will interest yoga students and teachers. Moreover, any seeker of a path will find this intimate description of the inner journey and challenges of a woman’s spiritual awakening to be thought-provoking and inspiring.