Meet the Innovators: John Friend

With Iyengar as his main influence, this teacher's warmth and charisma have contributed to the rapid spread of Anusara Yoga in North America.

By Holly Hammond

John Friend's warmth and charisma have contributed to the rapid spread of Anusara Yoga in North America and Europe, where he has trained more than 250 teachers. John began practicing yoga at age 13. His main hatha influence was B.K.S. Iyengar. In 1989 he met the "guiding light" of his life, Gurumayi Chidvilasananda. Her Siddha Yoga is the spiritual ground of Anusara ("flowing with grace"), lending it a devotional element.

Friend has produced two popular videos: Yoga: Alignment and Form and Yoga for Meditators. He is currently writing a book entitled Yoga Flowing with Grace, which will present the principles of Anusara Yoga. He is also collaborating with Professor Douglas Brooks of the University of Rochester in New York on a book that interprets the Yoga Sutra from a Tantric viewpoint.

"I am very enthusiastic about the explosion of interest in yoga in America at this time," says Friend. "I strongly believe that all the downsides of commercialization and possible dilution of the ancient teachings due to rapid growth of the new American yoga are far outweighed by the potential for millions of people to realize their divine nature through the practice of yoga."

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