What makes Elle and Ginger the granddaughters of Modern Yoga?
The grandfathers of modern yoga
B.K.S. Iyengar (1918–2014) and Pattabhi Jois (1915–2009) were students of Sri Krishnamacharya (1888–1989), who is considered the father of modern yoga. They trained under Krishnamacharya at the Mysore Palace in India in the early 20th century.
Although their training experiences and the styles they developed later were quite different. They were part of a group of students who helped Krishnamacharya develop and popularize his dynamic approach to asana practice.
While Jois developed Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga, a vigorous, flowing style with set sequences, Iyengar developed Iyengar Yoga, which emphasizes alignment, precision, and the use of props to make yoga accessible to everyone. Despite their shared foundation, their teachings evolved in unique ways.
Their distinct interpretations of Krishnamacharya’s teachings have each left a lasting legacy on the world of yoga.
Elle’s Lineage: Ashtanga + Vinyasa
Elle, had studied with Pattabhi Jois during one of his last workshops before he passed as well as his eldest son, Manju Jois (b. 1944). Although one of Elle’s most prominent teachers is Pattabhi Jois’ direct student, David Swenson (b. 1956). Swenson traveled to Mysore, India, to study directly with Pattabhi Jois, becoming one of the first Westerners to do so.
As Western students began practicing Ashtanga, they started adapting the rigid series of Ashtanga to be more fluid and less structured, giving birth to what is commonly known as Vinyasa Flow. This style retained the key elements of breath, movement, and sequence but allowed for more creativity, making it more accessible and adaptable.
Elle’s mentor, teacher, and dear friend who she closely identifies her practice with is Seane Corn (b. 1966). Seane has been widely known to be a “face of modern yoga” as the bridge of Vinyasa rose in the States in the 80’s. She, too, traveled to Mysore, India, to study directly with Pattabhi Jois then elaborated her teachings back home through Vinyasa and into aspects of Spiritual Activism.
Ginger’s Lineage: Iyengar + Kripalu
Ginger received her first 200-hour E-RYT with Elle early on, so part of her lineage aligns with Elle’s Vinyasa teachings. Then from that foundation, Ginger took a unique route to her expertise along the path of Iyengar, the brother-practice to modern yoga. Cultivating a full-circle of modern yoga experience and education.
Ginger has extensively studied Restorative Yoga with Judith Hanson Lasater (b. 1947). Whom, for decades, traveled to Pune, India, to study directly under B.K.S. Iyengar. Lasater was deeply influenced by his precision, alignment-based approach, and emphasis on props to aid in the practice.
Ginger’s lineage expands over to Kripalu Center for Yoga and Health founded by disciple, Amrit Desai (b.1932) in Pennsylvania in 1972 (later moved to Stockbridge, Massachusetts). Where he westernized the practices of his teacher, Swami Kripalu (1913-1981) of Gujarat, India, naming the style and Center under his name. Ginger received her first Restorative Teaching Certificate with Sudha Carolyn Lundeen, Amrit’s peer and one of Swami Kripalu’s direct students who carried his teachings through the Kripalu Center.
Kripalu Yoga encourages students to listen to their bodies and honor their limits, promoting a gentle and non-competitive approach to yoga practice. It is often described as a “yoga of compassion” because it focuses on practicing with kindness and without judgment.
(See Ginger’s Bio for her full educational journey)
“As yoga students and teachers in the west we become the holders of this ancient practice. My Ayurveda mentor, Dr. Anusha Sehgal, explains it like this-’We are not the information or the ‘water in a bucket’, we ARE THE BUCKET holding the water as it is passed from one student to the next.’"
- Ginger Solomon
