The Goddess Pose: The Audacious Life of Indra Devi, the Woman Who Helped Bring Yoga to the West

The Goddess Pose chronicles the life of Eugenia Peterson, later known by her assumed name Indra Devi. Ms. Goldberg traces this fantastical life with a surfeit of objectivity and context. The modest-length account (280 pages) is so chock full of character profiles that it demands a second reading to fully appreciate how all the formative strands conspired to weave this charismatic embodiment of the Easternization stream emblematic of latter 20th century avant garde spirituality.Anyone curious how yoga evolved from an esoteric Indian spiritual practice to a worldwide brand of spiritually-infused exercise and stress reduction will find much here to assuage that thirst. Indeed the evolution of yoga is a defining backdrop for a life that progressed from aristocratic youth to theatrical performer to theosophical adept to yogini. The Goddess Pose also sheds light on the social psychology that characterized the international New Age movement as it took shape in the latter 20th century.Growing up amidst the Russian Revolution, Devi time and again skirted danger to reinvent herself in diverse circumstances. The turbulence of her upbringing helps explain her tenacious pursuit of spirituality and diminution of attachments. Yet she remained an unapologetic devotee of love. In fact, "through yoga, she was convinced it was possible to love without ever experiencing the anguish of loss or the constriction of dependency" (p. 226).As (probably) the most renowned yogini of her time, Indra Devi offered up yoga to women, in part, as a palliative for the failings of men in relationships. As an early feminist (of a fashion), "Devi...assumed women were suffering because they wanted equality but didn't yet have it, and she offered a soothing ritual to help them cope in the meantime." (p. 172)Astounding to me was Devi’s muted response when it became clear that her longstanding guru, Sai Baba, had been sexual molesting adolescent boys under the guise of spiritual training. While this incremental revelation may have precipitated her decision to leave his organization, she failed to renounce him openly. Likewise, she turned a blind eye, as did many, to the hypocrisy of Sai Baba’s ostentatious lifestyle supported by financial exploitation of the wealthier among his followers.It is interesting to speculate if Devi’s flavor of non-attachment--interwoven with unquestioning confidence in the hidden hand of karma--lent psychological cover to her failing to speak out against her guru. If so, it would resonate with my personal experience of 1970s New Age advocates, whose fatal flaw was to put too much stock in "do your own thing" individualism at the expense of a more grounded "do the right thing" ethic.Indra Devi is no longer here to fence with those who might question certain aspects of her personal or spiritual legacy. What is apparent from reading The Goddess Pose is that her contribution to the phenomenon of Western yoga will be felt, though probably not sufficiently acknowledged, for years to come.

Finally, a book about yoga that is neither all sweetness or snark. A very well-researched, balanced biography of the woman who almost single-handedly created the modern yoga practice in the USA. It goes beyond the particulars of Indra Devi (nee Eugenia Peterson)'s extra-ordinary 103-year life to examine yoga in Indian history and the wider world, and so it helps readers understand how a practice associated with Hindu ascetics is now done by an astonishing number of people world-wide. Very easy to read. If it had any illustrations, -- I know many exist since I own Devis' American books on yoga and have seen relevant photos in other yoga historians' books -- I would have given it 5 stars and said it is a must have.

I waited impatiently for the release date, having so enjoyed AMERICAN VEDA by the other Goldberg and being drawn to the history of yoga in the west as my own practice deepens. The writing is crisp and succinct, and I found the book very easy to digest- I read it in just over two days, essentially not being able to put it down. As was the case with AMERICAN VEDA, I have discovered many more topics to research. Kudos to Ms. Goldberg for her fine sweeping research on this important woman and teacher of yoga, and her ability to create a historical context for the telling of this compelling, inspiring biorgraphy.

Started out well, especially the history of Northern Europe and specifically around WW1. But then the author rushed Indra's last 20 years. Or really there was so little Indra had written or had left in her life story by then, it sort of dwindled to boredom.

This book really lit a new fire in my passion for yoga. Learning where the modern tradition of yoga in the West comes from through Indra Devi's journey shines light on a lot of questions I've had about why the practice looks the way it does now. It's also allowed me an educated way to view arguments coming from "yoga purists" - some of the practices they adore are not as "traditional" as they think it is. Thank you for this book, Ms. Goldberg - I've been curious about Indra Devi since I began studying yoga and there's never been a comprehensive book like this before. It's inspired a lot of conversation amongst my yoga friends, and even the creation of a yoga book club!

Don't expect this to be a book about yoga, yoga as defined by any definition. It is about the life of a woman, exceptional as much as she is unnerving. The book is well written and researched but it is in the end as empty of substance as Indra's life seems to me. Yoga becomes a reinvention of an individual for the consumption of the gullible seekers. I felt no insights other than the fact that many people are willing and ready to believe anything and if you have a way of being soave and showing a gushing joie de vivre some dunce will always give you a hand out and a place to sleep.

I love this book! It was a fascinating read and very helpful for a research paper I was writing on the life of Indra Devi. I would definitely recommend it to anyone interested in Indra Devi or yoga history in general, as there is a lot of interesting background information about yoga and other influential movements of the time (such as theosophy).

Amazing book. Michelle Goldberg has done heaps of new research and composed a fun-to-read and complete account of key figure in yoga history. She seamlessly threads in accounts of the history Devi lived through, showing us how she both affected and was affected by these events. Highly recommended.

I couldnt put it down. I read it immediately in one evening and I cried at the end coz I was so sad it finished. And then I read it again! Such an inspirational story! Can someone make it into a movie please?

Great book about the story of Indra Devi !. The only book I’ve read that talks about modern yoga and women together ,it’s a wonderful mix . A story filled with light and some darkness which is ultimately how life is . Adored it!

Es la biografía de Indra muy bien documentada y explicada. Lenguaje ameno y próximo al lector. Llegas a empatizar con Indra de un modo especial.

I am so delighted to get this book by Michelle Goldberg.It's a must read for all women who practice yoga.

Sehr gut recherchiert; soo gut geschrieben&dermaßen bewegte Vita machen ein Leseabenteuer daraus..Pflichtlektüre nicht nur für Yogaübende! Geschichte des sehr bewegten Lebens einer außergewöhnlichen Frau,von Michelle Goldberg durchaus kritisch betrachtet.