Patricia Walden is recognized worldwide as one of B.K.S. Iyengar’s most accomplished students and teachers. She helped establish the National Certification Committee, co-authored The Women’s Book of Yoga and Health and other books, and was named by Yoga Journal as one of the “25 American yoga originals who are shaping yoga today.” Her DVDs, including Yoga for Beginners, played a major role in bringing yoga to a wider global audience, and she continues to teach master classes, workshops, and teacher training programs internationally.
Patricia first came to yoga in her early 20s as a spiritual calling. In 1976, she met B.K.S. Iyengar and was immediately inspired by his light, energy, insight, genius, joy in yoga, and wonderful humor. She became his devoted student and has traveled to Pune, India, each year since to study with him and his daughter Geeta.
With Guruji’s guidance, she developed a methodical and deeply inspiring approach to both practice and teaching. Patricia has been a leading presence in the growth of yoga in the United States and has played an active role in the Iyengar Yoga community since the mid-1980s.
She co-founded the B.K.S. Iyengar Center of Cambridge, served as president of the B.K.S. Iyengar Association of Massachusetts, and co-chaired the 1987 B.K.S. Iyengar Yoga Convention. She also helped launch the National Certification Committee and has served on it for more than 23 years. Today, she is vice president of the B.K.S. Iyengar Regional Association of New England.