India’s first female yoga teacher – Smt. Jayalakshmi – Introduction
Yogacharya Sundaram’s daughter Smt. Jayalakshmi was born in Ramanathapuram and married early.
Female Yoga teacher Smt. Jayalakshmi and Yoga
From around 1954, she started teaching and instructing female Yoga students under Shri. Sundaram, and this makes her the first Indian female instructor.
The distinction of the first female Yoga teacher goes to Russian born Indira Devi who started a Yoga class in Shanghai in Feb 1938.
Smt. Jayalakshmi – The backbone of Sundara Yoga Sala
Smt. Jayalakshmi was the backbone of Sundara Yoga Sala, the Yoga school that Yogacharya Sundaram established.
Significantly, her role became more important after Shri. Sundaram began focusing on Yoga Therapy. Importantly, Yogacharya Sundara was a pioneer therapist, who used a combination of Yoga and Diet to cure a variety of illnessesthe world’s first Yoga Therapist. He .
So, when inmates came for therapy, each often required a specific diet, and this was Smt. Jayalakshmi’s main responsibility. All inmates were given 3 meals and those with illnesses were served bespoke diets.
Smt. Jayalakshmi was also responsible for administration and operations of the house and staying facilities. She controlled the finances and made everything work.
Additionally, the Yoga Sala had separate section for ladies for yoga practice. This section was completely managed by Smt. Jayalakshmi, who also taught and managed students.
