His name is synonymous with one of the world’s most widely practiced disciplines, and yoga guru B.K.S. Iyengar is being celebrated accordingly with a Google Doodle on what would have been his 97th birthday.
The interactive doodle shows the renowned master in various yoga poses within Google’s logo and is meant to characterize the “tremendous control and discipline, which he exercised in ways not limited to confoundingly long headstands,” the company said.
Widely credited with introducing the West to the ancient Indian tradition — primarily through his tutelage of famous violinist Yehudi Menuhin — Iyengar was included in TIME’s list of the world’s 100 most influential people in 2004. He continued to practice and teach “Iyengar Yoga,” as it came to be known, well into his 80s and almost right until his death in 2014.
More Must-Reads from TIME
- Where Trump 2.0 Will Differ From 1.0
- How Elon Musk Became a Kingmaker
- The Power—And Limits—of Peer Support
- The 100 Must-Read Books of 2024
- Column: If Optimism Feels Ridiculous Now, Try Hope
- The Future of Climate Action Is Trade Policy
- FX’s Say Nothing Is the Must-Watch Political Thriller of 2024
- Merle Bombardieri Is Helping People Make the Baby Decision
Write to Rishi Iyengar at rishi.iyengar@timeasia.com