Our founder, Mary Louise Skelton, (right) with her teachers, 
                  Sri Krishnamacharya (center)  and T.K.V. Desikachar (left)
                                              

Mary Louise Skelton began her study of yoga in 1969 with Sri T. Krishnamacharya (1888-1989), who knew not only yoga but also  Indian philosophy, Ayurveda, Indian astrology, and music. Krishnamacharya was a very influential master who helped to bring yoga's remarkable healing potential into the 20th century and has left his mark on most forms of yoga taught in the West today. In 1974, Mary Louise became a student of Krishnamacharya's son, T.K.V. Desikachar, founder of the Krishnamacharya Yoga Mandiram. In 1976, she brought T.K.V. Desikachar on his first visit to the United States for a month long course at Colgate University. Out of that course came the book "Religiousness in Yoga: theory and practice", which was edited by Mary Louise and was very instrumental in making these teachings known all over the world. Urged by her teacher to transmit the knowledge and methodology of the lineage, which at the time was known as "Viniyoga", Mary Louise founded Upstate Yoga Intitute in 1983. 

Mary Louise Skelton passed away in 1995, leaving behind a large following of dedicated students who continue her work in various parts of the States and in Canada.