Sometimes it seems that yoga's the vanilla ice cream of the body/mind/spirit crowd—people can't help themselves from sprinkling on their favorite toppings and swirling extras into the basic flavor. How else to perceive AcroYoga, Yogilates, and Cy-Yo, if not as the yogic versions of fudge ripple?

Shri Dharma Mittra is an elder statesman of yoga in America, a revered master—67 years old on May 14th—who has been mentor, guru, and spiritual guide for countless students and teachers. Born in Brazil, he came to New York in 1964 and studied for many years as a disciple of Swami Kailashananda, also known as Yogi Gupta. Mittra is well-known as the artist and yogi behind the Master Yoga Chart of 908 Asanas, the seminal poster that shows him demonstrating a stunning lexicon of poses. He continues to teach from his Manhattan studio, Dharma Yoga Center, and travels throughout the country and abroad to share yoga teachings and philosophy.