Who is credited with introducing yoga to America?

The introduction of yoga to America is primarily credited to Yogi Swami Vivekananda. He played a pivotal role in bringing yoga and spiritual philosophy from India to the Western world, particularly through his impactful speech at the Parliament of Religions in Chicago in 1893. His teachings emphasized the spiritual and philosophical aspects of yoga, making it accessible to a wider audience in America.

Patanjali is known for authoring the Yoga Sutras, which codify the philosophy and practice of yoga but did not play a direct role in introducing it to the West. B.K.S. Iyengar and Krishnamacharya are both significant figures in the development and articulation of modern yoga practices; however, they came into prominence in the mid-20th century, after Vivekananda had already laid the groundwork for yoga's popularity in America.