RAY LONG, MD, FRCSC, began his study of human anatomy and science at a young age under the guidance of his father, David Michael Long Jr., MD, PhD, a cardiovascular surgeon and research scientist. He went on to graduate from The University of Michigan Medical School and became an orthopedic surgeon.
Ray was introduced to the alternative healing arts by author and mystic Robert A. Johnson, who taught him about shamanism, dream work, and ceremony. He began practicing yoga while a medical student in Ann Arbor, Michigan, and after graduation travelled to India to study with Yogacharya B.K.S. Iyengar, his daughter Geeta, and son Prashant. During his time at the Iyengar Institute, Ray spent many hours observing and documenting Yogacharya Iyengar’s personal practice. These observations formed the foundation for much of his later work on combining Western science and yoga.
Dr. Long is the author of the bestselling series, The Key Muscles of Yoga and The Key Poses of Yoga and teaches seminars worldwide. He is currently pursuing graduate studies in Design and Technology at Parsons The New School for Design and integrates these disciplines into his research on the art of yoga. Ray lives in New York with his French bulldog, Frank.