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Photo of Pattabhi Jois and Sharath by Senenity-Yogini
Ashtanga yoga founder, Krishna Pattabhi Jois died on May 18 at the age of 93 in Mysore, India. Known by his followers as Guruji (a sign of respect for teachers), Jois taught yoga for over 65 years. He was first exposed to yoga at age 12, learning from Tirumalai Krishnamacharya, a guru who also taught B.K.S. Iyengar. He taught yoga at the Sanskrit University of Mysore in the 1930s and went on to open his own school, the Ashtanga Yoga Institute. It took until the late 1960s for Ashtanga yoga to reach the west. Since then, Ashtanga has become a sought out style of yoga in the United States for practitioners and celebrities such as Madonna and Sting.
The style of yoga known as Ashtanga (meaning eight limbs) is a fast-paced series of postures that flow from one posture to the next in the same order. It involves synchronizing distinct and controlled breath with the postures and is unique in that it induces sweating to release toxins in the body.
Sharath Rangaswamy, Jois’ grandson, who has studied and practiced closely with Jois, is expected to take on the role as head of the Institute.
Words of wisdom by Sri Krishna Pattabhi Jois:
“Yoga is possible for anybody who really wants it. Yoga is universal. Yoga is not mine. But don’t approach yoga with a business mind looking for worldly gain.”
“Yoga is 99% practice and 1% theory.”
“If we practice the science of yoga, which is useful to the entire human community and which yields happiness both here and hereafter - if we practice it without fail, we will then attain physical, mental, and spiritual happiness, and our minds will flood towards the Self.”
“Do your practice and all is coming.”
Videos:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Exiq_SGuoqg
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uQGRq00xqbI
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