May Some Voids Never be Filled, Sharath Jois - Great Yoga Guru , Better Human
“No dinner for you from tomorrow”
Guruji Sharath Jois told me sternly, with the kindest of smiles, and his signature naughty laugh as he was binding me in Marichyasana D in his shala (school) in Mysore, India where he was based and taught the intense form of yoga called Ashtanga
This was in 2018 July
He was pointing to the belly fat I had accumulated at that time which made getting to the twisted complex pose more difficult
As the pathbearer of modern yoga from Krishnamacharya, his student Pattabhi Jois (Sharath’s Grandfather), he was very serious about maintaining the purity of the practice, yet very jovial about the way he taught
When my mother, an ardent Ashtangi visited me in Mysore while I was practising in the THE school of Ashtanga with Sharath, I sought his permission to have her attend the Saturday conference
My older mom has knee issues and was struggling to sit cross - legged (like yoga people do) in the big classroom which was packed. He noticed her among the 300 people that were there and told his assistant “Usha, get a chair for this lady”
He chatted with my mom in Kannada after the conference. My mother will never forget how he treated her - Paramguru, foremost teacher of the greatest yoga tradition, trained 1000s of teachers and students, the likes of Madonna and Gywneth Paltrow call him their teacher - Zero Ego
The practice fortunately found me 2017 WIth Gowrisha Hoskere in Samyama, Bangalore, India which I was grateful to continue with Andrew Bresen in Austin.
With no yoga experience before, Ashtanga Yoga was my first foray into spirituality and healing and I have remarked that but for this practice, I would have been a coke sniffing VP in the corporate world
Gowrisha and Andrew brought the practice to me from Sharathji. My mother continues to practice with Gowrisha in Bangalore and has practiced with Andrew in Austin. She is an Ashtanga Addict
In the old Gokulam Shala, which was short of space, he would say ‘One More’ to waiting students to grab the next spot. The eternal jokster, he said once - ‘One more stiff’, as I was about to walk in, He added, ‘no , not you, you are very stiff’, and said ‘One more’
Guruji - This was too early to say “no more”
Sharath Jois passed on Nov 11, the cause of death is unknown
I believe that Yogis leave their body at will and that is what he did, like Parahamsa Yogananda, Swami Vivekananda and others
Why so early is what we all are aching with
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I hope you get to meet and learn from teachers like Sharath Jois
I appreciate your condolences , I’m in a reflective state of what my legacy will be after I heard this news
As is my wont when someone great I know (in this case personally) passes away
And the impact I want to make, even if it is to only my family and friends, and at best, to myself
I cannot thank Guruji enough for this practice and healing and only hope that I can further his message of kindness
What an an honor to share this earth space with you and learning this practice & healing
Thank you Sharathji
Lokah Samastah Sukino Bhavanto
(May all beings in the world be happy)
Ashtanga Prayer
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PS: Ashtanga is a very special bond my mom and I share. There are times when we talk across the seas, she misses asking if I have eaten, but always asks - Did you do your yoga ?
I would not have this bond but for Sharathji and this practice
My mother is in Vipassana this week and is cut off from the world , I’m not looking forward to having the conversation of Sharathji’s passing with her
PPS: Love yourselves, love your families, be kind to others, that is Yoga.
That is how I plan to honor my Guruji
#ashtanga #ashtangayoga #sharathjois