May

The Most Beloved Guruji, Sri K. Pattabhi Jois ( July 26, 1915 - May 18, 2009 )

The revered founder of modern day Ashtanga yoga, Pattabhi Jois, has passed away on May 18 2009.

The day after he died, I went for an ashtanga class. I thought about Guruji as he was fondly known as by all his ashtanga students all over the world ( with numerous great teachers like David Life, David Swenson etc and famous stars like Madonna, Sting ). Although I am not a avid practitioner of Ashtanga, my occasional practice has brought me much benefits and much respect about the founder.

Doing the poses are one thing but it’s another whole level, when you need to watch your breath as well as remember the sequence as well. It’s training for the mind as well. You are also encouraged to practice each pose diligently until you can do the pose before moving on to the next one.

It is a great lost to the yoga community. Guruji has left behind a legacy that everyone will remember forever. Some of guruji’s quotes :

“Do your practice and all is coming.”

“Ashtanga yoga is 99 percent practice, one percent theory.”

“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. If you want to be near God, turn your mind
toward God, and practice yoga. As the scriptures say “without yoga
practice, how can knowledge give you moksha [liberation]?”

Namaste~