shri k pattabhi jois, 1915-2009

i woke up this morning and found a long list of tweets from my yoga cohorts, all pretty much saying the same thing:

shri k pattabhi jois, father of ashtanga yoga, passed away today in india at the age of 93

the official announcement appeared on the home page of the k pattabhi jois ashtanga yoga institute website:

May 18, 2009

Guruji passed away today at 2:30pm (Indian Standard Time). Thank you for all your condolences and prayers. Please kindly refrain from contacting the family directly at this time.

even though pattabhi jois had been ailing for some time now, his death came as a shock to the entire yoga community.

guruji was just two months shy of his 94th birthday. for him to have lived for that long can probably be attributed to his genes, his lifestyle, his regular yoga practice. or all of the above.

many yoga instructors paid tribute today to this wise teacher at the start of their classes, with some even leading their students through modified ashtanga poses instead of their usual vinyasa flow sequences.

while i could post excerpts of pattabhi jois's life and teachings from various sources, i'd like to refer you instead to the collection of videos and posts about the founder of ashtanga yoga on the elephant journal website.

Om
Swashti Praja Bhyah Pari Pala Yantam
Nya Yena Margena Mahi Mahishaha
Go Brahmanebhyaha
Shubhamastu Nityam
Lokaa Samastha Sukhino Bhavanhtu
Om Shanti Shanti Shanti

Om
May prosperity be glorified
May administrators rule the world with law and justice
May divinity and erudition be protected
And may people of the world be happy and prosperous
Om peace peace peace

-- ashtanga closing prayer, as chanted by pattabhi jois

shri k pattabhi jois -- his guiding light will continue to shine brightly long after his passing...


postscript:

jodi blumstein, owner of shanti shala, a home-based yoga studio near downtown LA, will be hosting a memorial day potluck. here's her invite; jodi will give you directions to the shala after you've sent in your RSVP:

Dear Friends,

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing this morning of Sri K Pattabhi Jois. He died surrounded by his family and he leaves behind an enormous international community of students and friends who have been profoundly affected by his work. We have been so blessed to have such a loving and generous teacher, a radiant being of light and the most gifted master of yoga.

On Memorial Day, we invite you to celebrate his life with us and to enjoy the rich community that we all share because of his efforts.

Please join us at Shanti Shala on Monday May 25th.

9 - 10:45AM Intro to 2nd Series
This will be a fun and lighthearted exploration of the first half of the second series. Open to anyone who is currently practicing the full primary series. $15
RSVP at Shantishala@gmail.com

11 - 1PM Mysore Class
All Levels, beginners welcome. $15
RSVP at Shantishala@gmail.com

11AM - 4PM Raw Food Potluck in memory of Sri K. Pattabhi Jois
Bring a dish, or chat with Jodi about bringing ingredients and making your dish here. Play in the Shanti Kitchen, mingle with your community and nourish your body with delicious nutritious and energizing food.
RSVP at Shantishala@gmail.com

Class sizes are limited. You must email me to hold your space in one of the classes. The potluck is open to EVERYONE, so bring someone you love and share this special day with them!