India
Famous yoga master Sharath Jois of Indian origin passes away at the age of 53 – Times of India
Sharath Jois, a world-renowned yoga master known for teaching Ashtanga yoga, died Monday in Virginia at the age of 53. Jois, the grandson of Ashtanga founder Krishna Pattabhi Jois, suffered a heart attack while walking with students near the University of Virginia. campus in Charlottesville. Despite resuscitation efforts, he was pronounced dead after medical responders arrived.
His death was confirmed by his sister, Sharmila Mahesh, and yoga program manager at the University of Virginia, John Bultman. Bultman said Jois had a heart attack while hiking near the university campus in Charlottesville.
Jois was with about fifty students at Humpback Rocks when he looked tired and sat down on a bench. He later collapsed and his students tried to revive him with CPR.
However, according to Mr Bultman, he was pronounced dead shortly after emergency medical services arrived, as quoted by The New York Times.
Jois has conducted workshops around the world, attended by thousands seeking the experience of the Ashtanga yoga tradition.
After taking over his grandfather’s legacy, Mr. Jois took to Instagram to call himself the “Paramaguru,” meaning “lineage holder.” In the southern Indian city of Mysore, known as the birthplace of Ashtanga, he was affectionately known as the ‘boss’.
Jois’ grandfather, Krishna Pattabhi Jois, played a key role in taking yoga to new heights of popularity in the 1990s, attracting a global following that included celebrities like Gwyneth Paltrow and Madonna. Known for its physically demanding nature, Ashtanga later became popular in India.
In 2007, Jois took over his grandfather’s company yoga institute and called it the K. Pattabhi Jois Ashtanga Yoga Institute. Later, his mother took over the management of the institute, while Jois founded his own organization, the Sharath Yoga Center. By then he had become a successful businessman and regularly went on teaching trips. When he was not travelling, he enjoyed spending time at his home in Mysore and pursuing his passion for nature photography.
“He didn’t want to be this divine figure,” said Isha Singh Sawhney, one of his students, “he just wanted to teach yoga and spread the message of yoga.”
His death shocked many followers, as many wonder about the legacy of the Ashtanga tradition. Jois was loved and admired by his students.
