"Fit-Ful" Friday blog for 5/15/09

Sri K Pattabhi Jois 1915-2009



The following is a post I received from my Yoga certification schools Yahoo group (Yoga Well). I was saddened to hear this news, yet also wanted to share the information with my students and friends. The second portion is a letter from a fellow Yogi-It's nice to hear coming from someone who was able to personally work with this Yoga great.



It is with great sadness that I wish to inform you about the passing of Guruji Sri K Pattabhi Jois. Following a battle with ailing health, he passed today afternoon India time. He was 94. Guruji, as he was fondly know all over the world, was one of Sri T Krishnamacharya' s earlier students in Mysore. He has been instrumental in spreading one of Krishnamcharya' s methods, which is now popularly known as Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga. He has been one of the most influential teachers of our time. It is our great privilege to have shared this earth with a master of his caliber.



The Krishnamacharya Healing & Yoga Foundation, as well as Krishnamacharya Yoga Mandiram, will be organizing a prayer in his honor on the 19 May 2009, at 6:00 pm at the premises of the Krishnamacharya Yoga Mandiram. We invite everyone to come and participate. TKV Desikachar, who is in Tennessee currently, will organize a prayer meeting there with his group of students. At this difficult moment, it is the best gift we can offer his family. Please feel free to pass this message to your friends and students. Kausthub DesikacharKrishnamcharya Healing & Yoga.



a nice letter from one yogi
Posted by: "Anne"

Tue May 19, 2009 4:26 pm (PDT)


Every time you see someone doing Power Yoga, Flow Yoga, or Vinyasa Yoga... ... it can almost inevitably be traced back in tradition to Pattabhi Jois,the modern master of Ashtanga Yoga who lived and taught in Mysore, India for the majority of his life. Ashtanga Yoga has been my primary practice for many many years, and it's amazing to think how this simple structured, series of postures can spread organically throughout the world... ... all because this one man got up every morning in his dusty Indian village and taught however many students were there to learn.In the old days, I'm told there were just a few students - a dozen at most -at 5 a.m. for practice. When I was in Mysore last (2006), there were nearly 200, and at 90 years old Pattabhi Jois was still helping me (and everyone else) drop back.



He was still squishing us flat in forward bends. And still doing the morning chant with a big booming voice. What a simple, incredible life. A yoga practice is ever-growing and changing thing, just like life, but it's pretty cool when one guy and his tradition stay still throughout it all.That's the power of focus. The power of clarity. And most of all, the power of practice. A big collective "thank you" is in order to the most influential yoga teacher of our time who has passed today.



Stay bendy, Lucas

YOGABODY

"Practice and all is coming..." - Sri K. Pattabhi Jois

http://www.youtube. com/watch? v=uQGRq00xqbI





Peace and health!
Lesa

http://www.lmgdanceandfitness.com/