K. Pattabhi Jois

Sanskrit College (cropped)

K. Pattabhi Jois (26 July 1915 – 18 May 2009) was an Indian yoga teacher who is recognized as one of the foremost figures in the transmission of Ashtanga Yoga to the West. He was born in Kowshika, a small hamlet in the state of Karnataka, India. Jois's teachings on Ashtanga Yoga, a systematized method of practicing yoga postures and breathing exercises, have significantly influenced the global yoga community.

Early Life and Education

K. Pattabhi Jois was born into a Brahmin family. From a young age, he showed an interest in learning Sanskrit and the ancient texts of Hinduism. At the age of 12, he attended a yoga demonstration by T. Krishnamacharya, one of the most distinguished yoga teachers of the 20th century, and became his student the very next day. Jois studied under Krishnamacharya for 25 years, learning the intricacies of the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, as well as the practical aspects of yoga.

Career

In 1948, Pattabhi Jois established the Ashtanga Yoga Research Institute in Mysore, now known as the KPJAYI (K. Pattabhi Jois Ashtanga Yoga Institute), with the aim of researching the curative aspects of Ashtanga Yoga. His teaching emphasized the importance of the Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga system, which is characterized by a progressive series of postures synchronized with breath and movement, known as vinyasa.

Jois's approach to yoga was rigorous and disciplined, focusing on the eight limbs of Ashtanga Yoga outlined in Patanjali's Yoga Sutras. These include ethical standards (Yama), self-discipline (Niyama), posture (Asana), breath control (Pranayama), sensory withdrawal (Pratyahara), concentration (Dharana), meditation (Dhyana), and absorption (Samadhi).

Influence and Legacy

Pattabhi Jois's influence on yoga, particularly in the West, is profound. He taught many Western students who went on to become influential yoga teachers themselves, spreading the practice of Ashtanga Yoga across the globe. His insistence on the importance of the traditional guru-student relationship in yoga education has been a defining feature of his teaching philosophy.

Despite controversies surrounding his teaching methods, Jois's contribution to the spread and understanding of yoga in the modern world is undeniable. His work has helped to popularize yoga as a physical and spiritual discipline, emphasizing its potential for health, well-being, and spiritual growth.

Death

K. Pattabhi Jois passed away on 18 May 2009 in Mysore, India. His death marked the end of an era in the world of yoga, but his teachings continue to live on through his students and the Ashtanga Yoga Institute.

See Also

• Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga
• T. Krishnamacharya
• Yoga Sutras of Patanjali