Mysore
About Mysore
The practice of astanga yoga as we know it today was developed and pioneered by the Jois family from Mysore, India. From the 1970s onwards, the first few Westerners began to make their way to the humble shala in Lakshmipuram in Mysore to learn the method from Sri K Pattabhi Jois, his daughter, Saraswathi, and his grandson, the late Sharath Jois.
After Pattabhi Jois’ death, Sharath Jois became the lineage holder of astanga yoga, teaching the practice to thousands of people across the globe.
Sharath’s untimely death in 2024 was a huge loss to the astanga community. His shala in Mysore remains open for practitioners to study for 3-4 months of the year.
All the classes at Astanga Yoga London follow in the tradition of how Sharath taught in Mysore and all our teachers are either certified or authorised by him.
Anyone interested in teaching this system of yoga should commit to long term study over a number of years.
About Sharath Jois
Sharath Jois photographed by Tom Rosenthal
R. Sharath Jois (1971 – 2024) was the world’s most advanced practitioner of astanga yoga and the preeminent authority of its traditional practice. He was born in Mysore, India and began practising at age 7 under the guidance of his grandfather, K. Pattabhi Jois. Sharath wholly devoted himself to the study of astanga yoga, waking every day at 3.30am to make the cross-town trip to his grandfather’s Astanga Yoga Research Institute. He continued to practise under and assist his grandfather for 20 years. Sharath was the only student of astanga yoga to have mastered the complete six series.
Sharath taught the method to thousands of students from all over the world who came to study with him each year in Mysore, rising six days a week at 1.00am to practise before teaching.
Sharath’s passing in 2024, at the age of 53, was a profound loss to the astanga community worldwide.
Sharath is survived by his wife, Shruthi, daughter Shraddha, and son Sambhav.
About K. Pattabhi Jois
K. Pattabhi Jois, Sharath’s grandfather, was the principle proponent and master of astanga yoga.
Born in 1915, he began studying with Krishnamacharya in 1927 until 1945. Between 1930 and 1956 he studied Sanskrit and Advaita vedanta at Mysore Maharaja Sanskrit College. He became professor and departmental head of yoga at Maharaja Sanskrit College in 1937.
He set up the Astanga Yoga Research Institute (now the Sharath Yoga Centre) in 1948 and became honorary professor of yoga at the Government College of Indian Medicine between 1976 and 1978.
After his death, Pattabhi Jois became the subject of multiple allegations of sexual abuse by several students. Abuse of any kind has no place in yoga. At Astanga Yoga London, we are committed to providing a safe, respectful and inclusive environment for all practitioners. All teachers and assistants uphold the highest standards of professional conduct and are dedicated to creating a space where everyone feels secure and supported in their practice.
“If one wants to learn yoga, then one must follow in the tradition of paramparā... you cannot really learn, you cannot truly understand yoga unless it is imparted directly from guru to student.”
— Sharath Jois, Pushpam magazine issue 1
Mysore in photos by Sharon Matarazzo
Above: Sharathji’s feet
Here are some photos of Mysore taken by AYL student Sharon Matarazzo on one of her trips.
‘I am one among the many yoga enthusiasts and aspirants Mysore attracts from far and wide to enjoy the generous offerings of its culture and traditions, sunlight, warmth, people and animals. It’s a place where I’ve formed cherished friendships and experienced a rich tapestry of the sacred and profane, a paradox one imbibes in any great love story. This is a taste of my Indian love story.’
Sharon Matarazzo
