Dear Friend,
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
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