Sharath Jois, Heir to Founder of Ashtanga Yoga, Dies at 53

Sharath Jois, the grandson of Ashtanga yoga founder K. Pattabhi Jois, died unexpectedly on Monday at the age of 53.

Sharath Jois was born in Mysore, India, in 1969. He began practicing Ashtanga yoga at the age of 7 under the guidance of his grandfather. In 1991, he took over the management of the Ashtanga Yoga Institute in Mysore, which his grandfather had founded in 1948.

Under Sharath Jois's leadership, the Ashtanga Yoga Institute became one of the most respected yoga schools in the world.

Students from all over the world flocked to Mysore to study Ashtanga yoga with Sharath Jois. He was known for his strict adherence to the traditional Ashtanga yoga system and his dedication to teaching the practice in its purest form.

In addition to his work at the Ashtanga Yoga Institute, Sharath Jois also traveled extensively, teaching workshops and retreats around the world. He was a passionate advocate for the benefits of Ashtanga yoga and helped to spread the practice to new audiences.

Sharath Jois's unexpected death is a great loss to the yoga community. He was a gifted teacher and a dedicated practitioner who inspired countless students around the world.

He is survived by his wife, Sharmila, and two children, Sahana and Mahesh.