Sending Shockwaves, Indian Yoga Guru Dies Suddenly In Virginia

India-West News Desk

CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA – Sharath Jois, a star in the yoga community and grandson of iconic yoga guru K. Pattabhi Jois, tragically passed away here, at the age of 53. His sudden death has sent shockwaves through his tight-knit community of yoga practitioners and celebrities alike. Jois, renowned for teaching Ashtanga yoga to A-list stars such as Madonna, Gwyneth Paltrow, and Sting, died on November 11 after suffering a heart attack while hiking near the University of Virginia.

At the time of his passing, Jois was on a teaching tour across the U.S. and had just posted a video of his class on Instagram. Jois had been scheduled to teach in San Antonio, next. He was reportedly hiking with around 50 students at Humpback Rocks when he became fatigued and collapsed. Despite efforts from students to revive him with CPR, he was declared dead upon the arrival of emergency responders.

Sharath Jois was not only the heir to the Ashtanga yoga tradition but also a transformative figure in the yoga world. Under his leadership, the K. Pattabhi Jois Ashtanga Yoga Institute in Mysore, became a globally recognized institution. Jois succeeded his grandfather as the director of the Institute in 2007, after K. Pattabhi Jois’ health declined. In addition to running the Mysore center, Sharath later established the Sharath Yoga Center, where he continued his legacy of teaching and nurturing the next generation of yoga practitioners.

His personal journey with yoga was deeply transformative; as a sickly child who suffered from rheumatic fever, and joint issues, he believed yoga had healed him and could help others too. He was a staunch advocate of the health benefits of Ashtanga yoga, especially for those suffering from respiratory issues, allergies, or the effects of pollution

Known for his rigorous approach to Ashtanga yoga, Jois, media reports said, was a vocal critic of short-term Teacher Training Certificates and believed that one could only become a competent yoga teacher after several years of dedicated practice.

Jois’ contributions to the global spread of Ashtanga yoga, particularly his workshops and classes attended by thousands of practitioners, cannot be overstated. His family and his students, including prominent figures like Paltrow, who credited him for her decision to give up alcohol and caffeine, remember him as a teacher whose impact extended beyond physical postures to the spiritual integration of the practice.