Sri K. Pattabhi Jois

Sri K. Pattabhi Jois passed away May 18th, 2009.  He is an incredible guru (literally, remover of darkness) who is largely responsible for yoga as we know it in the West.  He learned Ashtanga yoga from Krishnamacharya, as passed down to him from his teacher Bramachari.  His method is the vinyasa flow.  Vinyasa means the linking of breath with movement, and it is commonly practiced in the West (think of a flow class, where you do chaturanga and up dog over and over between the various postures).  Pattabhi Jois taught that each movement should be connected to a breath and that the practice should be vigorous and build heat within the body.  He was a professor of Sanskrit at the Sanskrit College of Mysore.  He founded the Ashtanga Yoga Research Institute in Mysore and wrote the book Yoga Mala.  His influence on Yoga is profound and his students are eternally grateful for his contribution.  Rather than mourn his passing, we celebrate his life.