Namaskar - July 2009

carefully touching his feet after savasana. I now did it with total surrender and felt good. I
noticed the change just in the nerves along my spine allowing me to now freely bow down,
from which before I had resisted.
Guruji gave me blessing to teach and eventually, when I last saw him, two years ago in
2007, certification. I am truly grateful. It has been a great and special connection. My
personal experience with him was always extremely positive. He was cheerful, helpful and
friendly with me. Though he always kept his space I felt he cared for me and took time to
check in, just in how he said my name or tapped me on the back. As a student you had to
go to him with an enquiring mind, ask and listen.
Once we were talking about samskaras and the reason for being in practice in this life. I was
keen to find out when that cycle began. If I am doing yoga now based on a previous
impression (samskara) then what initiated the impression? Pushing him for an answer he
looked at me quite sweetly and said “I don’t know, that is God.” This response has always
remained with me.
PAUL AT THE MEMORIAL SERVICE FOR PATTABHI
JOIS
Ashtanga vinyasa yoga was his trademark. What he taught he learned from his teacher
Krishnamacharya. The science of the vinyasa approach with the sequencing of postures
broken out into series. Pranayama was also taught but it came later. In addition his
personal devotion in the lineage of Shankaracharya informed much if his teaching and
practice. The name ashtanga arose direct from Sage Patanjali’s teaching of it. One of those
limbs is asana. But you have to start somewhere and hatha yoga prescribes that traditionally
one starts with asana. Of course as time went by this system of “ashtanga vinyasa” got
limited, in the public’s eyes, to mainly asana, though the truth is all parts were taught. Life
lessons, asana practice and higher internal cultivation. Mystery does surround the origin of
the sequences and the public love mystery. The Yoga Korunta detailed the vinyasa approach
to asana, all of this Krishnamacharya himself learnt from his guru Sri Ramamohan
Brahmachari. Pattabhi Jois would emphasise this parampara and encourage us to follow
with dedication and devotion. Naturally the practices were refined over time, and still are,
but the tradition and method runs through it all.
One of his biggest teachings was more about life than the method. He was very firm and
clear about the yoga practice and necessity to do. This I imbibed. But he was more about
not escaping from life. Many hide in a yoga practice to escape from life responsibilities. To
him marriage and a family was an important factor. As I have ventured down this path
myself I understand his teaching. He would say “Yoga is not easy.” Life is not easy. Years,
decades, go by, keeping integrity, keeping a practice, honestly and caringly fulfilling your
responsibilities. This longevity and balance is the teaching. Everyone is excited about yoga at
first. It’s great. Keep it with you and deal with what’s in front of you for a lifetime, that is
not easy. Only time can reveal it.
This is ultimately why there are only a few real teachers around. From his first trip to the US
in 1975 to his last in 2008, thousands of students studied with him. But only a few really
have carried the thread through. And now his family, Sharath, son Manju, daughter
Saraswati, carry on the tradition.
Long live his soul and the legacy of his teachings which now embrace millions all over the
world, many unaware of his hard work directly affecting them over the years.
To you, Guruji, I bow down with love and respect, and wish peace and love in whatever
this next stage holds. Om Namah Sivaya
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