Somya Luthra | Updated: Jun 19, 2023 22:17 IST
Yoga, an old practice that joins the psyche, body, and soul, has acquired massive fame overall for its various physical and psychological well-being benefits. Among the many types of yoga, Ashtanga Yoga holds a unique spot. In this article, we investigate the life and lessons of the powerful figure frequently alluded to as the “Father of Ashtanga Yoga.”
Sri K. Pattabhi Jois is known as the “father of Ashtanga Yoga” because he revived and popularized the Ashtanga Yoga technique in the modern age. Srflo K. Pattabhi Jois’s name is synonymous with the Ashtanga Vinyasa system of yoga.
Ashtanga Yoga, signifying “eight-limbed yoga,” is a dynamic and truly requesting practice that synchronizes breath with development. It is established in the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, which frame the way to self-acknowledgment and inward harmony.
As outlined by Patanjali, Father of Ashtanga Yoga consists of eight limbs:
The Primary Series, also known as Yoga Chikitsa (yoga therapy), is the starting point for Ashtanga Yoga practitioners. It consists of a specific sequence of postures that systematically purify and strengthen the body, focusing on detoxification, alignment, and breath control.
A Unique Approach to Father Of Ashtanga Yoga Pattabhi Jois introduced the Mysore Style of teaching, named after the city of Mysore in Karnataka, India, where he resided. In this self-practice method, students individually progress through the Ashtanga sequence at their own pace, with the teacher providing guidance and adjustments.
Sri K. Pattabhi Jois was born in the year 1915 in Karnataka, India. He was interested in yoga from a young age and started his yoga practice at the age of 12 years. At the age of 13, Sri K. Pattabhi Jois met Sri Tirumalai Krishnamacharya, who is known as the “father of modern yoga”, and became his student and apprentice.
Sri Krishnamacharya taught Sri K. Pattabhi Jois the Ashtanga Vinyasa system of yoga. Ashtanga means eight limbs and Vinyasa means breathing coordinated movements. Sri Jois studied, practiced and perfected the Ashtanga technique under Sri Krishnamacharya’s guidance for over 30 years.
After many years of training and practicing, Sri K. Pattabhi Jois started teaching Ashtanga Yoga in 1948.He set up the Ashtanga Yoga Research Institute at his hometown of Mysore, India. Through his institute, Sri Jois began systematically teaching Ashtanga Yoga to students.
The Ashtanga technique focuses on coordination of breath and movement along with a set series of postures. Sri Jois meticulously outlined the sequences of postures and the vinyasa count (breath coordinated movements) for each posture.
Through his dedicated teaching, consistent practice and discipline, Sri Jois spread the Ashtanga system of yoga to hundreds of students over many decades. Many of Sri Jois’ students went on to teach Ashtanga Yoga across the globe, making it popular worldwide.
Sri K. Pattabhi Jois put major emphasis on consistent daily practice and strict discipline while practicing and teaching yoga. He believed that with dedicated and disciplined practice over many years, any yoga practitioner can achieve higher levels of awareness and spiritual growth. Sri Jois used to say – “Practice and all is coming”.
Sri Jois practiced Ashtanga Yoga for over 80 years and continued to teach until his late nineties. He led by example and demonstrated through his own practice how yoga can transform one’s life through discipline and dedication.
While the center standards of Ashtanga Yoga stay unaltered, a few educators have consolidated changes and varieties to make the training more open to a more extensive scope of people. These transformations incorporate changes for wounds, alterations for various body types, and the consideration of props.
The contributions of Sri K. Pattabhi Jois, the Father of Ashtanga Yoga, have had a profound impact on the world of yoga. His dedication, teachings, and innovative approach to practice continue to inspire and guide countless practitioners, making Ashtanga Yoga a transformative path towards physical and mental harmony.
Sri K. Pattabhi Jois revived the Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga technique and made it accessible to the modern world. The techniques and teachings of Sri Jois have transformed the lives of thousands of yoga practitioners across the globe.
Through his dedicated students, the Ashtanga Vinyasa system continues to evolve and become more accessible to yoga enthusiasts of all levels. The emphasis on discipline, consistency, breathwork and proper alignment in Father of Ashtanga Yoga has made it a very popular style practiced across the world today.