The Life and Times of Shri Krishna Pattabhi Jois- The Father of Asthanga-Vinyasa Yoga

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Some people are especially endowed by the God. Though every human being is unique in its own self, it is also a real fact that some of the people are destined to play a bigger role for the people. Shri K. Pattabho Jois (KPJ, in short) was one such person who was destined to achieve unimaginable heights in the field of yoga and to show the way of wellness to the people. Had it not been so, he would not have stood apart from the nine siblings of his parents and the only one to have learnt yoga.

At the age of 12, when most of us are not even aware of who we are, he attended a demonstration by Shri T. Krishnamacharya in Hassan and decided to be his student the very next day. He learnt yoga from the master for full two years. After parting ways, he was again reunited with his master after some years when both of them were at Mysore. He studied Sanskrit by being with him from 1932 to 1953.

He was offered a teaching position in Sanskrit College    in Mysore and he held that position till 1973. In between, in 1948, he established the iconic Ashtanga Yoga Research Institute. In 1958 he authored a book called Yoga Mala in Kannada language which is still read and referred to by yoga practitioners. Its English translation was available only in 1999.

Since he had studied under Shri T. Krishnamacharya for many years, he expected the same level of devotion from his students. This led to creation of some of the most stringent requirements for his yoga teacher training in Mysore.   

Controversies

The life of KPJ also had its share of controversies as many of his past students came out to speak about his inappropriate touches under the guise of ‘adjustments’ being done to poses, ‘welcoming’ the student in class or ‘bidding goodbye’ to those who were leaving. They have given evidences in this respect. Even some of the teachers have corroborated the accusations.

His grandson, Sharath, expressed sadness at the conduct of his grandfather in 2019 and had asked the victims to forgive him.

Notwithstanding these accusations, there is no denying the fact that the maestro in him brought out the Ashtanga-Vinyasa yoga sequences that highlighted the importance of breath while doing asanas.

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