Indian origin renowned yoga master Sharath Jois passes away at 53

Renowned yoga master, Sharath Jois, who gained a large following by teaching Ashtanga yoga, the style founded by his grandfather, passed away on Monday in Virginia at the age of 53.

His demise was confirmed by his sister, Sharmila Mahesh, and yoga program manager at University of Virginia John Bultman. Bultman informed that Jois had suffered a heart attack during a hiking activity near the university’s campus in Charlottesville.

Jois was with around 50 students at Humpback Rocks when he appeared fatigued and sat down on a bench. He later collapsed and his students tried to revive him with CPR.

However, he was pronounced dead shortly after emergency medical workers arrived, according to Mr. Bultman, as quoted by The New York Times.

Jois used to conduct workshops worldwide, which saw participation in thousands seeking the experience of Ashtanga yoga tradition.

After taking on his grandfather’s legacy, Mr. Jois began referring to himself as the “Paramaguru,” meaning "lineage holder," on Instagram. In the south Indian city of Mysore, renowned as the birthplace of Ashtanga, he was affectionately known as the “boss.”

Jois’s grandfather, Krishna Pattabhi Jois, played a key role in taking yoga to new heights of popularity in the 1990s, attracting a global following that included celebrities such as Gwyneth Paltrow and Madonna. Ashtanga, known for its physically demanding nature, later gained popularity in India.

In 2007 Jois took over his grandfather’s yoga institute and renamed it the K. Pattabhi Jois Ashtanga Yoga Institute. Later, his mother took over the leadership of the institute, while Jois founded his own organization, the Sharath Yoga Center. By then, he had become a successful businessman, going on frequent teaching tours. When not traveling, he enjoyed spending time at his home in Mysore and pursuing his passion for nature photography.

“He didn’t want to be this god figure,” Isha Singh Sawhney, one of his students said, “He just wanted to teach yoga and spread the message of yoga.”

His death shocked many followers, as many are left wondering about the legacy of the Ashtanga tradition. Jois was loved and admired by his students.