Gratitude and Rest in Peace Paramaguru Sri Sharath Jois

September 4-8, 2018, I was fortunate to be a student practitioner in the Paramaguru Sharath Jois South Europe Tour in Madrid, Spain where Sri Sharath Jois communicated to me to complete the full primary series during his led teachings even though it was clear that I was not a “perfect” practitioner. This inspiration from Sri Sharath Jois was pivotal in my yoga journey and my life journey overall, as I felt that I had a sense of courage to embrace the challenging Ashtanga practice as well as the challenges in life even if I am not fully versed and skilled.

Before meeting Paramaguru Sharath Jois in September 2018, I was fortunate in April 2018, to practice Ashtanga under the guidance of R. Saraswati Jois, Sharath’s Mother, and Sharmila Mahesh, Sharath’s Sister, in Budapest, Hungary among a wonderful global community.

In July 2016, I “discovered” the beauty of the Ashtanga yoga practice first hand, due to an unexpected change in my travel plans which led me to be able to attend an introduction to Ashtanga workshop called “Ashtanga Elements Workshop”. I had “heard about” Ashtanga before, and prior to this “discovery” of Ashtanga, I practiced various methods of yoga, although none of those methods resonated with me as deeply and as clearly as Ashtanga. So, from there on in, I started seeking ways to practice Ashtanga even when I traveled.

As I am a yoga tourist who loves to include yoga in my travels, I have practiced yoga in 18 countries of which I have practiced Ashtanga in 13 of those countries where I met wonderful people from all walks of life through these Ashtanga communities. 

Last year I completed a Yoga Teacher Training in July 2023, with a Yoga School that is aligned with the Ashtanga practice. 

On October 1, 2024 (41 days before the passing away of Sri Sharath Jois yesterday on November 11, 2024), I traveled from Charlottesville, Virginia, USA where I was visiting for a few days. During that visit to Charlottesville, I visited the University of Virginia where Sri Sharath Jois taught in the days before his departure from this earthly form. While I was in Charlottesville, I was touched and moved by the immense and powerful natural beauty of the trees all around the University of Virginia as seen in this clip from one of my walks there and this experience gives me great comfort and joy to know that yesterday Sri Sharath Jois experienced such natural beauty in his environment on the day of his death in Charlottesville, Virginia, USA.

I was considering attending Sri Sharath Jois’ workshop in San Antonio, Texas, USA, November 16-20, 2024 and due to logistics I did not enroll.

Yesterday, on November 11, 2024, without any knowledge that this was the day that Sri Sharath Jois passed away, I visited his website at sharathyogacentre.com to look at the list of teachers in preparation for some upcoming trips during which I plan to practice Ashtanga yoga. 

The Ashtanga community, and the leadership and guidance from Paramaguru Sharath Jois, mean more to me than words can express and I have traveled the USA and the world to practice with ashtanga teachers of many nationalities and these voyages have been among the greatest experiences of my life. 

My deep gratitude to Sri Sharath Jois for all of his teachings that he transmitted both directly to me as well as to my teachers who continue to share this beautiful practice with me and the world. 

My sincere gratitude also to Sri Sharath Jois for creating a new series, the Active Series, that has just been recently unveiled on November 8th, three days before his death, to expand the sharing of this powerful practice with the world. 

I have cried many tears of sadness and grief since this morning upon hearing this sad news and I offer my heartfelt sympathies and condolences to the family and loved ones of Paramaguru Sharath Jois. 

The light within me loves, honors, and respects the light within all of you.

May all sentient beings be well, free, safe and happy.

Best wishes,

Angel 

Vegan Foodie & Yoga Tourist

Certified Raw Vegan Chef & Yoga Teacher 

Well-being Lifestyle Coach & Author

Meditation & Retreat Leader 

Global Travel Expert & Happy & Grateful Human Being