Nonagenarian yoga guru Pattabhi Jois no more

Jois’ daughter Saraswathi, also a yoga teacher, told Deccan Herald, the end came around 2.30 pm, when he was resting at the house at Ashtanga Yoga Shala. He had shifted his activities to this shala in Gokulam four years ago, from his earlier Lakshmipuram residence, where he began to teach yoga 67 years ago.
He was not keeping well for the past few days and had also been hospitalised for a few days in April for respiratory problems. His health had started to deteriorate two years ago, forcing him to severe ties with his most loved job of teaching yoga.
Maharaja’s teacher
He had the credit of teaching yoga to the then Maharaja of Mysore Nalwadi Krishnaraja Wadiyar on a few occasions in 1930. His disciples include Hollywood diva Madonna, Kannada film actor Vishnuvardhan, several civil servants and foreigners.
He had visited several foreign countries to teach and spread the significance of yoga.
His wife Savithramma had passed away 17 years ago. He leaves behind his daughter Saraswathi, son Manju and grandson Sharath, all carrying on his yoga legecy.
As soon as the news spread, a large number of disciples, including  those from several countries, arrived to pay their last respects to their guru.
Pattabhi Jois’s last rites were performed at a burial ground in the locality late in the night on Monday.