Yoga

Sharath Rangaswamy is the grandson of Sri K. Pattabhi Jois, the Ashtanga Master and founder of the Ashtanga Yoga Research Institute, in Mysore, India.

Sharath was born on September 29, 1971 in Mysore, South India.  He is the son of Saraswati Rangaswamy, who is the daughter of Pattabhi Jois.  Sharath was well aware of yoga after growing up in a house full of yoga enthusiasts, more commonly called yogis.  He first started to learn some yoga at the age of 7, with simple asanas (physical postures) and he experimented with different postures from the primary and intermediate series of Ashtanga Yoga until he turned 14. 

Then he focused on his education for the next three years, particularly electronics which he eventually gained a diploma in.  But yoga was calling and he wound he way back to the home and the yoga world he loved so much. 

At the age of 19, with his mother's love and belief he started on the path with his grandfather, Pattabhi Jois which was to continue for many years, indeed until this day.    At this time he would wake at 3.30am and drive himself to the Lakshmipuram studio to first practice and then assist his grandfather, named Guriji.  This he continued for many years.

Today, he still works and guides students with his beloved Grandfather.  He has an amazing will and dedication to the practice of Ashtanga Yoga.  Now, when he is in Gokulam, he rises at 2.00am to complete his practice and then assist Pattabhi Jois with students all morning.  Very few people on the planet are possessed with this kind of dedication to their chosen path and Sharath seems completely at peace and has a feeling of gratitude about his life's path.

He is married to Shruthi and has one daughter, Shraddha.

Looking at Sharath it is clear that the Astanga Yoga Practice is full of benefits for anyone who chooses to walk this path.  His clear eyes and open heart are evident for all and to be under his gaze is something not to be missed.  It appears he has very little ego for a man of such standing in his field.  Ashtanga Yoga is for everyone and Sharath is happy to be teaching the most advanced students or the very beginner, helping them into the easiest of poses with a big grin on his face.  We could all learn from this.  Ohm Shanti.

 

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