Sharath Jois, a renowned yoga guru adored by A-list celebrities such as Madonna, Gwyneth Paltrow, and Sting, has tragically passed away at the age of 53 while touring the United States. According to The Hindu, Jois died on Monday.
On the day of his passing, he shared a video of his class on Instagram with the caption "ASHTANGA YOGA Special Course,". He was conducting this course at the Contemplative Sciences Center at the University of Virginia.
At the time of his death, Jois was reportedly on a teaching tour across the US. His Instagram account indicated that he was due to appear in San Antonio this weekend.
In a revealing 2006 chat with the Times of India, the late yoga guru dished on having A-listers in his class. "Whether it's Madonna, Sting or Gywneth, once they enrolled in the classes they’ve been very disciplined," he commented.
The instructor added that during his sessions, stars like Madonna were just another person practising yoga, saying, "In the class, they’re like any student, minus stardom and celeb status." Praising Madonna's work ethic, Jois described her as "very dedicated", noting that she had previously trained with his grandfather.
Gwyneth Paltrow also came under Jois' instruction; her lifestyle saw a dramatic shift as she ditched alcohol, caffeine, and cigarettes after starting yoga. "Gwyneth Paltrow walked into my class in New York, just to check it out, and got hooked," he admitted. However, Joanna revealed a distraction in the classroom, jesting that "It's a different matter that most students - especially the men - kept staring at her."
Jois was the grandson of another legendary yoga guru, K Pattabhi Jois, who was also a prominent figure in spreading Ashtanga yoga across the globe. Continuing his grandfather's legacy, Jois had his own yoga centre in Mysuru, India and taught thousands. He had settled in Virginia, America at the time of his death.
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