***UPDATE: Please see our new 5/5/09 post for more recent updates about Guruji’s health and Sharath’s U.S. Tour***
93-year-old Sri K. Pattabhi Jois, the founder of Ashtanga Yoga, is experiencing declining health and is currently bed-bound. Joseph, a confidant of the Jois family, has offered the opportunity for yoga students in Mysore to communicate their love and gratitude to Guruji (the affectionate name for Pattabhi Jois) via a sweet, simple note or card. We’re not sure by what means students who are not in Mysore may offer their love and support to this revered teacher, but if we find out, we’ll post the info here on our blog. We are positive that at this sensitive time, the Jois family does not want to be reached by phone.
Below is a letter from Joseph which was posted on elephantbeans today:
Greetings Students,
A new student recently asked me if I would read a note if she wrote one to Guruji expressing her love and gratitude for his life work. I of course said yes. She did write the note and when I read it to Guruji he was most engaged and moved.
It occurred to me that there are probably many, many students who would like to communicate their love and appreciation for his life work before the inevitable does occur, whether they have met/know him or not.I visit Guruji every day and most of our time is spent silently with little verbal communication. Simple notes/cards would be a brilliant gift to him as it would give him some stimulation and heartfelt purpose beyond what is basically an existence. Guruji does respond very well to the most basic expressions of love (don’t we all).
I can tell you that the family is taking excellent care. Guruji is home, he is secure and in no physical pain. He is bed-bound but does sit up most of the time when he is awake. He cannot receive visitors that he is not very familiar with as this does cause some anxiety.
Please pass this message on.
Cards may be dropped off at Alia’s.
Namaste,
Joseph
P.S: Please keep the cards short, simple & sweet, thank you.
