Guruji: A Portrait of Sri K. Pattabhi Jois Through the Eyes of His Students

I've practiced Ashtanga yoga for 5 years, and along the way tried to read every relevant history on Krishnamacharya and his lineage. Pattabhi Jois ('Guruji') and Iyengar were Krishnamacharya's two most famous and productive students. This book is not a standard biography in any sense, but still an invaluable source of anecdotes and impressions by the people who had their hands nearest to the fire. In addition to the light shed on Guruji himself (and his family) a number of the student interviewees walked very interesting paths themselves to becoming noted yoga teachers in their own right. The interview with David Swenson, to cite just one such case, leaves you intrigued and impressed with his own circuitous development, not just his account of Guruji per se. Many of the other interviews have that quality too. There are so many methods out on the shelves of the spiritual supermarket. The teachers interviewed in this collection all make the case, in their gentle harmonious yogic way, that Ashtanga yoga is unique in both its physical rigor and the spiritual signature - enlightenment through sweat, 99% practice, 1% theory. You don't need to be an Ashtanga practitioner to get into this book (though a market consisting of Ashtanga people alone would constitute a large public now by 2010!), because the point is to approach an answer to the universal conundrum of yoga: how practice of (what appears to be) physical contortionism possibly relate to spiritual enlightenment? Many good insights on the deeper linkages are offered. That said, and though I certainly was impressed by the design and production values of this beautiful book, I do think the editors could have offered just a bit more of a crutch to Ashtanga outsiders, made the context a bit more self-explanatory and engaging. For example, famous yogi and Ashtanga author John Scott is interviewed, and he has created a classic highly compacted mini-chart of all the Ashtanga Primary Series poses. Why couldn't those lovely drawings have been used as the end papers for this book? The book might also have thrown a rope to non-Ashtangi's in the form of a glossary of basic common Sanskrit terms in yoga, and an index. A few historical and family photos are included, even more would have been very welcome. But quibbles aside, this book will be the touchstone resource for all seekers such as me who are trying to dig back closer to the source of this incredibly addictively powerful practice, and I'm very grateful they've taken the trouble to assemble it. For the "advanced beginner" Ashtangi's like me out there, this book is a 24K gold mine of both fun and useful stuff. Fun: for example, many of the interviewee's very poetically evoke their early experience of practice in the home Mysore shala under Guruji. You feel you're walking up the shala steps with some of these people. Also, it's comforting and funny to read about how some of these people who are currently mega-luminaries in the international yoga world, teaching Madonna or whatever, they too struggled mightily back in the day with "simple" Primary Sequence poses that are still very challenging for me. Useful: though the reflective personal and historical stuff is the main theme, there is a boatload of incredibly useful tips of absolute practical, on-the-mat daily practice if you dig a little. Read this with a pencil in hand to note those hot spots where one of these teachers just casually throws down something you can use right away in your practice tomorrow morning. There's a lot of that. I also learned a lot of fundamental concepts from this book, for example, though I've sweated though hundreds of Mysore-style practice sessions (self-paced, supervised), and many dozens of "Led Primary" sessions with a teacher calling out each pose and transition, I have never really understood the purpose and meaning and expected benefits of these very distinct practice styles clearly til it was laid out by some of the interviewees in this book. The deepest question of interest to me is the potential tension between two radically divergent points of view - those who assert that we must strive and sweat (via whatever method) to purify and strengthen ourselves to achieve spiritual integrity and enlightenment (perhaps many lives down the road) vs. those 'non-dualists' (neo-Advaitans) who state that all roads lead nowhere, because there is nowhere to go (but here), no time (but now), no identity, no purpose, no substantive experience, no morality, no instrument of enlightenment, and no burden of endarkenment. This book 'Guruji', as a personalized reflection of one of the greatest teachers among those who have uncompromisingly represented the former view (of gradual hard-won 'progress' toward some higher state), has helped me sharpen my understanding of both sides of this great chasm. Anyway, the historian Thomas Carlye once wrote: "Blessed is he who has found his work; let him ask no other blessedness." Obviously Guruji was that rare man who stepped right into his perfect calling. I'm grateful to the editors and interviewees, and wish only I'd had that one chance to touch Guruji's feet, as all in this book were privileged to do. (Hey, that would be a lot better than undergoing one of his ferocious "adjustments"!)

I began practicing Ashtanga Yoga back in 2000 and had never had any level of activity comparable to it before. I really enjoyed the sweating, on purpose even, the movement, the increased strength and flexibility it gave me and I studied with Guruji in Boulder, CO and on the island of Maui. Recently I've gotten into kundalini yoga more and have even become a Sikh following the teachings from that path, but have kept up a moderate hatha yoga practice as well. I got this book thinking to reminesce a bit and remember the old times, since I haven't been practicing Ashtanga as much, but working more with the energy of the body through the other practice. This book inspired me to practice Ashtanga one day and then I began to crave it again. Many of the teachers talked about the energy movement happening in the practice and now that I'm more attuned to that I notice it and appreciate it much more than I did before, and am enjoying the strength and openness its giving me again. And it is the perfect compliment to my kundalini yoga practice, so both are working well for me. I enjoyed hearing everyones experience of Pattabhi and was able to correlate mine with theirs in my mind. I highly recommend it for anyone who ever had an attachment to an Ashtanga practice, even if they've given it up. Its very inspiring and interesting!

I am only aware of Ashtanga through friends and am not a regular practitioner myself but even I got wrapped up in the love that so many have for this wonderful man and felt moved my their personal experiences with their practice. It is a classic story of overcoming adversity for some and a story of finding a missing part of oneself for others. It does not come across as dogmatic or preachy and on the whole I was quite inspired and found my appreciation and reverence for Guruji growing with each page. He was a remarkable man and I am grateful to have had this experience of getting to know him through those who loved him.

Nice collection of interviews with former Patthabi Jois' students. Although overall very interesting, some answers are (of course) repetitive. One interesting thing is that several statements are conflicting, namely on who created the ashtanga system. Also, Jois added and removed some asanas and changed the sequence. I enjoyed it and some teachers are just great. Good insights. Only be warned that it's very long and - at times- boring.

This book is an absolute gem & will be enjoyed by all yoga ethusiast - whether that be the Asthtanga system or other. The interview format takes you into a deeper knowledge of the life of Sri K Pattabhi Jois, his family, his students, & the practice. Practioners of the Asthanga system may find they get a little more out the book with an inner knowledge of the system & perhaps the man. This book is highly engaging, motivating & inspirational, & had me wishing that I had been in Mysore during the early days - but then again, I may not have survived!

I really enjoyed reading the interviews in this book from the old students of Pattabhi Jois. As someone who has never practiced with him, its a treat to get a glimpse of who he is and what he is like as a person. Reading this book also inspires me to continue my practice even when I don't feel like it and it serves as a reminder why I am continually drawn to this practice. I thought the interviews gave an insight of the depth of ashtanga yoga as a method and why it is so powerful. Highly recommended.

What a beautifully written book. You would tend to think that with interviews, with many of the same questions, it could be less interesting...however, each student's perspective shed light on what a wonderful teacher Guruji was and how his teachings were life changing. After reading this book I felt as if I knew him. A must read book for anyone interested in Ashtanga Yoga, but also great for anyone. You can take away much insight on life, not just yoga specifics.

Interesting to read how yoga was practiced some years ago, as well as how other people lives the yoga practice.

It is one of the best book I have ever read. I read it, learn from it and I use the experience of all the great teachers for my practice. I learn how to be a better person and how to appreciate my life more. Sometimes coming back from my practice, going to work, I read this book. It makes me laugh, it makes me cry....help me to be more present in my practice and hopefully in my life. it is nice to read from all these great teachers.

A good place to start! Lots of tangible ideas here. Especially in regards to the philosophical aspects. Also worded very accessibly.

Molto interessante, un modo per conoscere la vita di Guruji da chi gli è stato accanto ed ha avuto la fortuna di ricevere il suo insegnamento.

This collection provides fascinating reading for anyone who would like to explore the roots of the Ashtanga Vinyasa lineage. Some of Jois' best-known teachers in the West tell their stories here.