This weekend, it was revealed that Sharath Jois, one of the world's most prominent yoga masters and grandson of the Ashtanga Yoga founder, passed away naturally on November 11. Considered one of the most important gurus globally, his client list included entertainment icons like Madonna (66), Sting (73), and Gwyneth Paltrow (52). According to his family, the master suffered a heart attack while on an excursion near the American university campus in Charlottesville, Virginia, where he was scheduled to speak.
Despite being accompanied by around 50 students, no one could save him despite performing the necessary resuscitation efforts. He was 53 years old. Since the passing of his grandfather, Krishna Pattabhi Jois, Sharath took on the responsibility of honoring the family's great master's legacy through his teachings worldwide.
Decades ago, the pop queen found in this guru a valuable way to relax and connect with herself after intense rehearsals and lengthy tours. What impressed the "Like a Virgin" singer the most was Jois's simplicity and rigorous teachings, and above all, his honesty. At no point was he tempted to settle in Hollywood to amass a fortune. After giving birth to her second child, Rocco (24) -from her second marriage to director Guy Ritchie (56)- Madonna confessed that yoga provided her with much more energy than exercise.
Another well-known figure who has found numerous benefits in this discipline is Sting, who has been seen practicing different poses in natural settings on several occasions. Once, paparazzi caught him naked on a beach. "I think I would have progressed further along the path than I am now if I had started practicing yoga earlier," the singer stated in one of his interviews. He began practicing this discipline at 38 or 39 years old and has not stopped since. The "Shape of my Heart" performer always listens to music while practicing Ashtanga.
Actress Gwyneth Paltrow has been practicing it since her adolescence, considering it an ideal exercise to maintain balance between body and spirit from the start. For the actress, a wellness guru since founding her own company, Ashtanga also helps her burn more fat and calories.
The passing of Sharath Jois has cast a shadow over Hollywood but, above all, has filled his closest family with sadness. He is survived by his widow, Shruti, and his two children, Sambhav and Shraddaha, as well as his mother, Saraswathi, and his sister, Sharmila.