Not Yet, Until It's Too Late

Honoring the Legacy of Sharath Jois

It has taken a lot for me to sit down and write this. But I feel deeply called to.

On November 12th, I learned through social media that Sharath Jois had passed away. He dropped his body on 11/11, the day before I received the news. As the current lineage holder of Ashtanga Yoga, his passing left a stillness in the world that so many of us felt at once. The news filled me with heartache. I was in disbelief.

How could I grieve so deeply for someone I had never met in person? How could the loss of someone I had never been physically in the presence of hit me this hard? I sat with those questions for a while. Sharath Jois was a true guru. His influence reached thousands of people around the world, and he had the rare ability to touch people's souls, whether through direct contact or from a distance.

I had the opportunity to learn from him through his online courses, and I'm grateful to the students and teachers who carried his wisdom forward. Many of my yoga friends from all over the world had practiced with him, some traveling all the way to Mysore, India to study under his guidance. I've heard so many stories about the profound impact he had, how he stayed with people long after they left his shala. He left a mark on everyone he crossed paths with.

At one point, I thought about going to India to practice with him. I kept telling myself, maybe next year. Maybe when the timing is better.

And then all of a sudden he was gone.

A yoga teacher friend of mine had actually registered for his training in India, planned for the following year. Flight tickets were bought. He never got to go. Before that year arrived, Sharath had already left his body. That story has stayed with me. It's a reminder I carry now.

We tell ourselves there will be more time. We wait for the right moment, the right season, the right version of ourselves. Being ready is a decision. I don’t think it’s something that happens to you, it's something you consciously choose. That moment we keep waiting to be ready is an illusion. In yoga, we call this Maya, the veil that makes the temporary feel permanent and the "not yet" feel justified. It keeps us from showing up fully, from taking the leap, from saying yes to the experiences that we really want to have. And sometimes, it becomes an excuse.

So if something is calling you, whether it's a trip, an experience, a conversation you've been putting off, do it now. You truly never know what tomorrow holds.

This is one of the unexpected lessons Sharath continues to teach, even in his absence.

I attended a virtual gathering in his memory, where Kino MacGregor said something that stopped me: "Every breath is a prayer." That morning, Miami Life Center organized a free Led Primary, open to everyone online and in person, followed by a conference and chanting in honor of Guruji. Hundreds of practitioners from around the world came together. We closed the ceremony by chanting the Tryambakam mantra 108 times. Words can hardly describe it. The emotions that moved through that space were deep and real.

From this moment forward, as dedicated yoga practitioners, we must find ways to continue honoring both Sharath and his grandfather's legacy. One way is simply by committing to step onto our mats each day. Another way, for me, is to send my prayers to them after each practice and bow in gratitude. I have always had great respect for every teacher who has guided me on my yoga journey. As a teacher myself, at the end of every class I lead, I remind my students to gather their hands together in gratitude, not only to honor their own teachers but also to recognize the importance of yoga lineage that continues to live through each of us. Although we have lost a great teacher, the lineage remains alive in every one of us.

We will continue to practice, to kindle the divine fire within, and to carry forward the teachings he shared. As K. Pattabhi Jois said, "Do your practice, and all is coming."

Honor the teachers who have shaped you. Even if they are not here now.

Some lights don't go out. They just change form. And if we keep practicing, we keep them alive.

Namaste 🕉️

11/16/2024