Practice with Sharath Jois in NYC - By Edith B

Sharath Jois, the current lineage holder of the Ashtanga tradition, is on a teaching tour in the United States. A friend and I joined one of his classes in NYC — a led Primary Series held in a large sports facility.

Skepticism Meets Surprise: A Community Experience

I have to be honest: going in, I was skeptical. I love Ashtanga as a practice, system, and community, but I was worried that an event like this — hundreds of people packed into a large space, synchronizing their movements at the direction of the guru — might bring out the more cult like aspects of this world.

Would people start screaming when he walked on stage? Would they faint in his presence?

I needn’t have worried. I was pleasantly surprised — not just by Sharath himself, but also by the community and the festive-but-not-devout atmosphere. The vibe was friendly. Sharath seemed at ease, not particularly aloof, and as far as I could tell, no one was throwing themselves on the floor to touch his feet.

Some attendees had studied with Sharath in Mysore or attended similar events in the U.S. before. Others hadn’t, but they were curious about him. This wasn’t an event where people were going to swoon at the guru’s sight. Folks were there to have a good time, to practice Primary Series as a community under Sharath’s guidance, and to chat with friends and strangers about this strange practice we’re all a part of.

A Few Practice Curiosities

First curiosity: the practice started with seven Surya Namaskara A and five B!

I had been warned about this by others who recently studied with Sharath in Mysore. They explained that this is a relatively recent shift. Since the study period in Mysore has moved to the winter months, more warm-up is needed. In Mysore-style classes, students still do five As and three Bs, even in Mysore itself. But in led classes, the standard has shifted to seven As and five Bs.

Second observation: Sharath’s count is slow. Very slow. So. Very. Slow.

Navasana and Uplutihih felt like they lasted an eternity, and every Chaturanga came with a lingering beat. My personal practice is usually faster, so going at such a slow pace felt different—interesting, and dare I say, even pleasant. This slower rhythm is something I’ll try to incorporate into my practice every now and then.

Final Thoughts

10/10 would recommend for anyone with the opportunity and curiosity to experience a class with Sharath.

One exciting takeaway: Sharath mentioned that his daughter has just started grad school at NYU, so he expects to teach in the U.S. more often in the future! If you have the chance, it’s definitely worth checking out.