Master Sri. K. Pattahbi Jois
Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel, September 2-6, 2002

By Pamela Hollander, M.A.

The Very Best Last Royal Celebration Tour of Master Sri. K. Pattahbi Jois aka Shiva plays Hollywood Roosevelt to Standing Room Crowd Only

Sri. K. Pattahbi Jois

Like Shiva, the God of Yogis and Yoginis Par Excellence, Sri K. Pattahbi Jois, the Ashtanga Yoga Master from Mysore, India, arrived in Hollywood and the fierce winds of change blew through the City of Angels. For five days running, Jois led 200 students each day in the Ashtanga Primary Series in the Blossom Room of the opulent Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel. The Stars on the Walk of Fame glistened in the sun as I went up the steps of the historic hotel and I felt joy in my heart to once again be practicing with eighty-eight year old "Guruji" (as the Master is affectionately called by his students), now in his sixty-fifth year of teaching.

Our first day of practice was just a warm-up, with four more days of the vigorous vinyasa (moving with the breath) practice looming on the horizon. After the first class, students enjoyed the 1927 décor of the Roosevelt lobby, glamorously lounging on the red velvet couches and sharing stories of old conquests and new possibilities. High from the Kundalini Shakti (feminine energy) and caught up in the present moment (a side-effect of the practice), I naively failed to remember the power of the Ashtanga practice led by a man who has unselfishly devoted his life to guiding others into the perilous waters of Svadyaya (the study of the Self). Little did I realize that there was an unforeseen force of energy amassing and things would never be the same for any of us.

The very next day the beautiful lobby of the Roosevelt was under major construction. The resonant "Om" of 200 Yogins chanting in unison steadied my heart and mind, but the physical world was literally breaking up all around us. I thought of Shiva, the personification of the masculine form of the Divine glorified in the Mahabharata and the Purunas, the destructive power of the universe, and I knew that he had most concretely arrived in full splendor at perhaps the most unlikely of places - across from Graumen's Chinese Theatre on Hollywood Boulevard. The word Shiva means "benevolent"; however, from a spiritual perspective the destructive power of Shiva represents the essential process of breaking down, de-conditioning of the ego personality, making it receptive to Divine light. Shiva's energy was all around us. And as I opened myself to the Divine light, I prayed for a little breaking down of my own outer defenses in surrender to one of the last living Gurus to have studied with the world-renowned master Krishnamacharaya.

During the next few days, the room was filled with a strong presence of faith. Yogins moved quickly into advanced poses without hesitation and in defiance of gravity, exploding any limiting beliefs of their own physical and mental abilities. Trust in the unassuming jovial, yet sternly focused man leading us was evident. I felt an energetic thread linking me to a tradition eons old and an inner strength rising from deep within myself that I had never before experienced.

About halfway through the practice on the second day, we were executing the second of five repetitions of navasana (boat pose). Within seconds of feeling I was about to sink, Guruji was standing beside me, seemingly knowing on some deeper level that I was calling out for help. He did not touch me, but energetically I felt steadied. He did not leave the side of my mat and by number five I felt like Popeye having just eaten a can of spinach. I gracefully moved through the jumping back transition vinyasa with renewed strength and ease. We continued the very quick pace of the practise. There was no time to be in your head. No time to reflect on what you could or could not do. In the moment there was the pose and the experience. No time for limiting beliefs or justifications. The pose and the Guru, and nothing in-between.

The whole room seemed to hover like dragonflies as we jumped our feet around our hands from the downward dog position, lifting and crossing our feet in front up off of the floor in Bhujapedasana. No one dared to drop their heads to the floor until Guruji said "oshto, lower your head" for fear of his calling you out with the familiar "Ah.bad lady, head up!" When all were in position with heads up, he would say "head down, breath!" and all would lower their heads to the floor. Even his correction commands are recognized as done with a loving desire to move us toward a greater clarity and strength within our selves. Like a well-rehearsed marching band, we continued executing pose after pose of the hip-opening sequence: Kurmasana; Supta Kurmasana; Garbha Pindasana; Kukkutasana; Baddhakonasana, and then onto the home stretch.

Sri. K. Pattahbi Jois with his son, Maniu

It was downhill from there through the finishing sequence holding the poses longer and beginning to slow the energy down. After about 1 _ hours we finally got to the last and final test of will, uprooting the lotus position from the mat by balancing on your hands with the head up for a grueling 25 breaths, during which Guruji would begin counting over again if he saw a student down on the mat. The power of the traditional practise, the man leading us and the incredible mass of energy from yogins around me all summoning their collective wills, helped to keep me focused and up off the mat!

The experience was a remarkable manifestation of will and intention where all were able to excel. I was not the only one that felt the extraordinary energy and connection to a past tradition. I asked my co-participants at the workshop "What is it that draws you to study with Guruji, here or in India?" Faces lit up as they shared feelings of dedication, love, tradition, inspiration and open-heartedness. Many talked endlessly about feeling more energy than ever before, a deeper focus, surrender and devotion to a man who through his discipline and dedication is "holding up the rest of the world."

Hazel Patterson of Beverly Hills shared "it is an honor to have him (Jois) in L.A. I do not usually practice Ashtanga and in his presence, I did postures I was never able to do." Peter Barnett of West Hollywood came to "pay respects" because "He (Jois) IS the lineage, the teacher of the teachers." Students follow him from all over the world. James Roberts from Kona, Hawaii has been studying with Jois for 25 years. When asked why, he claimed "He (Jois) doesn't compromise. He has a commanding presence." Steve Dwelley of the Ashtanga Yoga Shala of Santa Barbara felt Jois' "cosmic power." And the owner of Priya Yoga in Chicago, Jodi Blumstein, traveled to Hollywood after two months of study with him in Mysore to continue her practice. "He is so full of love and has such a big heart. Being around Guruji is all about love," exclaimed Ms. Blumstein.

Sri K. Patthabi Jois' advice to his students is "Do your practice and ALL is coming." I often remind myself of this when I am feeling stuck and take myself to the mat. In doing so, over time, the quality of my life has improved as I understand and move closer to my authentic Self. Joseph Dunham, Jois' Chief of Staff, told me "All I know is that when I do the practice, I am a better human being and a better man for it." Jois' immense devotion, strength of heart and love is an inspiration. His life's work has been a blessing to thousands.

Perhaps the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel, where Mr. Bojangles taught the tiny Shirley Temple the "Step Dance" on the stairway, Salvador Dali designed movie sets, Winston Churchill sipped tea and the home to the first Academy Awards in 1929 isn't such a strange place to find a man who truly is a giant among men. Sri K. Pattahabi Jois is larger than life. I know that I will never forget when Shiva played Hollywood and it
was standing room only.

To reach the Sri. K. Pattahbi Jois Ashtanga Research Institute, write to: Sri. K. Pattahbi Jois, @235, 8th Cross, 3rd Stage, Gokulam, Mysore, India 570002 or www.ayri.org.

Pamela Hollander, M.A. has been practicing yoga for 36 years and teaching for 25. She is the author of Indigo Yoga: The Fine Art of Teaching Yoga to Children. Based in Encinitas, CA, she also travels throughout the country teaching yoga. Reach Pamela at www.indigoyoga.com.