June 13-15, 2003
Friday 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Saturday 9:00 am – 12:00 noon & 3:00 pm – 5:00 pm
Sunday 10:00 am – 1:00 pm
[Course Fee: $165]
Manju Jois’s dedicated mission is to train teachers in the ancient style of yoga which is a combination of the asanas, pranayamas and the meditation chants, leading to a total mind/body/spirit unification of self with God. The asanas, or postures, are just one component of the ancient style of yoga. Manju is bringing back other ancient components essential in assisting those taking the path to enlightenment. Chants help with breathing; meditation relaxes the body and mind, and pranayamas assist with purification. Manju is honored to be able to hand these traditional components of yoga to his student teachers while encouraging them to “Unite with Yourself.”
Manju Jois
Born in November 1944 in Mysore, South India, Manju is the oldest son of Sri K. Pattabhi Jois, and began formal yoga lessons at the ripe age of 7. Sleeping in was not an option in this strict Brahmin household. These lessons at his father’s side continued, in addition to formal education.
Manju was called upon to begin teaching at age 15. After high school, he continued teaching with his father for a few more years, until he decided to start travelling around India giving demonstrations and teaching the Astanga Yoga method. His travels took him from Madras in Southern India to all over Northern India including New Delhi, Benares, and Bombay. Manju turned down the position of Professor of Yoga at Benares Hindu University because he wanted to continue to travel and spread yoga. He did, however, stop at Geeta Ananda Ashram in Pondicherry, where he demonstrated and taught yoga. It was at one of these demonstrations that an American, David Williams, was in attendance. After seeing one of the most impressive yoga demonstrations in all his travels, he approached Manju and asked him where he learned this yoga. This meeting changed the course of yoga in America.
Manju gave Williams his father’s name and address in Mysore. David Williams became one of the very first Westerners to study the Astanga method with Pattabhi Jois. Upon his return to the U.S., Williams set up shop in Encinitas, California. Shortly thereafter, in 1975, he invited Manju and his father to come to the US and teach yoga. This was the first time an Indian master of the Astanga method had taught in the west. The course was a success, but it had one unintended consequence for Pattabhi Jois. His son, Manju, after having seen the heighth and breadth of India, had fallen in love with the USA, particularly the lovely seaside town of Encinitas. A small but devoted group of Astangis gave Manju the impetus to stay, much to the dismay of his father, who wanted Manju to return to Mysore and help run the Yoga Shala. It would be tradition (no small matter to a strict Brahmin) to pass the Yoga Shala on to your oldest son, an unlikely scenario if Manju stayed in California. The yoga community in Encinitas, although dedicated, was small, and not particularly affluent, with just a few exceptions. Manju’s continued presence in the West cannot be underestimated in the growth of yoga in America.
Manju has been teaching the Astanga method for over 40 years now. Manju hopes to bring “better concentration and understanding” of Astanga yoga to his students in a world full of distractions. For more about Manju, visit his web site
PLEASE JOIN US! Yoga Vermont welcomes Classical Indian Musicians from the Kalavant Center for Music and Dance in New York City for a special concert on Saturday, June 14 at 8 pm. More info.
Full payment is required to reserve your space in this 10 hour workshop. (Read our cancellation policy).
Return to workshops.
|
