Today in New York at Stephen Weiss Studio, 711 Greenwich St. at 6pm EST there will be a memorial service for Pattabhi Jois, who passed away on May 18, 2009.
Pattabhi Jois, affectionately known as "Guruji", was one of the most influential people in yoga's journey Westward. In his book, Yoga Mala, or "Yoga Garland", first published in India in 1962 and in English in 1999, he shared the teachings of his teacher, vedic practitioner and healer, T. Krishnamacharya with teachers and students around the world.
Like ripples in a pond, Guruji's life-long dedication to the practice and teaching of yoga has brought so much peace and light to millions of people around the world!
In a way, it was Pattabhi Jois and his style of yoga, Ashtanga, taught to me by Randa Chehab at Down to Earth Yoga Studio in Bozeman, Montana, that fueled the creation of my original tea business, Fair Trade Teas in 2001 and 2002.
It was during that time that I was practicing with Randa daily and developing Firepot Chai and Fair Trade Teas. The yoga and the chai, in hindsight, sort of blended together, one affecting the other and resulting in a really peaceful time of life as well as the beginning of a journey that would become my life and take me around the world in search of tea and a way to make a difference through Fair Trade.
Guruji's practice-- and Randa's love for teaching-- lit a fire in me-- giving me energy and inspiration to stay after my work and the dream it represented. It also gave me the peace and clarity of mind to stay on my path-- to keep my eyes open to opportunities when they presented themselves...
Once, while running Firepot Chai in Alaska and teaching Ashtanga yoga twice weekly at Fireweed Station, I made plans to travel to San Francisco to take a workshop given by Pattabhi Jois. A few weeks before the workshop, I was online looking for other things going on in the Bay Area when I read about the Green Festival. As I read on, I was so inspired by the line up of Fair Trade luminaries-- the late Anita Roddick (founder of the Body Shop and an early advocate for Fair Trade) and Paul Rice (President of Trans Fair USA) and Paul Katzeff of Thanksgiving Coffee, one of the first importers of Fair Trade coffees--who were all going to be there that same week. I became so excited about the Green Festival that I started trying to figure out how I could run back and forth between the 2 events!
About a week later, I learned that Guruji had a death in the family and had to return to India. The workshop was canceled. I immediately called the Green Festival to find out if they had any exhibit spaces left. They did! They had sold out 8 months prior but had a cancellation that day and I could name my price. So, I took out my first business loan ($1000 from my dad) and was on my way!
Like that, each step of my way with Fair Trade Teas and the businesses that have blossomed from it-- Scarborough Fair in New Zealand, Partners Tea Company in the US--has unfolded divinely and I am thankful for having had my path lit by the teachings of great teachers like Pattabhi Jois.
I know many others have similar stories.
Thanks for the ripples that Guruji's life continue to create!
"Ashtanga yoga is 99 percent practice, one percent theory."
Pattabhi Jois, originator of Ashtanga Yoga
"Do your practice and all is coming."
Pattabhi Jois, originator of Ashtanga Yoga
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment