Sharath Jois

In the early 2000s, seeking to alleviate some back pain, Sonia Jones began exploring yoga. This began her life-long devotion to a form of yoga called Ashtanga that opened a larger world of contemplation and connection. Her primary teacher in this practice was Sharath Jois, the “Paramaguru,” or lineage holder, of Ashtanga yoga, who inherited the tradition from his grandfather, K. Pattabhi Jois. As a result of this practice, Sonia and her husband Paul Tudor Jones helped to found the Contemplative Sciences Center within the University of Virginia and the building in which it sits, the Contemplative Commons. It was the dream of Sharath Jois and the Joneses that students at UVA, and at other universities, might experience contemplative practices that would help them lead flourishing lives.

Sharath Jois taught thousands of students over his career, both at his home institute in Mysore, India, and through workshops around the world, becoming one of the most sought-after teachers of Ashtanga yoga anywhere. Known for his exacting standards and deep personal discipline, he also worked throughout his life to make the practice more accessible, introducing a gentler variation called the “Active Series” for students earlier in their practice. Sharath passed away in November 2024 following a heart attack while hiking near UVA’s Charlottesville campus, where he had been leading a seminar for instructors from around the world — a visit that reflected his enduring connection to the Contemplative Sciences Center and the community he helped inspire.

This page, thanks to the support of Sonima and Sonia Jones, contains videos of some of Sharath Jois’ teachings as well as background information regarding Ashtanga yoga and its place within the Contemplative Sciences Center.

Since its inception in 2012, the Contemplative Sciences Center has offered Ashtanga yoga to UVA students, the Charlottesville community and the general public at no cost. Every Monday through Friday the Center holds a daily morning practice. On scheduled afternoons and weekends we offer drop-in Active Series courses.

Popularized by K. Pattabhi Jois, Sharath Jois’s grandfather, Ashtanga yoga is a dynamic form of vinyasa yoga. It has historically followed a set series of postures and a standard closing sequence. Practitioners are encouraged to become adept at each posture before progressing to the next, and levels of difficulty are broken into six series. Mysore style classes allow students to practice at their own pace with the support of an instructor, while a led-primary series offering is recommended for those with knowledge of the series.