Yoga guru Sharath Jois dead at 53 with tributes paid to famed instructor who taught Madonna and Gwyneth Paltrow
A BELOVED yoga guru has died at 53 while he was traveling around the United States, sending shockwaves through his tight-knit community.
Sharath Jois was known for teaching yoga to A-list celebrities like Madonna, Gwyneth Paltrow, and Sting.
On the day of his death, the teacher posted a video of his class on Instagram.
"ASHTANGA YOGA Special Course," the caption said.
He was teaching the course at the Contemplative Sciences Center at the University of Virginia.
Jois was reportedly on a teaching tour around the US at the time of his death.
According to his Instagram, he was scheduled to appear in San Antonio, Texas this weekend.
Next month, he was set to go to Mysuru, India, where he planned to stay until February.
He often taught Ashtanga vinyasa yoga, which is a style of yoga as exercise.
Jois was the grandson of iconic yoga guru K Pattabhi Jois, who made the Ashtanga yoga style popular.
After his grandfather died in 2009, Jois carried on his legacy.
"Whether it's Madonna, Sting or Gywneth, once they enrolled in the classes they’ve been very disciplined,” he said.
“In the class, they’re like any student, minus stardom and celeb status.”
Jois went on to say Madonna, who was previously taught by his grandfather, was a "very dedicated" learner.
Paltrow was known for giving up alcohol, caffeine, and cigarettes after starting yoga courses with Jois.
"Gwyneth Paltrow walked into my class in New York, just to check it out, and got hooked," Jois said at the time.
"It's a different matter that most students - especially the men - kept staring at her."
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Jois' celebrity students have yet to speak out about the guru's sudden passing.
His cause of death has not been revealed.