"I think of Sharath as gentle, unassuming and funny. I wish I had taken his advice and stayed longer in 2003! "I first met Sharath together with Guruji at the shala in Gokulam in November 2003. Sharath asked if I had anywhere to stay, he took me to Gita’s house and I stayed there. "When I first visited Mysore in 2003 I practised with Sharath in Saraswati’s house. There were only 7 or 8 students at first. Sharath had a kind of quiet persistence, never letting me give up on the asana I was struggling with (bhujapidasana in this case), but also making it lighthearted with a lot of humour so that I didn’t lose heart. "Everyday he was asking me how many chapatis I ate yesterday (not enough!). As there were only a few of us, we often sat in front of the house after practise and chatted with Sharath & each other. "I took the Rough Guide to South India with me one day and Sharath went through all the places nearby I should visit. I learned then that he loved nature and wildlife. I took a trip to Hampi for a few days, Sharath was pretty excited for me, he said he had never been. "When I returned class was really busy, many of Guruji’s old students had arrived in Mysore and were practising with Sharath until Guruji opened the main shala. It makes me smile to remember Sharath abandoning the class, following me out to ask me all about my trip and to tell me that he had visited the national park and seen a tiger! "When I returned to Mysore in 2005, practise was in the main shala with Guruji, Sharath and Saraswati together. This was an amazing experience, but on a totally different scale. "That first experience with Sharath of self practise (I was just a beginner) taught with friendship and open-heartedness remains so very special to me. "This ashtanga yoga practise is a resource that I have drawn upon in all life’s ups and downs over many years and will continue to do so for many more to come. "It feels like a gift that I have been lucky enough to receive. I am truly grateful."

"Two days before Sharath passed we was away on holiday and I was finding it hard to get on the mat. "I started to think of India and when I would get back to Mysore. "So I typed in 'Sharath led class'. I had the best sweaty practice I had all holiday it felt so good. "One thing that stands out in my memory was Sharath's playfulness. Strictness didn’t go down, and the long pause he would do when counting; I remember with fond memories. "I felt that Sharath wanted everybody to experience yoga and he made me believe I could do something within my Mysore self practice when I thought I couldn't. "When I went to Mysore to practice with him he would call me London (I think he forgot my name 😁). "Then several years later in London I made a mistake when doing supta konasana and he was right in front of me and said: "Joan what are you doing?" I said: "I don’t know 😁😁😁 ," and I corrected my mistake. He wasn’t rude in any way about it. I just remember saying to myself: "How did he remember my name after not seeing him for a while and he never called me Joan before?" "I think Sharath was very special. He made me feel that he really was walking the walk when it came to Astanga yoga. He wasn’t just teaching the asanas."

"When I think of Sharath, I see his smile. "I met him as a student in 2000 when I first started Astanga Yoga. "I feel Sharath taught me the prana of yoga: My practice was meditative, therapeutic and connecting; alongside being frustrating, hard and emotional. "I remember Sharath with respect; for journeying with me through the process of yoga, his understanding of my body, mind on the mat, care & respect. "I think I was very blessed to have such an amazing teacher as a 'young' student travelling the world."