Saraswathi 70th Birthday Tribute (documentary)

Daughter of Sri K Pattabhi Jois (Guruji) and mother of Sharath Jois, Saraswathi was born in 1941. She practiced yoga steadily under the guidance of her father from the age of 10 in 1951, until taking on family responsibilities in 1963. She was the first female ever to be granted admission to the Sanskrit College in Mysore where she studied both yoga and Sanskrit from Guruji. For many years after this she assisted him in yoga classes but in 1975 started teaching her own classes at a local temple, for eleven years teaching only women. In 1986 she began a quiet revolution in the local Mysore community, teaching both men and women together in a mixed class. Although criticized for making such a radical change to local tradition, she persevered and gained great respect with the local community. In 2002, Saraswathi once again started teaching with Guruji (and Sharath) at the KPJAYI in Mysore.