i saw him first on a festival. years ago. he was leading an ashtanga class. i was spitting my lungs up since somehow the first series became the second somewhere in the middle...

i instantly loved him. always smiling, always laughing. kind and friendly. but firm. what is still a struggle for me, it is just a game for him. yoga is like breathing for him.

still, years later on another festival, when i walked up to him to ask him a few questions... i was nervous. really nervous. though i never am.

and i should not have been. he welcomed me with a huge smile. and he could answer all my questions just as simple as he can make yoga practise.

yoga is very simple. everything else is complicated.

bpy: Why did you start yoga in the beginning?

MJ: Because of my father. My father is the guru. Watching him did inspire me to practice yoga. That is how i started.

bpy: How old were you?

MJ: I was seven years old.

bpy: And was there no other option, did you want to do anything else?

MJ: Well, i played cricket and soccer. But i picked yoga because that is what i most liked to do.

bpy: What does yoga give you that nothing else can?

MJ: Yoga will help you to focus. Make you stronger, healthier. It is the best thing you can do to your body. That is why i picked it.

bpy: What is the most important message that you would like to teach to the people?

MJ: I give them a lot of encouragement. Help them to take care of themselves. That is all the people want. They are totally unfocused. So i tell them 'just concentrate on your body, what you eat, what you drink, take care of your bodies.' Simple advices. Nothing big. Easy to follow.

bpy: Is ashtanga for everyone?

MJ: Everyone, yes.

bpy: What do you think of other styles and schools of yoga?

MJ: They are all made up. Ashtanga is the original yoga. It comes from hatha yoga. It is advised to everybody of any age and any shape - no problem.

bpy: Do you miss that they do not teach much of the philosophy or lifestyle part of the yoga here in Western countries?

MJ: Yes, the west is always interested in the physical part, they really don't go to the whole thing. That is my goal. When i go around i try to teach not only the physical part, but the philosophy of yoga, what it does to you, the power of chanting, pranayamas. So all parts of the yoga. You can't just do asanas. Yoga is all about balance. You have to practice asanas to get strong and healthy, and you do the pranayama and chanting to stimulate the nervous system. So when you put it all together, then you will get all the benefits.

bpy: What is yoga?

MJ: To unite with yourself. Because once we start looking at ourselves, our own problems, what is going on inside, we start working on them. Then you will feel better. A lot of people do not know how to handle problems. They are looking outside. I try to help them. The yoga teacher tells to look inside, what is going on. Once you clear that out, you will be fine. That is yoga all about.