WHAT IT IS
Developed in 1984 by Sharon Gannon and David Life, Jivamukti Yoga is designed around five core
pillars: shastra (scripture), bhakti (devotion), ahimsa (nonviolence, non-harming), nāda (music), and dhyana (meditation). The philosophy of Jivamukti Yoga focuses on elevating yoga asana from a practice of physical gain to igniting compassion, enlightenment, oneness and joy. It is technically a form of Vinyasa Yoga, and is also related to Ashtanga.
The name “Jivamukti” is derived from the Sanskrit words “jiva” and “mukti”, which mean “life” and "freedom”, respectively.
Teachers will have undergone varying degrees of Jivamukti Yoga-sanctioned trainings, which are some of the longest and most rigorous and intense in the U.S., sometimes in addition to other yoga instruction certifications and education, ensuring the authenticity of sharing the Jivamukti method with students.
WHAT TO EXPECT
Jivamukti Yoga is a heart-opening synthesis of the physical, ethical, and spiritual arms of yoga into a cohesive practice. You can expect more vigorous physical components, including potentially familiar asana and other elements of Vinyasa flows and Hatha. Chanting, pranayama, meditation and music are often incorporated into Jivamukti practice, stimulating the senses from the inside out. As Jivamukti Yoga is heavily steeped in philosophy, and teachers may share insightful learnings to harness on the mat and carry with you as you go about your life beyond your practice.
BENEFITS
Jivamukti is one of several methods of yoga that take great care to meld the physical, emotional and spiritual components of yoga into a cohesive practice. In its essence, Jivamukti indicates a liberated being, which is achieved through true self-knowledge and self-realization as a result of, in part, yogic spiritual practices. Jivamukti is a yoga that is just as much about your practice as it is your life and being as a whole. You may find Jivamukti Yoga finds its way into your heart, opens your eyes and fills your life with greater compassion, kindness and spirit.
QUOTE
"Asanas are a microcosm of life. They are miniature worlds filled with all the forms of the world at large. Our ability to thrive amidst those forms can be improved through the artful awareness developed in yoga practice.” -- Sharon Gannon & David Life
