| JIVAMUKTI YOGA IS A PATH TO ENLIGHTENMENT THROUGH COMPASSION FOR ALL BEINGS. |
| THE JIVAMUKTI METHOD IS GROUNDED IN THE ORIGINAL MEANING OF THE SANSKRIT WORD ASANA AS “SEAT, CONNECTION” – RELATIONSHIP TO THE EARTH. EARTH IMPLIES ALL OF LIFE. |
| A jivanmukta is a human being who has achieved enlightenment and lives to benefit others. |
SHARON GANNON & DAVID LIFE
Created by Sharon Gannon and David Life, the Jivamukti School incorporates traditional Yoga practices into a modern lifestyle without losing sight of the ancient, universal goal of liberation.
They met in 1983 in New York City and began the creative collaboration that resulted in the Jivamukti Yoga Method. They became pioneers in teaching yoga as spiritual activism, demonstrating that yoga is a living tradition, a complete method for attaining lasting happiness, a practice that is available for all beings. Citing Patanjali’s Yoga Sutra, which states that asana should be sthira and sukham, Jivamukti Yoga maintains that one’s relationship to others (asana) should be mutually beneficial and come from a consistent (sthira) place of joy and happiness (sukham).
“When we began teaching yoga, we set ourselves this challenge: to relate the ancient teachings to modern experience without dumbing down the yoga practices or sacrificing their original aim, which was always and only to experience union with the Divine Self. We also asked ourselves : Is there anything in our own culture that helps us in our quest for enlightenment? Let’s look at the lyrics in the Beatles’ music: let’s listen to what Van Morrison is singing about; let’s be inspired by the fusion of Eastern and Western influences in the music of John Coltrane and Bill Laswell.”
Jivamukti Yoga was a natural continuation of their own artistic investigation into the mysteries of life.
At Jivamukti, we use art, music, dance and poetry to create an environment that inspires people to break out of their small selves and feel the Divine Self flowing through them. Through the innovations of the method, Sharon and David have brought the ancient teachings alive, going to the root of their wisdom and making it relevant to the contemporary world. They are pioneers in teaching Yoga as spiritual activism/activation, demonstrating that yoga is a living tradition, a complete system for accessing the lasting happiness that is available to all beings. They incorporate their profound talents and experiences as artists, performers and musicians to offer a compelling, exciting and empowering teaching style.
“We were inspired not only by our teachers in India but also by our friends, the tattooed, pierced, blue and green-haired nonconformist artists, poets, and musicians. […] We wanted to create a place that would turn everyone on like that to the richness of yoga. What didn’t turn us on were the white walls and potted plants of the other yoga centers we visited in NY. So we painted the walls all kinds of beautiful colors, put up pictures of Indian deities, and rolled our huge Oriental rugs on the floor. […] And we played all kinds of spiritually uplifting music, from Bhagavan Das to Van Morrison to the Indian-jazz fusion of Bill Laswell.”
WHAT ABOUT THE METHOD ?
There are eight types of classes and one standardized warm-up sequence unique to the Method. Each class serves as a bridge between the wisdom of the ancient teachings and the modern world, including set Asana sequences, Pranayama, the chanting of Mantras and the study Sutras, Kriyas, Meditation and Relaxation. A Jivamukti Yoga class is physically challenging; it’s all about the razor’s edge, pushing beyond the limitations imposed by your mind. You will be encouraged to devote your practice to God, in whatever form you feel comfortable acknowledging God.
The Jivamukti Yoga lineage has been inspired, shaped, and blessed by the teachers who Sharon Gannon and David Life studied with over many years, —among these are Shri Shyamdas, Shri Swami Nirmalanda, Shri K. Pattabhi Jois, Shri Brahmananda Sarasvati and Shri Milanbaba Goswami.
The ancient spiritual traditions of Yoga have been shared with our modern world in hopes of awakening our own heart, body and mind. All integrated practices allow for a contemplation and transformation of the relationship with both, our inner & outer worlds ―cultivating awareness and appreciation of Life (and all lives).
FIVE TENETS OF JIVAMUKTI YOGA
This core philosophy is expressed through the following 5 Tenets.
AHIMSA
अहिंसा
A non-violent, compassionate lifestyle extending to other animals, the environment, and all living beings, emphasizing ethical vegetarianism (veganism) and animal rights.
BHAKTI
भक्ति
Devotion is the goal of all yoga practices and can be expressed through chanting, the setting of a high intention for the practice or other devotional practices.
DHYANA
ध्यान
Meditation: connecting to that eternal unchanging reality within.
NADA
नाद
The development of a sound body and mind through deep listening; can be incorporated in a class using recorded music, spoken word, silence or even the teacher’s voice.
SHASTRA
शास्त्र
Study of the ancient yogic teachings, including Sanskrit chanting, drawn from the Focus of the Month to the extent possible.
Source: Jivamukti Yoga, Practices for liberating body and soul by Sharon Gannon & David Life.
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