Jivamukti Yoga

What is Jivamukti Yoga?

Founders Sharon Gannon and David Life

In 1984, Sharon Gannon and David Life developed Jivamukti Yoga based on the core spiritual aspects of yoga practice. The Sanskrit root of Jivamukti is Jivanmukti, which translates to “God realization”. The term Jivamukti expresses “liberation while living”. Practitioners say the style is mentally, emotionally, and physically stimulating. The integration of ancient philosophy and spirituality is designed for maximum impact and understanding, not only of the practice, but of your place in the world. Yoga Journal recognized Gannon and Life as true innovators of modern yoga.

Gannon’s interest in spirituality stems from her Catholic upbringing. She’s studied yoga since 1976 with such masters as Shri K. Pattabhi Jois and Swami Nirmalananda. With Life, she teaches her yoga method around the world. Gannon is an artist, poet, singer, and avid animal rights activist.

Life, also an artist and animal rights activist, studied Ashtanga Yoga in Mysore, India under the tutelage of Shri K. Pattabhi Jois, and is now a certified advanced instructor. He #has also studied with Swami Nirmalananda. He co-founded the infamous Life Café in New York City in the 1980s. Together with Gannon, he operates a 76-acre wildlife preserve in upstate New York.

The Method

Many of the asanas performed in Jivamukti are familiar, even to beginners. As you advance in the practice, however, you begin to realize your true potential from within, not the form you hold.

Gannon and Life have a philosophy that you can’t “do” yoga: it is who you are. Yoga practices help reveal the areas “where we are resisting unhappiness.” Their belief is once those areas are realized, only then can you let go.

The tenets of Jivamukti Yoga involve five basic principles.

Scripture

Gannon and Life developed the method on the foundation of yoga traditions, including:

• Patanjali’s Yoga Sutra
• The Bhagavad Gita
• Hatha Yoga Pradipika
• The Upanishads

Bhakti

This is the spiritual principle of yoga, and a practice itself. It is incorporated into Jivamukti Yoga as the path to enlightment. The core tenets involve tolerance of all spiritual beliefs, chanting the names of God, and building alters.

Ahimsa

Following the yama, or the non-harming philosophy of yoga, practitioners learn about:

• The reasons for ethical vegetarianism
• The importance of animal rights and environmental preservation
• The need to take action

Music

Jivamukti Yoga embraces a sub-practice called Nada Yoga, which is the yoga of sound. So sessions might also include kirtan, or call and response singing, and other forms of uplifting music.

Meditation

This is an integral part of each class, and levels of involvement vary by individual.

Each class focuses on a particular theme, and may also include Sanskrit readings, chanting, spiritual references, and pranayama exercises. Classes usually run an hour and a half. While this practice may sound too advanced for many yogi and yoginis, there are many opportunities for beginners.

Learn More About Jivamukti Yoga

Before starting a new yoga method, talk with you physician. Additionally, it’s recommended that you learn yoga through a certified yoga instructor. Jivamukti teachers complete extensive training and will help you learn the theory of the practice, as well as proper form to avoid injury.

There are Jivamukti Yoga schools in New York City, Detroit, London, Toronto, Munich, and Berlin. There are also numerous workshops and retreats. Stay up-to-date on events by visiting Jivamukti Yoga.com. Find a certified instructor in your area through Yogafinder, and other Jivamukti enthusiasts at Yoga Meetup.

Learn more about Jivamukti Yoga with the following books and DVDs produced by Gannon and Life:

• Jivamukti Yoga: Practices for Liberating Body and Soul
• The Art of Yoga
• Transform Yourself with Jivamukti Yoga
• Yoga and Vegetarianism

You can also download a series of teachings from Gannon and Life.