Jivamukti Yoga: Everything about the yoga style and the best exercises

Yoga is a practice that is thousands of years old and yet it is constantly evolving. The best example of this is Jivamukti Yoga, which was founded in the 1980s by Sharon Gannon and David Life . Here you can find out what Jivamukti Vinyasa Yoga is, how it is related to Hatha Yoga and what exercises there are in Jivamukti Yoga !

The Jivamukti Yoga Center: NYC, Munich, Berlin

In a way, Sharon Gannon and David Life are among the superstars among yoga teachers. They first taught their unconventional yet traditional yoga at their Jivamukti Yoga Center in New York City , which is now the largest yoga studio in the United States.

The favorite yoga of Madonna and Co. came to Germany through Patrick Broome . He opened the first German Jivamukti school in the Schwabing district of Munich . Since then, Jivamukti Yoga has spread rapidly and there is now a Jivamukti Yoga Center in Berlin, among other places.

What is Jivamukti Yoga?

Jivamukti Yoga is more than a fast-moving trend. Because Gannon and Life themselves learned in India from well-known yogis like Pattabhi Jois , who is known for the development of Ashtanga Yoga. For the American couple, yoga is more than just physical exercise.

Jivamukti Yoga also wants to impart knowledge about traditional yoga teachings , so the most well-known scriptures and meditation are integral parts of this style. Yoga becomes a way of life for a more harmonious relationship to the environment and oneself: The term is made up of "soul" (jiva) and "liberation" (mukti) .

Jivamukti Yoga is a mixture of Hatha Yoga asanas and spiritual elements such as mantra chanting and meditation. Music is also included, in various directions. It can also happen in a Jivamukti yoga unit that you suddenly hear classical or electronic music!

The philosophy behind Jivamukti Yoga

In addition to the sometimes demanding asanas, there is also a considerable theoretical part in Jivamukti Yoga. The intention behind it is not to see yoga as a pure fitness matter, but to encourage more harmony and a non-violent existence .

Because the focus of Jivamukti Yoga is not just the individual, but society. This turns yoga from a relaxation method into a way of life. 5 pillars form the basis of this style:

• Sacred Scriptures / Shastra

When you do Jivamukti Yoga, you dive particularly deep into the yogic tradition. Because the holy scriptures of yoga are regularly discussed, including, for example, the Yoga Sutras by Patanjali, the Hatha Yoga Pradipika or Sanskrit as a sacred language.

• devotion / bhakti

The basic idea is: All living beings carry something divine within them. Jivamukti Yoga wants to teach to surrender to the big picture and to show tolerance and respect. To make this approach more concrete, each lesson has its own theme.

• Music / Nadam

The musical part should allow the yoga students to listen more intensively and support the yoga practice. Chanting mantras together is also part of this aspect of Jivamukti Yoga.

• Meditation / Dhyana

No Jivamukti Yoga class without meditation! In this practice, the students are to be supported in finding their Self.

• Nonviolence / Ahimsa

Jivamukti Yoga as a philosophy also includes ethical vegetarianism and environmentalism. Gannon and Life often address political activism in their yoga classes and want to promote a more peaceful coexistence.

Choosing Jivamukti Yoga means a lot more than spending a few hours a week in the practice sessions. Jivamukti Yoga may be a relatively young discipline, but it brings with it many traditional approaches .

Exercises in Jivamukti Yoga

Be prepared that the asanas in Jivamukti Yoga are very dynamic and often follow each other quickly in Vinyasa Flow . So it doesn't hurt to bring a little experience with you! In general, Jivamukti asanas focus on the unity of breathing and movement .

triangle

From a standing position, take a big step backwards with your right foot and turn it so that your foot is parallel to the short end of the mat. Extend your arms straight out to the side.

Lower your torso to your left leg in a controlled manner while looking up to your right hand. The left fingertips ideally touch the floor.

Table

You lie on your back and have your feet up. Place your hands flat on the floor above your head with your fingertips pointing toward your shoulders. Push yourself up so that there is a straight line from your chest to your knees. Hold this position for 10 breaths.

back roll

You kneel on the mat with the balls of your feet planted. As you inhale, slowly roll your spine backwards until you can touch your heels with your hands. Your gaze goes straight up. As you exhale, come out of the backbend and straighten up so that you can now curl forward.

Repeat this alternation for 16 breaths. You can also do this exercise standing up!

Jivamukti Yoga is excellent for anyone who doesn't want to practice yoga just for fitness . The overall concept also includes knowledge about traditional teachings that are thousands of years old. You have to want to get involved - but if that's the case, Jivamukti Yoga will definitely enrich your everyday life!