Jivamukti Yoga - What is Jivamukti Yoga
By Pius Ephenus
Jivamukti yoga is a style of yoga which was created by David Life and Sharon Gannon in 1984, and which reintegrates the physical, philosophical and spiritual aspects of yoga. The Jivamukti style of yoga is one of the nine globally established styles of Hatha yoga, the other eight being Ashtanga, Iyengar, Viniyoga, Sivananda, Integral, Bikram, Kripalu, and Kundalini. In the western world the stress has been on yoga as mostly a physical practice. More and more folks are taking yoga lessons in the attempt to make their bodies firmer and fitter. Nevertheless some of the yoga practitioners find out during their training that what has started out as merely physical practice might transform into a more spiritual experience. David Life and Sharon Gannon took up teaching as they were keen to communicate the fact that yoga represents more than just a routine of workout, but a path to enlightenment and a spiritual practice. Jivamukti yoga thus becomes a relevant translation of the Indian system of yoga for the approach of the westerner mind so that the practice doesn't remain out of reach. Among the practices emphasized by Jivamukti yoga there are the study of the ancient texts, devotional chanting and meditation.
The meaning of the word Jivamukti (pronounced Jee-va-mook-tee) can be translated as follows: Jiva means individual soul and mukti means liberation. The word comes from the Sanskrit jivanmuktih, meaning liberation while living. The name Jivamukti yoga reflects the fact that it is possible to have a beneficial and fulfilling life in the world but also progress spiritually, perhaps even attaining liberation while living.
Think about the five tenets of Jivamukti yoga before starting to practice it. A first tenet is the study of Sanskrit chanting and of ancient yoga traditions. The second one is the acceptance that universal awareness is the goal of all yoga practices, known under the name of Bhakti. The third tenet is Ahimsa, that is a compassionate, peaceful life-style, which stresses the importance of moral vegetarianism. The forth one is the Nada, as the development of a sound body and mind through deep listening. The last tenet of Jivamukti yoga, but not the least, is meditation, that paves the way to the ever-lasting reality inside of us. Take into account that Jivamukti yoga classes are pretty intense, so you'd better be prepared for the challenge. Although it might appear tough, the great fame of Jivamukti yoga in the United States is hard to pass unnoticed; there is a Jivamukti yoga School in New York, and there are trained teachers teaching it all over the country.
About the
author:
Victor writes about free yoga exercises in his blog. For more informative yoga articles go over to http://www.yogaonlineblogger.com
For more yoga
articles, click here -
Yoga Articles
I wish you all the best on your yoga adventure!
To your health,
Thomas T :)
|