Jivamukti Yoga Visit



Picture of book written by the
creators of the Jivamukti style


The name, Jivamukti, seems a bit intimidating, especially when I first heard it. I thought it was for ‘elite’ yogis. Who knows where I got that perception, but I have noticed throughout teacher training that I’ve had lots of incorrect perceptions about various styles of yoga. Plus, ‘Jivamukti’ should not be intimidating at all, as in Sanskrit, Jiva translates to individual soul and mukti means liberations, therefore it means, ‘liberation while living’.

The jivamukti class I attended at Flow Yoga on Sunday afternoon was taught in a vinyasa style, and was less different than I was expecting. It seems many teachers I have been exposed to at Tranquil Space and other studios, including Ashley Turner from this past weekends Chakra immersion; all take on a bit of the Jivamukti style. This style seems to be characterized by:

• Chanting
• Meditation
• Vinyasa Flow
• Thought provoking dialogue during class (a take on the yoga philosophy…or self reflection)
• Uplifting Music
• Moments for Silence

The teacher started with us sitting in cross legged position, and began class by asking us to think about ‘what yoga is’.  After a few moments of silence, she continued to say that it is impossible for anyone to really say or describe what yoga is; even the best teachers and most famous teachers would have a difficult time saying concisely in a few words what yoga is; because Yoga is an experience, it is something that can only be felt by one individually, each person will have their own experience and in time be able to describe what yoga is to themselves. I thought this explanation was great, I’ve been having a difficult time myself truly pinpointing a good description for family and friends who do not practice yoga…and not matter what I say, it never comes out quite the way it should.  One excellent way of describing yoga beyond the physical form I found when visiting the official Jivamukti school website and was embraced with a lovely quote:

When the mind and the heart are stretched together in an expanding self awareness, I assure you, there is instantaneous self transcendence and, therefore, limitless freedom ~ Shri Swami Nirmalananda

After this discussion on what is yoga, we chanted briefly. Actually it is more appropriately called Kirtan, a call and response chanting. The teacher chanted words, and then were asked to repeat them.  I do not recall the words we chanted in the beginning, but I often find it would be nice if the teacher would translate what we are saying, but many times they do not. (Something that I will try to research about for a future posting)

At certain points during practice, typically after very challenging poses and the rooms energy was high, the teacher asked certain questions of us – ‘Why do we raise our hands up’ – getting at what is driving us, what is our intention or purpose of coming to a yoga class. I thought this was a nice way of interjecting ‘self-reflection’ into the practice. Other basic characteristics of the class were:

• Upbeat, earthy/drum-like music, but also contemporary/non-yoga type music, I believe I even heard some classical music.
• Hands on adjustments
• Minimal words – specific and concise body movement instructions

We ended the class by internally chanting Lokaha Samasta Sukhino Bhavantu followed by 3 Oms. Lokaha Samasta Sukhino Bhavantu translates to ‘May all beings everywhere be happy and free’.