In the Sanskrit language, the word yoga means to unite. This ancient art contains numerous spiritual techniques that help you unite body and mind. In the grand scheme of things, daily yoga practice brings together the individual consciousness and universal consciousness. Moreover, there are numerous yoga styles that bring you closer to the divine. One of these is Jivamukti yoga which incorporates some deeper facets of this sacred art, like meditation and chanting.
Jivamukti is the only style of yoga where you can modify the pose according to how your body feels. If you are someone who wants to initiate a massive change and have the experience of a lifetime with yoga, this yoga style is for you. To help you understand how learning this yoga style is worth it, yoga experts have come up with a small guide.
First, let us focus on the basics of this yoga style.
Developed by Sharon Gannon and David Life in 1984, Jivamukti comes from the Sanskrit word where the Jiva means individual living soul and Mukti means liberation from the cycle of birth and death.
Sharon and David traveled to India, and under the guidance of Swami Sivananda and Nirmalananda learned the spiritual art of yoga. After coming back to New York, they set up the Jivamukti society. In 1990, the couple flew again to India to learn Ashtanga Yoga under the tutelage of Sri K. Pattabhi Jois.
For the uninitiated, this style is a physical and spiritual yoga style that includes various yoga exercises with complete adherence to five central tenets. However, if you want to experience physical and mental growth, it is necessary to combine the five principles of Hatha yoga with these five tenets.
You might wonder – What are these five tenets of Jivamukti yoga? Read below to know.
Before you decide to join a certified Jivamukti Yoga Center you must familiarize yourself with its five principle tenets.
Scriptures are ancient sacred writings. This tenet of Jivamukti refers to the study and analysis of the 4 central texts of yoga which are Hatha Yoga Pradipika, Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras, Bhagwad Gita, and Upanishads. You also have to study the Sanskrit language, which is the primordial language of yogic texts.
Another core tenet of Jivamukti yoga is non-violence. This teaches you compassion and is also the first of the 5 Yamas of Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras. There are numerous methods in Jivamukti yoga that help you understand how non-violence can extend from humans to even animals.
It is a reason why Jivamukti yoga promotes the consumption of a vegetarian diet. With this yoga style, you become aware of various environmental problems, and animal rights.
The tenet of meditation includes being still and observing your own mind and its thought process. Thoughts are what control your body and mind. Meditation helps cease you to identify yourself with thoughts and realize you are more than what you think.
Also, meditation plays a vital role in Jivamukti yoga as it develops consciousness in relation to your existence and purpose in life.
The word Bhakti stands for Devotion to the divine which includes practicing devotion and humility. The practice of Jivamukti yoga is based on “God-Realization” which is the purpose behind yoga practice. In Jivamukti yoga practice, Bhakti helps direct your devotion towards the divine in any form.
This tenet of Jivamukti yoga focuses on deep inner listening, chanting, and music to calm down your mind. The basic principle of this tenet is that everything that exists, even human beings, consists of specific vibrations.
The practice of Hatha yoga aims to hear the music, which is the sacred OM sound. You practice Nada in Jivamukti through chanting and listening to inspirational music during meditation.
You might wonder – What Would Doing Jivamukti Yoga Help Me Achieve? Don’t worry! Yoga experts have the answer. Also, you will learn what effects Jivamukti yoga has on your being.
Remember, the practice of Jivamukti yoga is all about energizing your life. You learn skills to activate your mind and attain spiritual wisdom. Moreover, the elements of meditation and chanting reconstruct your mind and channelize energy to help you attain this goal.
As Jivamukti yoga is a bit strenuous, it affects different parts of your body including the internal organs. The use of breathing and muscular movements has a positive impact on your lungs. This yoga style also stabilizes your blood flow.
That is not all! There are also some major Jivamukti yoga benefits that you get.
The daily practice of Jivamukti yoga has numerous health benefits. These include;
Doing Jivamukti yoga under the tutelage of a yoga teacher improves your muscle flexibility. It also brings consistency to the functioning of your organs and improves their movement.
One of the impressive Jivamukti yoga benefits is it is best suited for those suffering from a breathing-related problem. The practice of Pranayama in this yoga style expands your lung capacity. Moreover, if you face a problem with releasing air from your lungs, this is the yoga style to practice.
Do you know that Jivamukti yoga also helps you keep your heart healthy? Yes! The daily practice of Jivamukti yoga has been found to lower the level of blood pressure. If you suffer from a blood circulation disorder, this yoga style can help you get blood flow back in order.
The element of meditation and chanting mantras daily improves your mental focus and concentration. In the long run, this improves your power to recall important information which indirectly sharpens your IQ level.
Due to specific yoga asanas, you have to hold for longer periods in this form of yoga, your body’s capacity to be under stress increases.
However, for you to reap these benefits; you must practice the right yoga poses. Yoga experts have come up with the best Jivamukti yoga asanas to help you get closer to the divine.
Although, Jivamukti yoga has numerous asanas that help you attain spiritual enlightenment and union with the almighty; there are two that stand out from the rest.
Given below are the two major asanas you should practice while learning this type of yoga.
Known as Hanumanasana, the Monkey Pose is a seated yoga posture. It resembles the great leap that Lord Hanuman took from the Southern tip of India to Sri Lanka.
Steps To Practice Monkey Pose
Note: Stretch your body in this asana within what you feel comfortable. This yoga pose also strengthens your thighs and hamstrings.
Dancing Shiva Pose gets its name from the pose of Lord Nataraja, the lord of all dance forms. This is one of the most effective Jivamukti yoga poses that stabilizes the mind-body connection.
Steps To Practice Dancing Shiva Pose
Note: This yoga asana gives your ankles, thighs, and abdomens a good stretch. It brings your emotions into a healthy balance.
However, you might think – How Should I Decide Which Jivamukti Yoga Teacher Training To Join? Yoga experts have the answer to that. First, let us understand the different types of yoga classes.
There are a total of six types of yoga classes.
The open classes of this yoga style are theme-based and built on guidelines set by David Life and Sharon Gannon, its founder. The theme is explored through dharma talks, asanas, Pranayama, music, and yoga scriptures. The majority of the classes have asanas derived from the Vinyasa yoga style.
Basic classes of Jivamukti yoga last for around four weeks. This class explores different aspects of yoga including basic asanas, then moves to forward and backward bending poses. You also learn yoga inversions and meditation techniques. Moreover, Equal importance is given to Vinyasa and alignment.
This class is based on Vinyasa yoga basics. The beginner class has a set of sequences you practice at a slower pace. These classes give you the opportunity to dive deeper into its practice.
The Spiritual warrior classes of this yoga style are best suited for those who do not have the time to commit to a regular practice. Spiritual warrior classes include backbends, relaxation, inversions, and meditation.
Earlier, yoga was taught by a teacher who helped students practice different yoga asanas. However, with time, yoga is not taught in larger groups. Still, you can sign up for a personal peace yoga class to learn this spiritual yoga style from the best.
The most important of all classes are the ones on meditation. You are trained to let go of everything holding you down and align your thoughts with your breath. Usually, a meditation class lasts from 20 to 30 minutes; it starts with chanting and ends with a Q&A session.
Do you want to enroll in the bhakti-yoga Jivamukti teacher training program but are a little doubtful? No worries, yoga gurus are here to help you get out of this confusion.
Before you sign up for a nada yoga Jivamukti teacher training session, remember it is a powerful and structured practice. It is the only yoga style that focuses on the spiritual aspect of yoga.
With that said, here are three reasons that make enrolling in a yoga Jivamukti teacher training worth it.
Do you know what makes this yoga style such an enriching experience? It is the classes on Mantra chanting that soothe your vocal cords, get you away from mental disturbance, and boost your energy levels.
Moreover, the use of music soothes your senses when you are chanting these mantras. In the long run, this helps raise your vibrations on a spiritual level.
You might think that Jivamukti classes are easier. However, once you start the yoga Jivamukti teacher training session, you realize it is an intense asanas practice that provides you exceptional overall balance.
However, the best thing about this intense yoga style is it is much easier in comparison to Ashtanga Vinyasa yoga. In other words, Jivamukti YTT is the best yoga for maintaining an overall balance of body and mind.
If you want to practice this exercise structured to take you towards spiritual awakening by doing asanas poses, choose Jivamukti yoga. It offers you a different approach to raise the spiritual energy and helps you enter into a higher dimension of your being.
Still, you should remember that similar to other styles, even this yoga exercise has certain precautions that you should remember.
Before enrolling in Jivamukti yoga teacher training in India, you should keep these guidelines in mind;
Jivamukti is a spiritual practice that helps you reach enlightenment and develop compassion for others. This yoga style was invented by David Life and Sharon Gannon in 1984. Jivamukti asanas adhere to the five tenets which include Non-violence, Music, Meditation, Devotion, and Scriptures.
That is all! The complete guide to Jivamukti yogasnas. Now all you need to do is search for a certified yoga school to learn this art.
Do you want to experience a higher level of consciousness? It is time you look for a certified yoga school to learn the Jivamukti yoga style from yoga gurus. This is an exceptional yoga style that focuses much on the spiritual aspects of yoga and brings you closer to the divine.