Jivamukti yoga founders: David Life & Sharon Gannon

With a meaning like “liberation while living” it is no wonder that Jivamukti yoga has the devoted and loyal following that it does. Started in 1984 by David Life and Sharon Gannon who incorporated their training as Ashtanga yoga students under the tutelage of Ashtanga yoga master Sri K. Pattabhi Jois, Jivamukti yoga is a popular and disciplined form of yoga that is practiced all over the country.

Combining both asana, pranayama (breath work) and music, a Jivamukti class is a dynamic yoga experience, both physically and spiritually. A typical class does practice chanting, but beginners are not expected to chime in – only if their comfort and knowledge allows them.

Gannon and Life are two well-recognized faces of yoga. Their book, Jivamukti Yoga, has been heralded from the likes of Russell Simmons and Trudie Styler and includes beautiful asana photographs as well as an incredibly accessible overview of the philosophy of yoga and the intentions behind Jivamukti yoga. Strongly encouraging the basic principles of yoga such as ahimsa, or non-violence, devoted Jivamuktians are staunch vegetarians or vegans. Don’t let that discourage you from sampling a class. Those who are avid followers of this style of yoga credit this relatively new brand of yoga to changing their lives, both inside and out.

Post from: Diets in Review Blog

Jivamukti Yoga 101

Ashtanga yoga master Sri. K. Pattabhi Jois

Yoga has become one of the hottest fitness and spiritual practices here in the U.S., but in India, yoga’s country of origin, the face of yoga looks markedly different than what we are familiar with. For the month of June and July, I will be in Mysore, India, the hub of Ashtanga yoga, one of the oldest known forms of yoga that is still practiced with enthusiasm and dedication today. Although this is my second trip to the sacred country of India, these five weeks are different because I am here studying yoga with my family, just a few weeks following the death of Ashtanga master, Sri. K. Pattabhi Jois.

Doing yoga in its fatherland is extremely different than practicing it here in a posh or not-so-posh Western studio. A combination of the sweltering heat and moist humidity, both of which have a near magical way of making your body incredibly open and flexible, and the mere energy of downward dogging on the same ground that yoga was first practiced by mankind is both humbling and awe-inspiring.

As a yoga student in India, one of the realities that strikes me as so profound is that Indians don’t do yoga. Or at least not the way it is practiced here in the States. Yoga is so intricately and deeply embedded in the colorful and dichotomous culture of India that Indians don’t need to practice it like we do. They already “get” the fundamental concept of yoga, which literally means to yoke or unite as in the connecting the mind, body and spirit entities of our selves. 

The kind of yoga you do see regularly in India is the seamless way in which Indians regard their spirituality. Daily acts of reverence, prayer and homage make any foreigner acutely aware of how entrenched this awareness is. Perhaps Indians don’t take yoga classes like we do, but it is quite common to see older men and women sitting not on chairs but on the ground positioned in lotus or padmasana pose – a posture that most of us Westerners can only dream about twisting into. It’s not just their minds that are almost unconsciously aware of their spirituality, but their bodies reflect the openness as well.

While yoga is relatively new to the West, it has been a way of life in India for the past 5,000 years, so it makes perfect sense that this powerfully subtle practice is as much a part of the fabric of their culture as The Declaration of Independence is to ours. Over the course of the next few weeks, I’m going to be sharing my insights and experiences of my weeks in India. From health to food and from yoga to meditation, I’m looking forward to cross-comparing our cultures and absorbing some of the profound knowledge of this ancient yogic land.

Post from: Diets in Review Blog

Practicing Ashtanga Yoga in India

1). A solid yoga mat: You can get a yoga mat anywhere these days from Target to Walgreens to JCrew. But all mats are not created equal. If you’re an avid practitioner, invest in a good quality yoga mat. My favorite one is “Mercedes of all yoga mats,” or the premium black mat. Barefoot yoga sells it for about $80. (They also have more affordable, environmentally friendly mats.) It’s a bit pricey for a yoga mat but I guarantee, this one will last you for a lifetime!

2) Towel: Chances are that you sweat a decent amount during your yoga practice, especially if you do Ashtanga, Bikram or any kind of a power or vinyassa style yoga class. Sweaty and slippery hands and limbs can be detrimental to your practice. To prevent any accidents, make sure you take a towel with you to class. Any towel will work and the size will depend upon how sweaty you get. Opt for a hand towel if you’re a light sweater and a bath towel if you’re drenched after your third sun salutation.

3) Proper attire: Lines of yoga clothing seem to be cropping up as quickly as yoga classes. And there is a reason for this recent onslaught of yoga wear: Yoga is in! Your regular jogging shorts, sports bra and t-shirt just won’t cut it in yoga class. Yoga clothing needs to be form-fitting enough so that you can see the alignment in your muscles, but loose enough that you’re comfortable and can move, twist and bend in comfort. Yoga shorts, yoga pants and yoga tank tops for both men and women should be fairly easy to find at any decently large retail store or online. Choose comfort over fashion when selecting clothes. If you love the way it looks, but fear that when you bend over something might fall out, skip it and choose something else.

4.) Yoga Props: From bolsters to blocks, there are tons of yoga props that can greatly assist your practice. Unless you practice a style of yoga that props are a necessary part of the routine like Iyengar or prenatal yoga, then you can save your money on these helpful gadgets until you’re sure you need them. Also, your yoga studio may already have them. Make sure that when you do use props, you also have the attention of a trained teacher who can help you use them effectively and safely so that they support your practice rather than doing the practice for you.

5.) Practice Rugs: If you practice a super sweaty kind of yoga, then you’ll need a rug. Often called a Mysore rug, these tightly woven rugs prevent slippage even when you’re dripping in sweat. But if you don’t sweat, using these rugs will be a detriment as they require the moisture in sweat to make them work. The rugs offer better traction and support in standing and seated postures.

It’s easy to combine your love of shopping, material goods and yoga into one expensive habit, but if you keep your yoga accessories as simple as your practice, then you can still maintain a sense of detachment and be well equipped to practice your favorite style of yoga.

Post from: Diets in Review Blog

The 5 Best Yoga Accessories

madonna yoga

Whether you’ve performed a few rounds of sun salutations or been twisted into Triangle pose, chances are you’ve done Ashtanga yoga. Ashtanga yoga is one of the oldest forms of yoga. Its series of postures has its origins in the Yoga Korunta, an ancient Indian manuscript. It is technically referred to as Ashtanga Vinyassa yoga, “vinyassa” referring to a dynamic system of breathing and movement.

History

The postures included in the six series of the Ashtanga yoga practice are presumed to be a few thousand years old. It wasn’t until the early 20th century that guru Sri Krishnamacharya and his student, Sri K. Patthabhi Jois took the postures outlined in the Yoga Korunta and devised a system of yoga that was initially taught to children and adolescents.

Today, Sri K. Pattabhi Jois is the recognized guru of Ashtanga yoga. For the past thirty years, yoga practitioners from all over the world have traveled to his home in Mysore, India to learn the Ashtanga Mysore from him, his daughter and grandson. “Mysore” refers not just to the town where his Ashtanga Yoga Research Institute resides, but to the form of this practice which is a supervised self practice.

What to Expect in an Ashtanga Yoga class:

If you want the authentic form of Ashtanga yoga, you want to seek out a Mysore style class. You can find authorized teachers of this method in your area by looking at the Ashtanga Yoga Research Institute website. In a Mysore class, a teacher is there to support and guide each practitioner as he or she practices the Ashtanga yoga series at their own pace.  Many yoga studios will offer a teacher-led Ashtanga class as well.

Ashtanga yoga is often referred to as power yoga because of its dynamic system that combines breathing and movement into a series of postures that is cardiovascular, meditative and that relies on the strength of your own body to perform the movements.  Unlike many styles of yoga where the classes are choreographed differently, in Ashtanga Yoga classes, the postures performed are the same and they are done in a specific order.

Triangle Pose or Trikonasana

The student starts by first going through a series of Sun Salutations A and B and then moves onto a standing sequence which is followed by a seated sequence and then finishing postures. Depending upon the student’s level of skill, back-bending will also be done. There are six series in the Ashtanga yoga system, but most practitioners practice the Primary Series. The following series, Intermediate, Advanced A, B, C, D are progressive in the difficulty of their movements.

Benefits of Ashtanga Yoga
Ashtanga yoga is meant to purify the body by cultivating an internal heat, or tapas, which allows toxins to burn off as the postures are practiced. In addition, it builds strength, flexibility and reduces stress.

Ashtanga yoga devotees like Madonna, Gwenyth Paltrow, Willem Dafoe, and Donna Karan have helped to popularize it. In fact, one of Madonna’s songs ”Shanti/Ashtangi” from her Ray of Light album features the Ashtanga Yoga mantra that is traditionally chanted before class.

As a long-time practitioner of Ashtanga Mysore yoga, I can only attest to the amazing benefits of this powerful system of yoga. From transforming my body and my mind, Ashtanga yoga has been a life-changing journey for me.  For those of you out there who think that yoga is too soft and doesn’t offer the physical burn of the gym, check out an Ashtanga yoga class. It will change your mind about yoga for good.

Post from: Diets in Review Blog

Ashtanga Yoga a Favorite for Madonna and Gwyneth