One of the contemporarystyles of yoga is Jivamukti yoga, which was conceptualised by Sharon Gannon and David Life. The exactimplication of it is “liberation while living”. This physically demanding form of yoga involves the performing certain yoga poses along with the recitation of scriptures and music and performing pranayama and meditation. It sounds to be very beneficial for the overall health of body and mind.
Tenets of Jivamukti Yoga
Shastra It means scriptures and involves the study of the four texts of yoga –YogaSutras of Patanjali, the Hatha Yoga Pradipika, the Bhagavad Gita, and the Upanishads and the study of the language in which they were written that is Sanskrit.
Bhakti This is devotion to God and giving importance to religious tolerance.
Ahimsa This teaches non-violence not just to human beings but also to animals and promotes the importance of animal rights and sense of duty towards the environment.
Nada involves trying to get perfection in listening by way of chanting and music which will be a source of inspiration.
Dhyana Meditation which teaches the person to think beyond their thoughts.
Benefits of Jivamukti Yoga Poses
- It involves stretching of the various body parts it helps in toning of the muscles.
- Breathing exercises improve the functioning of the internal organs by massaging and stimulating them
- Improves the intake of oxygen in the lungs which thus improves oxygen supply to the blood
- Improves blood circulation
- Helps in eliminating of toxic waste from the body and thus helps in keeping the body healthy
- Helps in improving the quality of life by giving relief from stress and also helps improve concentration
Yoga Poses
Some of the popular Jivamukti Yoga Poses are as follows:
Virasana
This is known as the hero pose and it is one of the simple poses of Jivamukti yoga. It is a good way to meditate. One simply needs to sit on the ground with legs folded. It is a good pose for strained legs.
Natrajasana
This is also known as the dancing Shiva pose or King Dancer Pose.In this pose one has to balance all the weight on one leg and bend slightly forwards from the hip. With the help of hands, the other leg is held up behind. Then one needs to grab the toes or if one is very flexible then can hold the ankle by stretching the arm backwards.In order to maintain balance, the other arm is raised in front. This pose is actually a test of balance and concentration of the person.
Hanumanasana
This is known as the Monkey Pose. This pose is named after Lord Hanuman. This is a very difficult pose which can be mastered only after lots of practice. One needs to follow each step of the pose well and finally do a split and the arms have to be raised towards the ceiling.One needs to have a very flexible body to perform the pose meticulously. Care should be taken to avoid any muscle injuries.
Mayurasana
This is the peacock pose.This is an advanced pose which needs lots of practice before one learns to do it perfectly. This pose involves balancing only by hands while the body is lifted from the ground.The body has to be in straight line. Elbows have to be bent and have to be close to the body.
These are just a few poses from the vast sea of Jivamukti yoga. This beneficial form of yoga may sound a little difficult but with proper training and practice,it is one of the best ways of improving the quality of your life. One needs to perform this form of yoga under the supervision of a good yoga teacher.
