The average Jivamukti Yoga student walks away with a clear understanding of both the history and philosophy of yoga as a result of our physically and mentally challenging classes. That's because with Jivamukti Yoga, the aim is to not only train your body, but to educate your heart, your soul, and your mind. Jivamukti Yoga is our attempt to integrate the physical, psychological, and spiritual aspects of yoga practices that originated in India, into the modern lifestyle-without losing the sight of the ancient and universal goal of the practices...which is liberation.

As you learn to flow from asana to asana, you;'ll discover that your yoga practice makes a real impact on the way you live your life.

The Jivamukti Yoga method is a style of Yoga created by David Life and Sharon Gannon in 1984. It is a vigorously physical and intellectually stimulating practice leading to spiritual awareness.

We promote the educational aspect of the practice and give students access to where these ideas have come from. Each class focuses on a theme, which is supported by Sanskrit chanting, readings, references to scriptural texts, music (from the Beatles to Moby), spoken word, asana sequencing and yogic breathing practices. The average Jivamukti student is more educated about the philosophy of yoga than most yoga teachers.

"I always learn something at Jivamukti; they really educate the students."
— Christy Turlington, Time magazine

The name Jivamukti means Liberation while living. Jivamukti is taken from the Sanskrit term, Jivanmukti, which is used to describe the state of enlightenment or God realization. We named our yoga method Jivamukti because we wanted the student to be reminded of the ultimate aim of the practice.

"David and Sharon have inspired and encouraged us to think of yoga not just as a system of exercises but as a door to the infinite." - Sting (preface, Jivamukti Yoga: Practices for the Body and Mind That Liberate the Soul, published by Ballantine, 2002)

The Jivamukti method of Yoga is one of the nine internationally recognized styles of Hatha Yoga. The other eight being: Ashtanga, Iyengar, Viniyoga, Sivananda, Integral, Bikram, Kripalu, and Kundalini.

To teach the Jivamukti method, all teachers must be certified after completing one month intensive teacher-training program.

The main tenets of the Jivamukti style are:

1. Scripture

The sources for the teachings are drawn from ancient Sanskrit scriptures, most notably:
- Yoga Sutra of Patanjali
- Hatha Yoga Pradipika
- Bhagavad Gita
- Upanishads
- Study of the Sanskrit Alphabet and grammar

2. Bhakti
Recognition that God realization is the goal of all yoga practices is a tenet of Jivamukti Yoga.
- The promotion of inter-religious understanding and tolerance toward all forms of religious and spiritual beliefs
- Creating a mood conducive to a devotional state of mind through altars, religious pictures and iconography, and providing a large selection of books and spiritual tools.
- Chanting of the names of God

3. Ahimsa
Promoting and providing educational information about:
- Ethical vegetarianism
- Animal rights
- Environmental concerns
- The need to take social/political action

4. Music
- Promoting the study of Nada Yoga (the yoga of sound) as an essential part of Hatha Yoga practice.
- Listening to elevating music.
- Kirtan (call and response singing)
- Inspiring the composition of spiritually motivated music.
- Providing and distributing the newest, most cutting-edge of spiritually elevating music

5. Meditation
- Encouraging meditation as an essential part of Hatha Yoga practice
- Each class includes meditation instruction and practice