David Life and his wife Sharon Gannon opened their first yoga studio in North America in 1986. Calling their integrative style of yoga Jivamukti, Life and Gannon founded a discipline of flowing yoga poses combined with chanting and sacred teachings from Vedic literature. Jivamukti yoga poses were developed out of the Hatha and Ashtanga yoga traditions, and challenge students to connect with what Gannon calls their "absolute bliss."
Sun Salutations
At the beginning of a Jivamukti yoga class, students are invited to join a salute to the sun. Surya Namaskar, as it's called in Sanskrit, is a series of 12 flowing poses that begin and end with the student standing with feet grounded into the floor, body long and strong and hands pressed in front of her hearts to honor the journey she is about to undertake. It is a practice comprised of lunges and backbends, all coordinated with the inhalation and exhalation of the breath.
Warrior l Pose
The Warrior series of poses were named after Shiva, a Hindu deity. Warrior l is a Jivamukti yoga pose designed to inculcate feelings of power, both physical and mental. From a standing position, you jump your legs 3 feet apart, turning the front foot out 90 degrees and the back foot in by 45 degrees. Bending the knee of your forward facing foot, you draw your torso up out of your waist and lift your arms above your head.
Triangle Pose
Uttitha Trikonasana, or triangle, is another posture reflective of the power of Jivamukti yoga poses. Standing with legs spread and feet turned as in Warrior l, you bend at the waist, letting your right hand skim down and then letting it rest on your right leg. Stopping before the point where you may feel pain, you then make small adjustments such as ensuring that your left torso is long and that your right hip is tucked in. Only when you feel balanced do you raise your left arm straight into the air.
Shoulderstand
Salamba Sarvangasana is known as the "mother" of all yoga poses, in that its alleged healing prospects are second only to the handstand. The shoulderstand lets you look at the world from a different perspective. From a supine position on the floor, in one upward thrust, lift your legs into the air and support your back with your hands. Advanced students keep their legs and torso at a 90-degree angle to the floor, while beginners have the option to perform the half shoulderstand with legs resting at a 45-degree angle. Your breathing remains calm and steady while you settle into this rejuvenating and restorative pose.
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