Namaste Yoga

May 30, 2009 by  
Filed under Yoga

Namaste yoga is a style of yoga developed from the Hatha Vinyasa yoga practice. The meaning of the word namaste comes from the Indian greeting and it can be translated as follows: nama means bow, as it means I, and te means you; therefore namaste literally means I bow to you. The formula is equally used when meeting people or departing. In the case of Namaste yoga, breathing is very important; the breath is the guide and the body follows on the lines imposed by the breath. In order to perform Namaste, one places one's hands together in front of one's eyes, bowing the head, and afterwards the hands are brought down to the heart. The gesture expresses a profound form of respect. There is a slight difference in how the westerners perceive Namaste and how it perceived in India: westerners would speak the word Namaste while making the gesture we've explained, while for Indians the gesture suffices, and they don't utter the word when bowing.

Namaste yoga is often included in the practice of other yoga styles. The gesture namaste, the salute per se, is meant to enhance the divine love flow; bowing one's head and closing the eyes helps the mind surrender to the divine in the heart. Ideally, Namaste yoga is a popular practice that opens and ends a yoga session, but it is usually done before completing the work routine, because it is considered that the peace of mind and body is superior then, not to mention the higher level of positive energy in the room.

The core of Namaste yoga includes the principles of Gautama Buddha, biggest Indian guru and the founder of Buddhism. Therefore, as in the case of all styles of yoga, one most important fact should not be forgotten: it is a way of life, rather than some kind of sport to keep one in shape and flexible. Nevertheless, this doesn't mean that one cannot benefit from Namaste yoga from the physical fitness perspective alone, it only means that if one gets interested in Namaste yoga, one will get to learn more than just how to get in a great physical shape. The yoga instructor initiates Namaste as a token of respect and acknowledgment for the students, and in return launches the invitation to connect with their lineage starting the energy flow from their hearts. It is rather difficult to properly perform various yoga positions, it takes time until one is able to do them with minimal effort.

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Jivamukti

May 27, 2009 by  
Filed under Yoga

Created by David Life and Sharon Gannon, Jivamukti yoga is a yoga style that combines physical, spiritual and philosophical aspects of traditional yoga. Jivamukti is recognized at the international level as one of the main yoga practices together with Bikram, Kundalini, Viniyoga, Iyengar, Ashtanga, Integral and Kripalu. In the western world the stress has been on yoga as mostly a physical practice. More and more people are taking yoga classes in order to make their bodies firmer and fitter. Nevertheless some of the yoga practitioners find out during their exercises that what has started out as purely physical practice may transform into a more spiritual experience. David Life and Sharon Gannon took up teaching because they felt the need to share the fact that yoga is more than just some physical exercises, but a path to enlightenment and a spiritual practice. Jivamukti yoga thus becomes a relevant translation of the Indian system of yoga for the approach of the westerner mind so that it can be easier to grasp. Among the elements emphasized by Jivamukti yoga we can count meditation, devotional chanting or the study of the ancient texts.

The meaning of the word Jivamukti (pronounced Jee-va-mook-tee) can be translated as follows: Jiva means individual soul and mukti means liberation. The word is derived from the Sanskrit jivanmuktih, meaning liberation while living. The name Jivamukti yoga indicates the fact that it is possible to have a beneficial and fulfilling life in the world but also progress spiritually, perhaps even touching the liberation state.

Think about the five tenets of Jivamukti yoga before starting to practice it. The first one is the study of the ancient yoga teaching including Sanskirt chanting. The second one is the acknowledgment that universal consciousness is the goal of all yoga practices, known under the name of Bhakti. The third tenet is Ahimsa, that urges for a non-violent, compassionate life-style, which stresses the importance of ethical vegetarianism. Nada comes forth, as the development of a sound body and mind through deep listening. The last tenet of Jivamukti yoga, although not the least, is meditation, that paves the way to the ever-lasting reality inside of us. Another fact to be considered before taking on Jivamukti yoga is the fact that the classes tend to be quite physically intense. Although it may seem difficult, the great fame of Jivamukti yoga in the United States cannot pass unnoticed; there is a Jivamukti yoga School in New York, and there are trained teachers teaching it all over the country.

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