Yoga and the Beast

I have practised Yoga for years but it wasn’t until I recently became interested in the meanings of the ancient Sanskrit mantras, that are often chanted during practise, that I really began to discover the true essence of Yoga. From what I’ve read and been told, it seems it all began around 4000 years ago, probably even earlier, in India. One main component was a collection of what today we might call ‘quotes’, or one-liner’s, that condense ideas of well-being for a harmonious life. They are the Yoga Sutras, written by Patanjali. Like Shakespeare, his ideas are still so refreshing today. We hold onto this idea in the Western world that Yoga is all about being toned and fit and losing weight, when really, it began as a philosophy, similar to Buddism! So in context, the physical side of Yoga is one of many components! Fancy that.
On recommendation from an inspired Yoga teacher, I began reading the Yoga Sutras and also Jivamukti Yoga, a book written by a couple in the 80′s that believed Yoga in the Western world had been taken too far out of context from its original beginnings, and created a School (and a School of thought!) that encompassed the beautiful spiritual elements as much as the physical. Sting is a friend of Sharon and David, the creators, and wrote the Foreward for their book.

“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

There are many Jivamukti teachers and Schools in the world now. In Australia, there is one School in Sydney and I know of a few teachers in Melbourne, but no school as yet. The first ever Jivamukti Centre to open was in New York in Union Square, which is still alive and kicking and was where I first experienced Jivamukti. I can’t speak warmly enough about it!

To anyone who is thinking of trying Yoga for the first time, or who is curious to find out more about the origins and the beautiful philosophies of its spiritual side, I recommend trying Jivamukti and having a look at the Yoga Sutras. I recommend this paper-back version, as it has break-downs of each Sutra as well. And I must mention this perfect Yoga Sutras App that I LOVE on my iPhone – you just shake it and it gives you a random Sutra and has really good further explanations.

Melbourne: Kundalini House on St Georges Rd is really special and Erika knows a lot about Jivamukti.

Sydney: Jivamukti Yoga Sydney is in Newtown, check out the Earth Cafe!

New York: Jivamukti Yoga Centre in Union Square, Lower Manhatten.

Please Tweet me if you know of any other great Yoga studios of any kind of Yoga and we could make this into a real guide!

Lise x

Photo courtesy of Time Magazine. Christy Turlington is a long-time practising Yogi and apparently visits Jivamukti NY on a regular basis.

Sharon and David, founders of Jivamukti Yoga. Photo Courtesy of Jivamukti Yoga.

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