Jivamukti yoga is one of the more modern styles of yoga. While many types of yoga date back hundreds, if not thousands of years, this style was developed in the mid 1980s. It was founded as an offshoot of the more traditional ashtanga yoga practice.
The jivamukti style of yoga is a rigorous form of yoga that appeals to people who want a strenuous workout along with the more traditional yoga features, such as chanting and meditation. The term jivamukti is derived from the Sanskrit language and translates into the phrase, “liberation while living.” This style of yoga has at its core an emphasis on awareness and enlightenment.
Jivamukti yoga is a unique combination of traditional chanting and meditation as well as the more modern practice of vigorous yoga poses. At the end of a jivamukti class, you should feel both physically and mentally refreshed. This is considered one of the hatha styles of yoga.
Jivamukti yoga is similar to many other styles of yoga in that it increases flexibility. Many people also believe that yoga massages the internal organs of the body and increases the lubrication of the joints. Many practitioners of yoga also believe that different yoga styles flush toxins out of the body.
While some of the benefits that many people believe yoga imparts are hard to back up by science, there are many well known benefits. A jivamukti practice helps to increase range of motion, relieve stress and can also lower blood pressure. If you have previously been inactive, then jivamukti can also strengthen the muscles and help you lose fat. If you already have an active lifestyle, jivamukti can reduce the likelihood of injury by increasing flexibility in muscles and joints.
A well balanced exercise program includes three components, cardiovascular exercise, weight bearing exercise and flexibility training. For the beginning exerciser, jivamukti yoga can provide all three. As you progress however, it will be necessary to add more rigorous cardiovascular and weight training components to your exercise regimen if you want to continue to improve. It is difficult, however, to improve on jivamukti yoga as a component of exercise that increases flexibility.
