Namaste yoga represents a style of yoga based on 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. It is a form used when greeting someone or when departing. As for Namaste yoga, the practice focuses on the importance of breathing; the breath is the guide and the body follows on the lines imposed by the breath. When greeting with namaste, the hands are placed together in front of the eyes while, bowing the head, and afterwards the hands drop down to the heart. The gesture implies a profound form of respect. Westerners perceive namaste in a different way than it is performed in India: westerners would say the word Namaste while making the gesture described above, while for Indians the gesture itself carries in it the word, making it unnecessary to pronounce the word while bowing.

Namaste yoga is often included in the practice of other yoga styles. The gesture namaste, the salute per se, is believed to enhance the divine love flow; when one closes the eyes and bows, he/she surrenders the mind 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 mind and the body are more at peace then, not to mention the higher level of positive energy in the room.

The core of Namaste yoga is combined with the principles of Gautama Buddha, biggest Indian guru and the founder of Buddhism. Hence, a general consideration for all yoga styles is that the practice is more than a way to stay flexible or in good physical shape, as it is rather a way of life. Nevertheless, this doesn’t mean that one cannot benefit from Namaste yoga from the point of view of the physical fitness alone, it only means that if one gets interested in Namaste yoga, one will develop other preoccupations beside the immediate external reality. The yoga instructor offers Namaste as a token of respect and acknowledgment for the students, and in return invites them to connect with their lineage starting the energy flow from their hearts. It is rather difficult to properly perform various yoga positions, it requires practice until one is able to perform them with minimal effort.

Jivamukti yoga is a method of yoga which was created by David Life and Sharon Gannon in 1984, and which reintegrates the physical, philosophical and spiritual aspects of yoga. 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. In the west the rather physical part of yoga is mainly emphasized. More and more people start taking yoga classes in order to make their bodies firmer and fitter.

Yet, lots of practitioners come to realize that what may seem a very strenuous physical workout is in fact a way to the inner self that opens one towards spirituality. David Life and Sharon Gannon became teachers because they were eager to share the fact that yoga represents more than just some physical exercises, but also a spiritual practice, a path to enlightenment. Jivamukti yoga thus becomes a living translation of the Indian system of yoga for the western minds 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, which translates liberation in this life. The name Jivamukti yoga reflects the fact that it is possible to enjoy positive achievements and fulfillment while also progress spiritually, perhaps even attaining liberation while living.

There are five tenets of Jivamukti yoga which must be considered before taking into account the practice of it. The first one is the study of the ancient yoga teaching including Sanskirt chanting. Then comes the necessity to acknowledge that reaching the universal consciousness is the purpose of all yoga teachings. The third tenet is Ahimsa, that is a non-violent, compassionate life-style, and hence we’ve got 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, the connection with the unchanging reality within. Keep in mind that Jivamukti yoga classes are pretty intense, so you’d better be prepared for the challenge. Although it may seem difficult, its success 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.

For more about Tibetan yoga schools and yoga instructors Monroe NY, check out our web site.