| Yoga
Facts |
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Yoga
is the natural state, the origin of truth, beauty, eternal happiness,
and bliss. In the practices of Yoga our resistance to this natural
state of bliss and our attachment to the world of forms and senses
is made apparent. When we feel limitation in the body or the mind
while practicing yoga we are afforded the opportunity to concentrate
on our true nature, which is love itself, beyond limitation. |
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The goal of all
Yoga is to achieve samadhi. Samadhi is a trance state in which the
separation between the yogin, the practice of Yoga, and the focus
of concentration merge into one, a state of bliss. |
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The
word Jivamukti is derived from the Sanskrit term Jivanmukti which
means the state of liberation. A Jivanmukta is a liberated being.
Jivan: individual soul; Mukti: liberation. Jivamukti is a yoga center.
In the words of Sharon Gannon, "The Jivamukti method could be described
as that way of teaching and practicing Yoga where the student is constantly
reminded that their true Self is none other than happiness, Love itself."
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Jivamukti is a
spiritual resource center and gathering place offering vigorous Yoga
classes for all levels with discussion of such ancient texts as the
Yoga Sutras of Patanjali and the Bhagavad Gita. It also offers regular
meditation instruction and Sanskrit taught and chanted in the traditional
way. |
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Just
as you cannot "do" Yoga you cannot "do" meditation, but you can practice
controlling the mind and the thoughts. The steps in meditation practice
are: Selecting a seat, holding still, and concentrating the mind.
When concentration is mastered a meditative state (uninterrupted concentration)
may occur. When meditation is sustained then samadhi or enlightenment
may occur. |
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We chant the sound
OM at the beginning and end of each class at Jivamukti because the
aim of Hatha Yoga practice according to the ancient scriptures is
to hear the sound of OM internally. |
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"All
types of energy have one common factor: they vibrate. This vibration
is called nada or nadam, cosmic music. Plato called it the "music
of the spheres", the music of Nature. It is known as OM. It is the
voice of silence. OM is the eternal name of the Absolute consciousness,
I-AM. OM is the home of the entire existence. OM is the seed and essence
of all existence. OM (F) (A-U-M) is a mixture of: "A" - manifestation,
"U" - growth, "M" - perfection, completion." -Shri Brahmananda Sarasvati
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When the Jivamukti
Yoga Center first opened there were 2 classes a week. Now there are
over 100 classes per week. |
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Jivamukti's In-Class
Private is unique to this center. The student is given hands on instruction
through each and every movement during a Jivamukti class. It is more
therapeutic than a full body massage, releasing the stored and blocked
energy of both body and mind. The fear of incorrect posture and injury
is lifted as the skilled hands of a competent teacher place the student
correctly into every pose. |
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Over
2,000 people attend class at the Jivamukti Yoga Center on a weekly
basis. |
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Yoga is not a
new phenomenon in America, it is prehistoric in origin and has been
practiced here in the US for over a century. |
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Yoga
is not a religion. Yoga goes beyond religion and is complimentary
to all religions. |
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Asana: literally
translated from Sanskrit it means 'seat.' It is a posture, a position,
a connection through which a relationship to the earth is established.
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Many Indo-European
languages are derived from Sanskrit. |
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Hatha Yoga. Ha:
Sun; Tha: moon; Yug: joining; Hath: tied to a post. The Yoga that
is attained by force or effort. Physical practice toward a spiritual
goal. All physical Yoga practices are a form of Hatha Yoga. Jivamukti
Yoga is a form of Hatha Yoga. |
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Guru
means teacher, the dispeller of darkness who can help you see who
you really are....Divine. G-U-R-U (Gee! You Are You!). |
