YO GI

M A G A Z I N E

VOL 1 250 kr

THE RICH HISTORY OF YOGA

MODERN YOGA

- Why you should practise yoga

MAY 2013

Index

You make a powerful commitment to change the world for one person at a time.
Kim Anderson Yoga project Africa

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MIND AND SPIRIT

_____________The Editor`s view on how to get content in life _______________________________06

KNOWLEDGE _____________________Get more knowledge about the rich history of yoga LIFESTYLE JIWAMUKI

_________________________16

_______________________Meet Louise Smethway and read her inspiring story _________________________22

________________________What is it like to be a guru in year 2013 ________________________________________32

AFRICA

2 MAY 2013

a look at some pictures from Yoga Project Africa ______________________36 ______________________________Take

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www.yogimagazine.com
Editor and adm. Direktor Therese lberg Redaksjonssjef Astrid lillemo Reportasjer Lene Helleland Billedredaktor Nils Stakkeland Vaktsjef Marius Kristensen Mia Anderson Katrin Kristensen Desk Erlend Vassveit Asle snottveit Silje Sveland Journalister Kari Sola Smith Martinson Kine Akervik Linda Vasshus Foto Tommy Auane Sigfrid Lihus Antony Milhouse Omslagsbilde C/O smithland AS Carolin Alkismo Silje Enoksen Trykk Stal Graphic Mikael Sivertsen Karen Assosiated Maren Sivertsen Inge Aune Adresse Gamle konge vei 60 7043 TRONDHEIM NORWAY

David A modern guru

Mia Sivertson The Yogi-life

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This magazine is made afther the be careful poster. The magazine have the rights to publish all files.

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Crown

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THE HIGHER SELF

Dalay Lama also called His Holiness is a highly respected leader, just like the crown in the characer, he knows how to look at the positive aspects of life.
TEKST SIMEN V. GONSHOLT

Chakras play an important role in the main surviving branch of Indian Vajrayana, Tibetan Buddhism. They play a pivotal role in completion stage practices, where an attempt is made to bring the subtle winds of the body into the central channel, to realise the clear light of bliss. The Vajrayana system states

that the central channel (avadht) begins at the point of the third eye, curves up to the crown of the head, and then goes straight down to the lower body. There are two side channels, the rasan and lalan, wzhich start at their respective nostrils and then travel down to the lower body.
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From the Editor

I so HIGH
m
Yoga reminds me to appreciate the time I have and to choose more wisely how I use it. It helps me to slow down and be more present. When we are present we spend our time the way it was intended. When we dwell on the past, or worry about the future, we are trying to manipulate time, to control time, or steal time. The best way to understand time is to know that time has a rhythm. It is that perpetual tick-tock that time always functions on, an even swinging motion that allows time to stay balanced. So, if it is balance that we are looking for, then maybe we should learn more about time.

When we dwell on the past, or worry about the future, we are trying to manipulate time, to control time, or steal time.
When you are discontent, you always want more, more, more. Your desire can never be satisfied. But when you decide that you are truly content, you can say to yourself, Oh yes I already have everything that I really need. I feel honored to be carrying this torch that has been carried by many. Yoga has done so much good in my life. We are a family of great students and teachers. The light of this torch is dispelling darkness, with just a little yoga. Im having the time of my life studying and teaching yoga. Light your flame, and dont waste anymore time. Hope you enjoy the magazine.

MAY 2013

Phoro: Privat Therese Olberg

Phoro: Privat Therese Olberg

MAY 2013

Throat

Know l
TEXT MARTIN OLSNES ILLUSTRATIONS THERESE LBERG

I dont think youll find it surprising that your throat chakra is your communication center. Therefor it is important to remember that communication is not just about you talkin its also about listening. An imbalanced throat chakra can display itself in many ways. Some signs of imbalance are lying, arrogance, talking too much, being manipulative, fear and timidity. On the other hand, a person with a balanced throat chakra can express him or herself well and this expression isnt always verbal. Artistic expression and contentment in career are other ways that we experience throat chakra harmony.

This charakas is in the throat, and is the symbol for knowledge and communication.

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w ledge
EXERCISE
1. Sing. Singing is an amazing throat chakra cleanser, so sing a song. 2. Drink lot`s of water. 3. Hips dont lie. Next time you practice deep hip-openers on your yoga mat, pay attention to how you also feel a release in your throat. 4. Get a massage. 5.Speak the truth.

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Charakas

Learn the basics

Yoga is union. In a world that bombards us with clichs regarding a mind, body, and spirit connection, it very important. But, in real people terms, what is the connectio between the (pranayama), philosophy, and Western psychology? David Frawley, author of Yoga and Ayurveda writes: Yogic methods cover the entire field of our existence from the physical, sensory, emotional, Yogic methods cover the entire field of our existence. mental, and spiritual to the highest Self-realization. It includes all methods of higher evolution in humanity physical postures, ethical postures, breath control, sensory methods, affirmations and visualizations, prayer and mantra, and complex meditative disciplines. Yoga understands the nature and interrelationships of the physical, subtle and formless universes into the boundless infinite beyond time and space, and shows us how these also exist within each human individual. But, even more basic than that, Why Does Yoga Help?Here Yoga reduces stress by triggering the are some key reasons why yoga works: 1. Relaxation Response. Yoga reduces stress by triggering the Relaxation Response. This is achieved through conscious breathing, practicing poses, learning relaxation Yoga teaches us how to techniques, and meditation. The remain peaceful in the antidote to the Stress Response is face of discomfort and challenge. the Relaxation Response, which activates the parasympathetic nervous system. More importantly, yoga teaches us how to remain peaceful in the face of discomfort and challenge. 2. We learn from yoga the art of relaxation. Yoga makes us pay atention.We become more self-aware physically, mentally and emotionally. This begins by paying attention to our breath (and all its habits), along with the cycle of our thoughts and where we hold tension in our bodies. 3. Yoga is a healing practice. The poses, conscious breathing and visualization serve as a therapy to reduce physical pain as well as emotional anxiety. We learn practical methods of self-comfort. And through active effort, we advance our practice into one of self-love and self-acceptance. 4. Yoga breaks our bad habits. We unlearn patterns of being in our bodies that are hurting us. This teaches us discipline and health.
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Crown Mind and spirit, the higher self, exploration of individual.

Brow The third eye, intuition, insight, imagination, peace of mind and wisdom. Throat Communication, truth and knowledge. Conveyed through thoughtful speech. Heart Love and understanding, feelings of balance and harmony. Anahatha The heart chakra, is the seat of balance within the body. There is no longer any concern with attacments to worldly pleasures, honors or humiliations. Solar plexus Focus point of force and transformation. Orgin of corecentration, discipline, control use of internal energies to affect outside.

Naval acts of giving and receiving physical feelings of love, passion, sexuality. focused feeling during harmony, generosity and group creativity.

Root Connection to material world, mastering the body

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Introduction

Yoga is a physical disipline that focuses on developing control of the mind and body through postures (asanas) and breath (prana).

About Yoga

Benefits of Yoga

- Calm the mind - Relieve effects of stress - Enchance the mind-body connection.

300 MILLION
yoga practitioners world wide

Popularity of yoga in the world

300 M

MILLION
Americans that do not practice yoga but are interested in it.

18.3

MILLION

21

80 M
Americans who currently practice yoga.

1980 1990

2000

2011

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Life can be stressful, For starters, theres your busy schedule, waking up super early for school, studying late at night for tests, juggling sports practice, homework, and meals.
TEXT STINE NILSSON ILLUSTRATIONS THERESE OLBERG

Everyday issues can add emotional stress, too counseling a friend through a breakup, regretting a disagreement with a parent, weighing an important decision, or stressing over whether youll make final cuts for the varsity team. With lots on your mind, its easy to feel stressed. There are many different ways to cope with stress. Talking with friends, exercising, and seeing a school counselor are just a few. Yoga can help reduce stress because it promotes relaxation, which is the natural opposite of stress. Yoga can benefit three aspects of ourselves that are often affected by stress: our body, mind, and breathing. You dont have to wait to feel stressed out to do yoga, and you shouldnt! People who do a little bit of yoga each day often find theyre better able to handle things when life gets a little crazy. Practicing yoga builds your ability to calm, focus, balance, and

relaxe yourself, yoga is more than just stretching. Lots of people think of yoga as stretching or twisting the body into various impossible-looking pretzel shapes. But yoga is easier than it looks. There are simple poses as well as complicated ones, so theres something for every ability. Yoga requires no special equipment, so you can do it almost anywhere, at home, outdoors and so on. Yoga poses are good exercise and can help loosen up the tense muscles in your body. The areas of the body that tend to carry the most stress are the neck, shoulders, and back. But other parts of the body (like the face, fingers, or wrists) also can benefit from simple yoga stretches. Yoga is so much more than just physical exercise, though. The key to getting the best out of each pose is to focus not only on your body, but also on your mind and breathing. Getting the Most Out of Yoga When youre in a yoga pose, think about how you can unite your body, mind, and breathing. Even a simple pose like mountain pose is a stress reliever when you focus on keeping your breathing slow and even, and visualize yourself as firm and steady.

45%

Use yoga as a method to get more energy.

The usual yoga person ownes a house, and have a good economy.

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Learn

Basic facts
7 facts you always wanted to know. Yogas huge cannon of tradition, history and philosophy means this ancient practice can sometimes seem mysterious. Let`s take a look at the nuts-and-bolts of yoga.
What is Yoga?
Yoga is an ancient form of meditation; an awareness practice that synchronises body, mind and breath. The practice has numerous physical and psychological benefit, including: improved strength, muscle tone, flexibility and joint mobility; better sleep, enhanced feelings of wellbeing, and relief from stress, anxiety and depression.

What is the goal of yoga?

The ultimate goal of yoga is Citta Vritti Nirodhah: Cessation of fluctuations of the mind. This one Sutra holds the key and the goal to all yoga practice. The entire science of yoga is based on this one Sutra: If you can control the fluctuations of the mind you will experience Yoga.

What does the word yoga mean?

The word is derived from the Sanskrit word yuj, which means to unify or to yoke.

What the eight limbs?

The Patanjalis Yoga Sutras are a set of lifestyle and philosophical guidelines: The Yama-abstinence, Niyama-observance, Asana-posture, Pranayamabreath control, Pratyahara - sense withdrawal, Dharana- concentration, Dhyana - meditation, Samadhi - contemplation or absorption.

What is the difference of yoga and pilates?

A common asked question that is often answered incorrectly. In essence, yoga ia an ancient mind-body system of well being that ultimately aims to still the mind. Pilates is a series of exercises aimed at strengthening the core.

Why don`t yogis traditionally eat meat?

This is not because of the vow of Ahimsa (non violence), because meat is dead, so there is no Pranic Value (life force) within it. As yoga practice is designed to increase your Prana (life force), meat does little to enhance it.

Who was Patanjali?

Patanjali is known as the father of Yoga. He wrote a series of verses, or scriptures, known as The Yoga Sutras, that are the core of all yoga practices. For more on Patanjali, we recommend this Yoga Journal piece.

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Learn

.3

2
1 THE KHAJURAHO Group of Monuments in Khajuraho, a town in the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh, located in Chatarpur District.

3 4

2 NAMASTE is derived from Sanskrit and is a combination of two words, Namaste literally means salutations to you.

3 METEORA is an area in Thessaly (Greece) and Kalampaka is the city under the rock towers of Meteora. 4 SANSKRIT the language of Yoga and Ayurveda, Sanskrit is also a historical Indo-Aryan language, the primary liturgical language of Hinduism and a literary and scholarly language in Buddhism and Jainism 5 THE GREAT BUDDHA of Kamakura is a monumental outdoor bronze statue of Amitbha Buddha located at the Ktoku-in Temple in Kamakura Japan. It was built during the Tang Dynasty (618907AD).

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Th e HI S T O R Y Of yoga
THE TRADITIONAL purpose of Yoga, has always been to bring a profound transformation in the person through the transcendence of the ego. In Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism the word yoga means spiritual discipline. People often associate yoga with the postures and stances that make up the physical activity of the exercise, but after closer inspection it becomes clear that there are many more aspects of yoga. IT IS AN ACTIVITY that has been practiced for thousands of years, and it is something that has evolved and changed over time. Different factions of yoga have developed since its conception. The exact history and origins of yoga is uncertain; however, there are pieces that have been connected and allow us to make some conclusions. It is known that yoga originated from the East. THE EARLIEST SIGNS of yoga appeared in the ancient Shamanism. Evidence of yoga postures found on artifacts that date back to 3000 B.C. Yoga originally focused most on applying and understanding the world. Its focus later changed to the self. Self-enlightenment also became the ultimate goal. It was not until the sixth century B.C. that the poses and meditation became a critical element. They were implimented by Buddhist teachings.
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honest look at your lif e

With more yoga you can get a better life and center yourself to get more focused and concentrate on what really matters in life. Answer the questions on the next page to get a better view of where you are in life now.
We all have habits and tendencies, some that work and some that dont work for us. If youre anything like me, you probably ebb and flow between the two. With more yoga, a healthier diet, and an honest look at your life, youlzl feel a stronger and more effortless pull towards a lifestyle that works best for you. We are here to grow after all. Why not participate in the process and have a great ride?
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What does your ideal day look like? And what would each week, month and year look like if they were filled with your ideal days? Everyday you have the potential to make changes and choices that will create a life you love! Take a look at the questions below and answer them honestly. These questions will also give you an idea of how we can work together. More Health & More Yoga = More Possibilities & a More Exciting Life!

Questions to consider:
1. Do you love your work and career? 2. What could you add to your life to feel even healthier? 3. Are you creating a life you feel excited about? 4. Do you feel alive, healthy and energized on most days? 5. Do you surround yourself with supportive and inspiring people?

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Solar plexus

One becomes firmly established in practice only after attending to it for a long time, without interruption and with an attitude of devotion. - Yoga Sutra I.14

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o Philip M Photo -

rrise

THE CORE OF LIFE

The solar Plexus, which show you the way to a kinder and more compassionate relationship with ourselves and others, show you how to become calm within and truly love yourself.
TEXT MARK FILMORE

are, we will find it difficult to truly love anyone else in such a limitless way. And, perhaps even more unsettling to contemplate, if we are fortunate enough to find someone who accepts and loves us unconditionally, how can we be open to receiving that love from someone else if we havent fully accepted ourselves? Unconditional love becomes possible when you practice cultivating the four states of the mind known as the brahmaviharas. Collectively, these four qualities of friendliness or lovingkindness (metta), compassion (karuna), joy (mudita), and equanimity (upekkha) are the qualities of true, authentic, and unconditional love. Both Patanjali, the Indian sage who compiled the Yoga Sutra in the second century BCE, and the Buddha is a symbole of love it self in many.

How would you like to be unconditionally loved, just as you are, without having to be or do anything special? What would it be like to feel truly, completely, radically accepted, without feeling as though you had to hide or deny or apologize for any aspect of yourself? We crave this kind of love and acceptance, but few can honestly say we offer ourselves such unconditional regard. The trouble is, if we cannot love and accept ourselves just as we

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Lifestyle

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my meditation
My passion in life is fellowship, Buddah and bulldogs, I meditate every day to senter myself, and to figure out what I should focus mye attention on this day.
TEKST NILS ANKER FOTO SIGURD FANDAGO

AMERICAN citizen, but was born in South Africa in 1985. UNEXSPECTED is the word I would use to describe the road my life has taken, I never thought I would become a yogini. GURU is my goal, I`m a teacher now, but my dream in life is to be a respected guru and live by my self in India. LOVE is when I practise yoga in the nature or in my livingroom, with my dog watching.

past August - Ive only been practicing for two years! I had some money saved and the ModPo filming was ending, so I had some free time, and it seemed like a good time to do a teacher training. I did a month-long intensive YogaWorks 200-hour training at my local studio, Dhyana, and began offering donation classes pretty much immediately afterward. Within a couple of months, I was subbing a ton and managed to snag my own class at one of the big gyms here in the city. I know first-hand, that it is not completely the stress-free a job it might seem. Tell me a little about what sorts of yoga practices you lead. My first instinct was to teach very intense Vinyasa flow classes [a faster paced, more choreographed practice]. But as I begin to ease into my skin as a teacher, Im finding that my priorities are alignment and focus. I do like to flow, but I like to do so in a very meditative manner. I like to hold poses for a long time to really lock them in, achieve the full benefits, and challenge myself and my students. Thats something I learned from my teacher Joan Hyman, once you find the pose, and you >>
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- How did it all start for you? Yoga was something I had been wanting to try for a while, and they offered classes at my gym, so I began practicing a couple of days a week. Ive always been really athletic and competitive, so I was pretty skeptical at first. But I slowly learned to surrender, and my yoga practice took over and replaced all my other exercise routines (besides walking the dogs and riding a bike for transportation). I actually didnt become certified as a teacher until just this

Lifestyle

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It teaches me to be gentle with myself. It helps me to turn outward, to share and teach, when Id rather hide. It humbles me

stay quiet in it for more than a few breaths, thats where you find the yoga. What is your stress personality? Some people know how to let it roll off of their back, while others ruminate, tossing them in their heads all day. How do you prioritize what to stress about? What is your best stress-busting tip? I tend to get stuck in my head a lot. Its been a pretty tumultuous year - I did my Yoga Teacher Training, then left a fiveyear relationship, accidentally moved in with a crazy roommate who happened to work at my restaurant, had to move a second time within a two-month periodso you can imagine the financial/physical/emotional turmoil Ive been through in the last six months. You can see it on my face toward the end of some of the ModPo videos. Poetry does make me cry, but there were other factors at work there. Yoga is my stress-buster. Its my way of turning off the voices in my head telling me that life is too hard, that I made too many mistakes, that Im not doing the right thing. Yoga - and not just asana (the poses); Im also

talking about the other seven limbs, particularly the ones related to meditation - helps me see clearly. It helps me find gratitude when my immediate reaction is to complain or cry. It gives me a community to turn to. It makes me laugh. It gives immediate goals to work for. It teaches me to be gentle with myself. It helps me to turn outward, to share and teach, when Id rather hide. It humbles me. How do you combine the artsy side with the business side? Many artists I know, myself included, have a really hard time with this. What advice do you have for people trying to meld their right and left brains? I still have a really hard time with all of that. Im really dependent on my iPhone calendar to remind me when things are due or when I have meetings or classes. I definitely think the best strategy is asking for help - Im always turning to my mentors for business advice, and reaching out to friends for help with accounting/web stuff/photography/pitching/making contacts/etc. For me, it takes a village to do anything! Of course, the

golden rule is to always, make a list. self-employed, which lessens stress in one sense. You are your own boss so you dont have to worry about bureaucracy, displeasing ignorant higher-up bosses who have never set foot in your class. Yet it heightens it in another, everything is your responsibility. First of all, there is always bureaucracy. When I freelance, editors want certain things. If I want to continue writing and get paid, I need to keep them happy. When I go into a new gym/studio and audition, I have to make the owner/director happy if I want to get hired. I have to keep my numbers up if I want to keep my classes. I think being self-employed is really a lot more difficult, but I find that its worth it to be able to make my own schedule, spend time at home, etc. And Im doing what I love, which is worth a lot.

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My yogi life

I love to travel, me and my wife have been all over the world with thees suitcases.

This scary creature i found in Bali when I first met with my guru, he has been with me for 2 years now.

This is the mask I use when I`m in a play every winter. It makes me feel like a different person.

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Asle Adamson

I found this scallethead in India when we first meet our guru, it`s about 100 years old!

Asle Adamson
Believes life is about finding yourself and make peace with who you really are. Get to know this Yogi and learn about the normal life of a yogini.
WORK

These flowers I get for my wife every summer, they are from the speacial place, Gili Trawagan.

Yoga guru and teacher in New York.

YOGA STYLE

Joravi yoga
GURU This is my wife, our life together is not all about yoga, but she sure is a devoted yogini.

Wayn Illunion (India)

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Yoga art

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Modern body art

Bodyart is not just the latest fashion. In fact, the impulse to create art is one of the defining signs of humanity.
Alongside paintings on cave walls created by early humans over 30,000 years ago, we also find handprints and ochre deposits suggesting body painting. Some of the earliest mummies known like the Ice Man from the Italian-Austrian Alps, known as Otzi, and others from central Asia, Egypt and Europe all date back to 5000 years. People were buried with ornaments that would have been worn through body piercings, and remains of others show intentionally elongated or flattened skulls. Head shaping was practiced 5000 years ago in Chile and until the 18th century in France. Stone and ceramic figurines found in the ancient graves depict people with every kind of body art. known today. People have always marked their bodies with

signs of individuality. Body art takes on specific meanings in different cultures. It can serve as a link with the ancestors, deities, or spirits. Besides being decorative, tattoos, paint, and scars it can mediate the relationships between people and the supernatural world. The decorated body can serve as a shield to repel evil or as a means of attracting good fortune. Tattoos in central Borneo had the same designs as objects of everyday use and shielded people from dangerous spirits. Selknam men in Tierra del Fuego painted their bodies to transform themselves into spirits for initiation ceremonies. Australian painted similar designs on cave walls and their bodies to indicate the location of sacred places revealed in dreams. Transitions in status, identity, for example the transition between childhood and adulthood, are often seen as times of danger. Body art protects a vulnerable person, whether an initiate, a bride, or a deceased person.

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The Heart

PRES E
This characas is called the Heart, it is the symbol for love and understanding, feelings of balance and harmony. It`s important to relax and breath in a while, in a busy city the perspective and meaning of life can easely fade away.

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ENT
The Dalai Lama, when asked what surprised him most about humanity, answered;

Man. Because he sacrifices his health in order to make mony. Then he sacrifices money to recuperate his health. And then he is so anxious about the future that he does not enjoy the present; the result being that he does not live in the present or the future; he lives as if he is never going to die, and then dies having never really lived.

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Jiwamuki

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THE JIVAMUKTI GURU

David Life and Sharon Gannon are the founders of Jivamukti Yoga, which they have been teaching out of their New York City yoga center since 1989. There are now Jivamukti centers and teachers worldwide.
TEKST NILS ANKER PHOTO SIGURD FANDAGO

>> JIVAMUKI. This style, which blends vigorous vinyasa practice with spiritual teachings, chanting, and an emphasis on how to bring yogas philosophy into daily life, is at the forefront of yogas current popularity. Life and Gannons methods are now even more accessible, thanks to their video Transform Yourself with Jivamukti Yoga. I was fortunate enough to be able to ask them a few questions about how Jivamukti began.

DAVID LIFE
BIRTH WORK GROWING UP STUDY MARRIED HAS AWARDS 1960 Notingham Guru in New York Shy and quiet child Psycholagy to Sharon Gannon Three kids For new yogastyle

How did you meet? David Life : Sharons band, Audio Letter, toured New York City from Seattle in 1983. I [owned] Life Caf in the East Village, and it was a venue for new music, poetry, and art. We met when Audio Letter played at the caf. Sharon Gannon : I was the vocalist/violinist in the band. David was very nice to us and seemed to like our music. Later on, he actually joined the band and played musical instruments he made himself. YG: How did you first encounter yoga? David: In college, 1968, I took a couple of free yoga classes that did not impress me at all. I was studying the great yogi Mahatma Gandhi and his teachings of non-violence. I was involved in protest actions against the Vietnam War and was inspired by the Hindustani concepts of non-violent grassroots social change. Tara

Sharon: In 1969, I went to hear a lecture about yoga by Bob Freedie, who did psychedelic light shows in Seattle; he was a devotee of Krishnamurti. That`s where I got my first introduction to the Theosophical Society. Sometime shortly after that, I got a book by Richard Hittleman and did my best to follow the instructions and mimic the poses pictured in the book. During the seventies, I was a student at the University of Washington, I studied Indian music, dance, philosophy, and culture. YG: When did you realize that you were creating your own style of yoga? David: Any yoga teacher can only teach the methods and practices that worked for them. We had many great teachers who inspired us with methods and teachings that served them well. We practiced yoga, and our friends asked us to share the methods that resonated with us. It was only after the fact that it came to be called Jivamukti yoga. Sharon: It was a conscious decision to call the style Jivamukti, because we wanted a name which, when people said it, they would connect to the aim of the practice, which is enlightenment. Jivamukti is actually an American rendition of the Sanskrit word. Jivanmukti, which means liberated while
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Rose, one of the waitresses at the Life Caf in New York, was a yoga teacher, we started studying asana with her. In 1986, we began yearly trips to India to study with many teachers like Swami Nirmalananda, Pattabhi Jois, Shyam Das and others. Sharon: In 1969, I went to hear a lecture about yoga by Bob Freedie, who did psychedelic light shows many teachers like Swami Nirmalananda, Pattabhi Jois, Shyam Das and others. Many teachers like Swami Nirmalananda, Pattabhi Jois, Shyam Das and other great teachers.

Jiwamuki

It was definitely an organic process. I mean, we didnt wake up one morning and decide we are going to be yoga teachers.

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our friends asked us to share the methods that resonated with us. It was only after the fact that it came to be called Jivamukti yoga. It was a conscious decision to call the style Jivamukti, because we wanted a name which, when people said it, they would connect to the aim of the practice, which is enlightenment. Jivamukti is actually an American rendition of the Sanskrit word. Jivanmukti, which means liberated while living. A Jivanmukta is one who is liberated and lives to benefit the lives of others. How did it evolve? It was definitely an organic process. I mean, we didnt wake up one morning and decide we are going to be yoga teachers, we are going to create this method called Jivamukti yoga, and we are going to rent a space and etc., etc. We were artists who were also political activists, and we were trying to shift the values of our culture through our art. We recognized pretty much immediately that the ethical percepts of yoga were in line with our activist views and aspirations, especially ahimsa and aparigraha. Speaking for myself, I was always trying to find ways to speak out for the animals and the environment in my art and, when I discovered yoga, I saw it could certainly provide some space for this type of activism. We began to incorporate a lot of yoga into the performances, and the people who came to see those performances began to ask us to teach them. It seemed to make more sense to teach people how to practice what we were practicing than to let them

sit in a theater or some place and watch us perform some artistic rendition of it. But I think with the meeting of our holy teachers, first in the form of Swami Sankarananda and then later Swami Nirmalananda, Shri K. Pattabhi Jois and Shri Brahamananda Saraswati, we received blessings and encouragement which provided us with a tremendous dose of shakit.

It was a great time to experience the wonderful teachers from India that brought the teachings to the west.
David: There was no yoga scene in 1983 in the city New York. Yoga was neither popular nor practiced much. However there was a small Iyengar community, Sivananda and Integral yoga centers. Norman Allen had begun to teach Ashtanga Vinyasa in the 70s in New York, and many of his students continued to teach. Of course, Dharma Mitra was a teacher to us and many others in the early days. It was a great time to experience the wonderful teachers from India that brought the teachings to the west, like J. Krishnamurti, Yogi Bhajan, Swami Satchidananda, BKS Iyengar, Vishnu devananda, Swami Dhayananda Saraswati, Brahmananda Saraswati, and others, who were all in New York at some point. Sharon: I am not a very historian so I feel very inadequate to speak on this subject, but

I know that Swami Prabhupada came to New York from India perhaps in the 1960s or 70s. He first came to Tompkins Square Park, which is across the street from where we live in the East Village. There is a large tree right in the middle of the park, which is always adorned with flower garlands, put there by Krishna Dev Otees in remembrance of the fact that Swami Prabhupada chanted the Hari Krishna mantra around that tree on his first visit to America. Our teacher, Shri Brahmananda Saraswati, started the Yoga Society of New York in the 1960s. But when I moved to New York City in 1983, I was not aware of it. The main yoga schools which I was aware of at that time were the Sivananda Center, the Integral Center, Dharma Mittras, and Swami Bua taught out of his apartment. I think there must have been an Iyengar Center, but I never visited there. I dont know if people practiced at home or in yoga centers at that time. YG: Was anyone teaching vinyasa-style yoga back then? Sharon: Norman Allan, who was a student of Pattabhi Joiss, taught Ashtanga yoga, I think in the 1970s in New York City. I know that he taught Swami Sankarananda because we learned about Norman Allan through S.Sankarananda. Our first teacher in New York City, Tara Rose, besides being a Sivananda trained teacher, was a student of a man who had studied Norman Allan. She incorporated Vinyasa aspects into her classes back then.

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The Root

AFRICA YOGA PROJECT

They educates, empowers, elevates and employs youth from Africa using the transformational practice of yoga.

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- The Root chakra, being the last chakra, is the most physical one. This means that any activity that makes one more aware of the body, will strengthen this chakra.

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Africa Yoga Project

PHOTO - Kim Anderson having a great time at one of the yogasessions in Kenya

Empowering through the power of yoga

Yoga is a practice I use to clean out the unnecessary and walk with mindfulness in our world. As an artist, yoga is a poetic human expression celebrating our sincere desire to be better human beings. I found Africa Yoga Project a few months ago and knew, without question, I wanted to be of service to this remarkable organization. The following images are of my first EMPOWERS over 250,00 Kenyans a year. 52 TEACHERS who is seeing no boundaries. PRACTICE in prisons, shools, special need centers, and deaf schools. few days as a resident artist for Africa Yoga Project, whose work is dedicated to healing and empowering individuals. If these pictures inspire you, pass them on. I want the world to know about Africa Yoga Project. You can help the project envolve by going to www. africayogaproject.com and donate some money.

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photo crediting http://jivamuktiyoga.com http://jivamuktiyoga.com/about/gurus http://www.africayogaproject.org/pages/about-us http://www.beluminousyoga.com/africa-yoga-project http://www.dailycupofyoga.com http://yogapins.org/the-history-of-yoga http://www.yogamagazine.com/ http://theresurrectionofhumptydumpty.com http://christineykim.blogspot.no http://pinterest.com/lalorenza/yoga/ http://www.breathandbodyyoga.com

Text crediting http://no.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chakra http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Khajuraho_ Group_of_Monument http://www.africayogaproject.org/pages/ about-us http://www.yogajournal.com/basics/basics_column http://www.dailycupofyoga.com http://yogapins.org/the-history-of-yoga http://www.africayogaproject.org/pages/ about-us http://www.mindbodygreen.com

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YOGI MAGAZINE
40 MAY 2013