Jivamukti Yoga Explained — Philosophy, Practice and What to Expect

Jivamukti yoga is a physically vigorous, intellectually stimulating and emotionally satisfying style of yoga founded in New York in 1984 by Sharon Gannon and David Life. It combines a challenging vinyasa physical practice with five core tenets: scripture study, devotion, non-violence, music, and meditation. Unlike many modern yoga styles that focus purely on the physical, Jivamukti integrates philosophy, ethics, and spiritual inquiry into every class. That's what makes it engaging to the heart, body and mind.

More Than Just Poses

Most people initially come to yoga for the physical benefits. I did. They stay for something deeper. Jivamukti is the style that introduced me to that "something deeper," and it is why I retrained and qualified as a teacher.

I originally trained in Ashtanga and then in alignment based vinyasa and my teachings were focused on a deep understanding of the physical body. But I felt something was missing so I traveled to India attending a Sivananda ashram. The introduction it gave me into Vedanta (yogic philosophy) left me intrigued and wanting more.

On my return home I found a Jivamukti class at my local studio and started to follow the teacher. The class felt emotionally uplifting and complete. After a few months I realised I wanted to deepen my spiritual knowledge so I returned to India to take the Jivamukti teacher training. It gave me something that purely physical yoga training does not: a framework for understanding why we practise. Not just how to do a handstand, but why we step onto the mat at all. Not just how to breathe, but what we are breathing towards. And most importantly, how to develop my teaching skills to share that knowledge with my students.

Jivamukti yoga asks you to think. It asks you to question. It asks you to look at how you live, not just how you move. And that is what makes it different.

The Five Tenets of Jivamukti

Every Jivamukti class is built around five pillars. Understanding these helps you understand the style:

1. Shastra (Scripture)

Jivamukti draws on the ancient texts of yoga — the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, the Bhagavad Gita, the Upanishads, and the Hatha Yoga Pradipika. Jivamukti Open classes always include a reading or discussion of a passage from these texts, woven into the physical practice.

This is not dry academic study. It is living philosophy — ideas that help us reflect on how we live, help us acknowledge our feelings and give us the wisdom of understanding ourselves better and the courage to change parts of our lives that cause harm to ourselves or others.

2. Bhakti (Devotion)

Bhakti is the yoga of the heart. Yoga of love. In a Jivamukti class, this might manifest through chanting (following the teacher in call and response one line at a time), or simply the intention with which you approach your practice. It is about recognising that yoga is more than physical exercise — it is a path towards something greater than yourself.

You do not need to be religious. Bhakti can be devotion to anything — to truth, to kindness, to your own highest self, to the wellbeing of others.

3. Ahimsa (Non-Violence)

Ahimsa is perhaps the most distinctive aspect of Jivamukti. The practice takes the yogic principle of non-violence seriously — not just in how we treat ourselves on the mat (not forcing, not pushing through pain), but in how we live. Jivamukti has strong connections to veganism, animal rights, and environmental activism.

You are encouraged to be vegan as a Jivamukti student or teacher. However you do not need to be vegan to start practising Jivamukti. The practice will invite you to consider your relationship with other living beings and your footprint on the planet.

4. Nada (Music)

Music is integral to Jivamukti. Classes include a carefully curated playlist — definitely not generic spa music — it's a methodology with its roots in New York so playlists are intended to get you out of your normal pattern of thinking. Expect a mix of kirtan using the chant of the month, world music, contemporary songs, and classical pieces. The music creates an emotional landscape for the practice. If you like a quiet, slow class, this is not for you.

5. Dhyana (Meditation)

Every Jivamukti class includes at least 2 minutes of meditation. Sometimes it is a seated practice at the beginning or end of class. Sometimes the movement itself becomes the meditation — when you are so absorbed in the flow that the thinking mind quiets and something else takes over.

What a Jivamukti Class Feels Like

Physically demanding. Jivamukti is not a gentle style. The vinyasa sequences are challenging, the pace is moderate to fast, and you will build real strength and flexibility. Expect standing poses, arm balances, inversions, and backbends.

Intellectually stimulating. The teacher will share a theme, a reading, or a teaching that gives the physical practice a philosophical context. This will be related to a theme of the month shared globally amongst Jivamukti teachers.

Emotionally rich. The combination of physical intensity, music, philosophy, and breathwork can open things up emotionally. It is not uncommon to feel moved, inspired, or challenged in ways you did not expect.

Community-focused. Jivamukti classes often feel like gatherings rather than fitness sessions. There is a sense of shared purpose, mutual support, and collective energy that is quite special. This is called a Satsang: a community of like minded individuals who believe liberation or some sort of transformation is possible within our lifetime.

How Jivamukti Shaped My Teaching

I teach an open 75 minute Jivamukti class every Friday at 10:00 for CamYoga at a studio in Cambridge. I also take a Jivamukti class with a qualified Jivamukti teacher 3-4 times a week as well as attending continued education at the Jivamukti Yoga school in Cambridge.

I also teach alignment based vinyasa following Jason Crandell methodology in which I also hold a senior accreditation. The Jivamukti training has profoundly shaped how I approach teaching my vinyasa classes. It gave me:

• A deep understanding of yoga philosophy that enriches every class I teach
• The conviction that yoga is more than exercise — it is a practice for living well
• An emphasis on the ethical dimensions of yoga, particularly kindness and non-harm
• The skill to weave themes, readings, and intentions into a physical practice — which makes it feel so much more complete

The combination of Jivamukti's philosophical depth and Jason Crandell's precision have become the foundation of my teaching style. Philosophy and practicality. Heart and head. That is what I bring to my classes in Duxford. See all my classes

Is Jivamukti Right for You?

Jivamukti might be for you if:

• You want more than a physical workout from yoga
• You are curious about yoga philosophy but do not know where to start
• You enjoy music as part of your movement practice
• You are interested in the ethical and environmental dimensions of yoga
• You want a physically challenging practice with intellectual depth

Jivamukti might not be for you if:

• You want a purely physical, no-philosophy approach
• You prefer silence during practice
• You are a complete beginner with no yoga experience (start with Yoga Fundamentals first)
• You have significant injuries that require a gentler approach

Finding Jivamukti in the UK

Pure Jivamukti classes are less common in the UK than in Europe and the USA, but they exist in London and since 2025 we have our own dedicated school in Cambridge with classes at the weekends. A few teachers, like me, have trained in the Jivamukti tradition and bring its principles into their own teaching, even if the class is not labelled "Jivamukti."

If you are in Cambridge and want to experience teaching that is rooted in Jivamukti philosophy, my classes offer that depth. If you want to explore further, I am always happy to recommend books, teachers, and resources. Get in touch.

A Tradition Worth Knowing

Whether or not Jivamukti becomes your regular practice, understanding it enriches your relationship with yoga as a whole. It reminds us that yoga is not a modern invention. It is a 5,000-year-old tradition of self-inquiry, ethics, and liberation.

"Lokah samastah sukhino bhavantu" — May all beings everywhere be happy and free, and may the thoughts, words, and actions of my own life contribute in some way to that happiness and freedom for all.

This is the Jivamukti invocation. It captures, in one sentence, everything the practice is about.

May you practise with purpose.