Shanti Yoga Shala
Shanti means peace. Yoga means union or unity. Shala means center.
The Shanti Yoga Shala is a community for spiritual gathering offering vigorous yoga classes based on the linage and teachings of Sri K. Patthabi Jois and Sri T. Krishnamacharya. Our yoga classes have an emphasis on teachings from ancient texts such as the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali.
Shanti Yoga Shala offers Vinyasa Yoga classes in two styles, Ashtanga Yoga and Jivamukti Vinyasa Yoga. Vinyasa simply means the linking of movement, breath and intention.
Ashtanga Yoga
Ashtanga Yoga is a Vinyasa practice, a breathing / moving system that follows a theraputic and progessive sequence of asanas (postures). Students learn a systematic technique that steadies, balances, purifies and strengthens the body, mind and nervous system.
Ashtanga Yoga is a traditional system of Yoga taught by Sri K. Pattabhi Jois of Mysore, India. Our Ashtanaga teachers have studied directly under Pattabhi Jois and or his senior and certified teachers. The Ashtanga Yoga system can be taught to all students. We offer classes to suit all levels and backgrounds of students including beginners.
The term “Mysore” refers to the way Ashtanga was taught by Patthabi Jois, until his passing in 2009, and his senior teachers in the city of Mysore, India. In the Mysore classes each student works to memorize the sequence with assistance of a teacher and develop a daily personal practice. Mysore is a unique program where each student is taught individually, in other words the student is given a one-on-one lesson within the group setting. The student is taught progressively according to his or her individual needs.
Sri K. Pattabhi Jois studied yoga under his guru Sri Krishnamacharya and also attended the Sanskrit College of Mysore, where he became a professor of Sanskrit and Advaita Vedanta. He and Sri Krishnamacharya developed the Ashtanga Yoga series based on the purifying practices described in the ancient texts. In 1948, he founded the Ashtanga Yoga Research Institute in Mysore. In 1958, he wrote his classic book Yoga Mala, which explores Ashtanga and Yoga philosophy. Sri K Pattabhi Jois passed away on Monday, 18th May 2009 at 2:30pm (Indian Standard Time).
Visit www.kpjayi.org for more information about Pattabhi Jois’ Ashtanaga Yoga System.
Jivamukti Vinyasa Yoga
The Jivamukti Yoga Method found in 1984 by Sharon Ganon and David Life focuses on teaching and practicing yoga as a means to enlightenment. Jivamukti promotes the educational aspect of the practice and give students access to where these ideas have come from. Each class focuses on a theme, which is supported by chanting, readings, references to scriptural texts, music (from the Beatles to Moby), spoken word, Ashtanga based Vinyasa asana sequencing and yogic breathing practices.
The name Jivamukti means Liberation while living. Jivamukti is taken from the Sanskrit term, Jivanmukti, which is used to describe the state of enlightenment. Shanon Ganon and David Life chose the name because they wanted the student to be reminded of the ultimate aim of the practice.
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.
Watch this video to learn more about Jivamukti Yoga
The main tenets of the Jivamukti style are:
1. Scripture
The sourced from teachings are drawn from ancient Sansktrit scriptures, most notably: Yoga Sutras of Patanjuli, Bhagavad Gita and Upanishands
2. Bhakti
The promotion of inter-religious understanding and tolerance toward all forms of religious and spiritual beliefs.
3. Ahimsa
The first step in Patanjali’s System of Ashtanga Yoga is ahimsa, which means non-harming.
” Compassion is an essential ingredient of ahimsa. Through compassion you begin to see yourself in other beings. This helps you refrain from causing harm to them. There is so much suffering in the world because there is so much violence. There is suffering in your life because you have caused suffering in the lives of others- not necessarily in this lifetime, perhaps in previous lifetimes. We cannot change what we have done in the past and there is no point in feeling guilty about it. What we can do is start living compassionate lives right now.
Patanjali says that future suffering should be avoided, and he gives ahimsa as the method. Do not cause suffering to any being and the resulting benefit is that eventually you will be free from suffering. This benefit evolves, of course, after many years and possibly lifetimes of practicing ahimsa.”
- Excerpt from Jivamukti Yoga, by Sharon Gannon and David Life.
4. Music
Promoting the study of Nada Yoga (the yoga of sound) as an essential part of Hatha Yoga practice.
5. Mediation
Encouraging mediation as an essential part of Hatha Yoga Practice. Each class includes meditation instruction and practice.
We offer a variety of Jivamukti Vinyasa Yoga classes for students of all levels and experience including beginners.
Visit www.jivamuktiyoga.com for more information about the Jivamukti Center.