“You cannot do yoga. Yoga is your natural state. What you can do are yoga exercises, which may reveal to you where you are resisting your natural state.”

- Sharon Gannon

I primarily teach Jivamukti Yoga, and within this yoga method there are a few different types of classes, most of which I offer as follows:

Jivamukti Open Class (90 minutes)

Spiritual Warrior (60 minutes)

Jivamukti Basics (60 minutes)

The Magic 10 and Beyond (60 minutes)

Restore and Renew (60 minutes)

Jivamukti Yoga Meditation Class or iRest Yoga Nidra (60 minutes)

What does each class entail, you say? Read on:

Jivamukti Open Class: By some this class is considered the most comprehensive yoga class in the world, and it is is open and suitable to all levels of practitioner. You work at your own pace, following my verbal guidance (I do not demonstrate postures) as well as hands-on guidance, if you consent. Asana (posture) options will be provided for beginners, intermediate and advanced students. An Open class presents classical yoga teachings as relevant to one’s life on and off the mat, drawn from the Focus of the Month essay, supported by chanting, breath awareness, flowing vinyasa sequences, alignment exploration, hands-on assistance, relaxation and meditation - in a sequence creatively designed by me each month. My Open classes are 90 minutes in duration, allowing a deeper immersive experience. These Open classes are offered every week, expect the final Saturday of the month. On the final Saturday of the month, the following 60 minute classes are offered on rotation, following by a 30 minute satsang (spiritual community connection over a cuppa tea).

Spiritual Warrior: A full practice - in one hour. Jivamukti Spiritual Warrior classes are designed for busy people who only have an hour to practice. The class is fast paced and invigorating. The structure is a set 60 minute sequence instructed in a vinyasa style. It is a fully balanced class which includes asana warm-up, chanting, setting of intention, surya namaskar, standing poses, backbends, forward bends, twists, inversions, meditation and relaxation. The teacher focuses on keeping the pace moving and does not stop to give spiritual discourses. Since the asana sequence is always the same, a student will pick it up quite quickly after only a couple of classes. I offer Spiritual Warrior classes on rotation with other 60 minute classes on the last Saturday of the month.

Jivamukti Basics: The Basics class provides the underlying structure to help a student be able to enter into an Open class intelligently and safely. Whereas in the Open and Spiritual Warrior classes vinyasa is emphasised, in Basics classes alignment is the emphasis. Students are taught “how to do” asanas, as well as the use of props. This 60 minute class is suitable for beginners, but open to all levels of practitioner; intermediate and advanced students will also benefit from exploring and reviewing alignment. Each Jivamukti Basics class is part of a four-week curriculum that explores a different theme each week:

Week One: Standing Asanas

Week Two: Forward Bending Asanas

Week Three: Backward Bending Asanas

Week Four: Turning It Upside Down and Putting it All Together

I offer Jivamukti Basics classes on rotation with other 60 minute classes on the last Saturday of the month, as a drop in class rather than the traditional four week course.

The Magic 10 and Beyond: As a class based on Sharon Gannon’s personal practice, it contains asana, kriya, pranayama and meditation. This class is suitable for practitioners who seek a complete, yet slower and less athletic asana practice, while having a stronger focus on pranayama, meditation and relaxation. The Magic 10 and Beyond was created to be used as a customised guide for your home practice and lifestyle, broken down into 10 practices

Practice One: Gratitude

Practice Two: Giving Blessings

Practice Three: Feed The Birds

Practice Four: Asana

Practice Five: Dance

Practice Six: Kriyas

Practice Seven: Kapalabhati

Practice Eight: Pranayama

Practice Nine: Meditation

Practice Ten: Shavasana (Relaxation)

I offer the Magic 10 and Beyond classes on rotation with other 60 minute classes on the last Saturday of the month.

Restore and Renew: This class is Jivamukti Yoga meets Restorative Yoga. This 60 minute class is designed to rest your mind and you body, with gentle movement and asana that are held for a couple of minutes to enable a slow and gentle fascia release. This class also includes chanting, breathing techniques, meditation and a long shavasana (guided relaxation).

This class and it is a wonderful addition to all vinyasa based Jivamukti Yoga classes (such as Open or Spiritual Warrior Classes), and I offer it on rotation with other 60 minute classes on the last Saturday of the month.

Jivamukti Yoga Meditation Class or iRest Yoga Nidra: Meditation practice is incorporated into almost every type of Jivamukti Yoga class (except a few weeks of the Basics curriculum). Meditation in our method is taught as our teachers (Sharon Gannon and David Life) taught us - a mantra form of meditation. Meditation is guided in three steps: Choose your seat, Be still, and Focus. Mantra provides the focus; with the mantra “Let-Go” the practitioner is invited to align the silent repetition of the mantra with the inhalation and exhalation. By allowing a continuous movement of breath through the body and thoughts through the mind, with the suggestion of letting go, the practitioner can eventually let go of identification with the body and mind and allow Self-realisation to arise.

A Jivamukti Yoga Meditation class begins with Sanskrit chanting, followed by detailed meditation instruction. The actual sitting time for the meditation practice is usually 20 minutes, but it could be longer or shorter according from class to class. Afterwards there is an opportunity for questions and reflections, followed by closing chants. No prior experience in meditation is required. The class is open to all who have a sincere desire to learn a simple, yet effective meditation practice.

Similarly, iRest Yoga Nidra is offered as another meditation class you may wish to attend on my teaching schedule. iRest Yoga Nidra is a contemporary yoga practice, which offers a trauma-sensitive means to safely access meditative states. This class is particularly helpful for people that have encountered difficulty with traditional meditation approaches. To learn more about iRest Yoga Nidra, check out this blog post.

All of the 60 minute classes described above are offered on rotation on the last Saturday of each month and followed by a 30 minute Jivamukti Yoga satsang (spiritual community connection over a cuppa tea). Satsang is offered freely and all are welcome, it is the most wonderful way to conclude each month - discussing wisdom teachings in good and virtuous company. To learn more about our Jivamukti Yoga Satsang, please read this blog post which describes it’s aims and structure in more depth.

There is something for everyone in Jivamukti Yoga, please feel welcome to join us and to contact me if you have further questions about the yoga classes I offer.

With love,

Meg