What is Jivamukti Yoga?
Jivamukti Yoga is both a dynamic, physically engaging and spiritual practice that brings together movement, breath, meditation, mantra, and yogic philosophy. Rooted in the Ashtanga yoga tradition, Jivamukti offers more than a physical workout. It invites us to explore the connection between how we move on the mat and how we show up in our everyday lives.
The word Jivamukti comes from the Sanskrit term jivanmukti, meaning “liberation while living.” At the heart of this practice is the idea that yoga isn't something we leave behind when a studio class ends. It's a way of relating to ourselves, to one another, and to the world around us with greater awareness, compassion, and intention.
Developed in New York City in 1984 by Sharon Gannon and David Life, Jivamukti Yoga emerged from a desire to honor the traditional spiritual roots of yoga while making its teachings accessible to modern practitioners. Drawing inspiration from classical Indian yoga philosophy, the Ashtanga tradition, and teachings found in texts such as the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali and the Bhagavad Gita, the method brings ancient wisdom into conversation with contemporary life.
In our Jivamukti yoga class at Breathing Room Collective, movement and breath work together to create a practice that is both energizing and introspective. You can expect a thoughtfully sequenced series of yoga postures, opportunities to build strength and flexibility, and an emphasis on connecting breath with movement. But the physical practice is only one part of the experience. Meditation, Sanskrit mantra chanting, and philosophical reflection help create space to look beyond the poses and consider what yoga means in our lives.
Jivamukti Yoga is also grounded in the understanding that our personal well-being is connected to the well-being of others. Compassion, nonviolence (ahimsa), and conscious living are important themes within the tradition. Rather than treating yoga as a practice focused solely on the self, Jivamukti encourages us to consider how our choices affect other people, other living beings, and the world we share.
Each class offers an opportunity to practice that awareness in a tangible way: noticing when we push, when we resist, when we need to pause, and when we can meet a challenge with a little more patience. These moments on the mat can become reminders for how we navigate the rest of our day.
Jivamukti classes typically incorporate traditional mantra chanting and a brief meditation before savasana, the final resting pose. These elements offer a chance to quiet the mind, turn inward, and experience yoga as more than movement alone. You don't need to know Sanskrit or have a meditation practice to participate. Simply arrive with an open mind and a willingness to explore.
At Breathing Room Collective in Hillsboro, Oregon, Jivamukti Yoga is an invitation to move with purpose, breathe with awareness, and make room for something deeper than the physical poses. Whether you're drawn to the movement, the philosophy, the meditation, or the opportunity to connect with a more intentional way of living, this practice offers space to explore all of it.
You don't have to be especially flexible, experienced, or familiar with yogic philosophy to begin or to enjoy a Jivamukti Yoga class. Come as you are, and meet yourself right there.