Yoga Mythology

(Please note that this page is currently under construction, but for right now all #mythmonday videos that have been released can be found here)

Videos produced by Jivamukti Yoga NYC

The yoga poses we come into during class have Sanskrit names that either refer to an anatomical alignment, or are based on a mythological story. Matsyāsana, Aṣṭāvakrāsana, Hanumanāsana, Viśvāmitrāsana – these are just 4 examples of the hundreds of stories in the yoga tradition.

The myths behind the āsanas are one of the most profound tools for giving you intention, energy, focus, insight, and an expansive view of your asana practice – stepping far outside the simple lines and shapes normally understood in these moments. Context from these stories gives so much more background and understanding in a conversation that is not just physical.

The characters that appear in these stories are often Gods and Goddesses with magical powers, but each and every one of the characters contain human emotion and actions that we can all relate to, or have experienced in our own lives. The āsanas contain so much more depth than just physical exercise. They are the embodiment of our lives that we are working through each and every day.

Working list of references used in the retelling of these stories (alphabetical by author). I will typically read at least 5 different versions of a story to recreate my own interpretation for the videos. In some cases stories are retold based on version I’ve heard my own teachers tell : Myths of the Asanas; Alanna Kaivalya, Bhagavata Purana; Ramesh Menon, The Ramayana; Ramesh Menon, Downward Dogs & Warriors; Zo Newall, The Little Book of Hindu Deities; Sanjay Patel, Ramayana: Divine Loophole; Sanjay Patel, Jaya: A Retelling of the Mahabharata; Devdutt Pattanaik; Sita: A Retelling of the Ramayana; Devdutt Pattanaik, Yoga Mythology: 64 Asanas and Their Stories; Devdutt Pattanaik, Wikipedia, Hitopadesha,

Rāmāyaṇa Series Part 13: The Battle of Rama & Ravana (Ep. 39)

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Here’s @AprilDechagas picking up from our last episode with one of the great Epics of India, The Rāmāyaṇa! Today we continue our #EpicTalesTuesday with Part 13 – The Battle of Rāma and Ravana!⠀ The Myths behind the asanas are one of the most profound tools for giving you intention, energy, focus, insight, and an expansive view of your Asana Practice – stepping far outside the simple lines and shapes normally understood in these moments. Context from these stories gives you so much more background and understanding in a conversation that’s not just physical. That’s why we know them as the epic tales of yoga: epic origins and epic realisations. This is the thirty-ninth installment April has been putting together for you! #yogaeverydamnday #yogaforlife #yogainspiration #yoga #yogalove #yogaeverywhere #yogalife #igyoga #yogapractice #instayoga #practiceandalliscoming #yogajourney #yogaaddict #yogisofinstagram #yogateacher #sanskrit #meditation #practicejivamukti #jivamuktiyoga #jivamuktinyc #vegan #plantpower #crueltyfree #govegan #hinduism #mythology #inspiration #hindu #sitaram

A post shared by Jivamukti Yoga Online (@jivamuktiyogaonline) on Mar 10, 2020 at 7:49pm PDT

Rāmāyaṇa Series Part 12: The War of the Island of Lanka (Ep. 38)

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Here’s @AprilDechagas picking up from our last episode with one of the great Epics of India, The Rāmāyaṇa! Today we continue our #EpicTalesTuesday with Part 12 – The War of the Island of Lanka!⠀ The Myths behind the asanas are one of the most profound tools for giving you intention, energy, focus, insight, and an expansive view of your Asana Practice – stepping far outside the simple lines and shapes normally understood in these moments. Context from these stories gives you so much more background and understanding in a conversation that’s not just physical. That’s why we know them as the epic tales of yoga: epic origins and epic realisations. This is the thirty-eighth installment April has been putting together for you! #yogaeverydamnday #yogaforlife #yogainspiration #yoga #yogalove #yogaeverywhere #yogalife #igyoga #yogapractice #instayoga #practiceandalliscoming #yogajourney #yogaaddict #yogisofinstagram #yogateacher #sanskrit #meditation #practicejivamukti #jivamuktiyoga #jivamuktinyc #vegan #plantpower #crueltyfree #govegan #hinduism #mythology #inspiration #hindu #sitaram

A post shared by Jivamukti Yoga Online (@jivamuktiyogaonline) on Mar 3, 2020 at 6:58pm PST

Rāmāyaṇa Series Part 11: Crossing the Ocean (Ep. 37)

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Here’s @AprilDechagas picking up from our last episode with one of the great Epics of India, The Rāmāyaṇa! Today we continue our #EpicTalesTuesday with Part 11 – Crossing the Ocean!⠀ The Myths behind the asanas are one of the most profound tools for giving you intention, energy, focus, insight, and an expansive view of your Asana Practice – stepping far outside the simple lines and shapes normally understood in these moments. Context from these stories gives you so much more background and understanding in a conversation that’s not just physical. That’s why we know them as the epic tales of yoga: epic origins and epic realisations. This is the thirty-seventh installment April has been putting together for you! #yogaeverydamnday #yogaforlife #yogainspiration #yoga #yogalove #yogaeverywhere #yogalife #igyoga #yogapractice #instayoga #practiceandalliscoming #yogajourney #yogaaddict #yogisofinstagram #yogateacher #sanskrit #meditation #practicejivamukti #jivamuktiyoga #jivamuktinyc #vegan #plantpower #crueltyfree #govegan #hinduism #mythology #inspiration #hindu #sitaram

A post shared by Jivamukti Yoga Online (@jivamuktiyogaonline) on Feb 18, 2020 at 6:44pm PST