home practice
by Andrea Ferretti
PHOTOS: MARTY SCONDUTO; MODEL: ZOE FOAT; STYLIST: SHANNON DUNN/ARTIST UNTIED; HAIR/MAKEUP: SHAWN BURKE; TOP: NIKE; PANTS: STELLA MCCARTNEY FOR ADIDAS
before you begin
CHANT
Jivamukti classes typically begin
with a chant such as this one:
Lokah Samasta
Sukinoh Bhavantu
May all beings everywhere be
happy and free, and may the
thoughts, words, and actions of
my own life contribute to happi-
ness and freedom for all.
AUGUST 2006
Blossom
PREPARE YOUR BODY
Prepare for this sequence with
flowing Sun Salutations and
standing poses. Then do seated
poses and twists such as Ardha
Matsyendrasana (Half Lord of
the Fishes Pose), Paschimotta-
nasana (Seated Forward Bend),
and Upavistha Konasana (Wide-
Angle Seated Forward Bend).
and Grow
By moving the energy in
your lower chakras, you can
harness your creative power
and move through the world
with more compassion.
after you finish
GO UPSIDE DOWN
Move into Supported Shoulder-
stand and stay for up to 20
breaths, unless you feel any
neck pain. From Shoulderstand,
transition to Plow Pose for 5 to
10 breaths. Both poses stimulate
the fifth, or throat, chakra—the
visuddha (purification)—to help
you express yourself creatively.
sequence by Sharon Gannon
SHARON GANNON and
David Life, creators of the
Jivamukti Yoga method,
place compassion first and
foremost in their teach-
ing. “We see yoga as a path to enlight-
enment by being compassionate to all
beings,” says Gannon. It’s no wonder
then, that they relate the following poses
with being kind and compassionate. “In
this sequence we embrace our sexual
and creative partnerships and let go of
blame. We remember our intention to
bring liberation to others.”
The hip-opening and twisting poses
activate the second and third chakras,
respectively, helping to free energy in
those areas, and move it up the spine so
that, as Gannon says, “you can give back
to others in creative ways.” At
the peak of the sequence you
embody a luminous lotus flower
emerging from muddy water. In yogic
lore, the lotus is a metaphor for how past
experiences can be used as fertile soil for
blooming into a more awakened soul.
“We can all be like Martin Luther King
Jr. or Julia Butterfly Hill,” says Gan-
non. “You can embody that awakened
state of spiritual activation and really
send compassion into the world.”
YOGAJOURNAL.COM 61
 home practice
blossom and grow
sequence by Sharon Gannon
2
1

4 Parivrtta Vikasitakamalasana
(Revolved Blossoming Lotus Pose)
Bend your left elbow and reach your left hand up near the
1 Baddha Konasana (Bound Angle Pose) small of your back. Reach your right arm behind your back.
Begin in Baddha Konasana. Bend the knees and press the
Grasp your right wrist with your left hand. Stay for 5 breaths,
soles of the feet together. Reach down and press your
gazing over your right shoulder.
thumbs into the soles of your feet, opening them up like a
book. Take your gaze up toward the sky and breathe deeply
5 Parivrtta Vikasitakamalasana II
as you open your hips for 5 breaths.
(Revolved Blossoming Lotus Pose II)
From there, press your right palm down firmly into the floor
2 Vikasitakamalasana as you turn the chest open to the right. Keep both sitting
(Blossoming Lotus Pose), preparation bones firmly on the ground as you twist in your upper spine.
Sit firmly on the ground and spread your legs wide. Bend
Stay for 8 breaths.
your knees and brace the outsides of both feet against the
floor. Hold on to the ankles or shins. Take your awareness to
6 Vikasitakamalasana
the lowest part of your spine, and with an inhalation extend
(Blossoming Lotus Pose)
up. Fix your gaze on a steady point on the horizon and stay
From Baddha Konasana, inhale and lift both feet off the
for 5 to 10 breaths.
floor, keeping your heels pressed together. Exhale as you
thread both arms under your knees. Inhale as you join each
3 Parivrtta Vikasitakamalasana thumb and forefinger together. Open your chest, lift your
(Revolved Blossoming heart, and take your gaze up toward the heavens. Hold
Lotus Pose), preparation for 5 breaths.
Exhale as you lean forward, placing your left shoulder in
front of your left thigh. Thread your left arm under your left
thigh and place it on the floor behind you. Inhale as you
reach your right arm up and gaze toward your right thumb.

9
62 YOGAJOURNAL.COM AUGUST 2006
3
4

5
7 Utthita Vikasitakamalasana
(Extended Blossoming Lotus Pose)
Exhale as you release your arms from under your knees.
With your first two fingers grab your big toes and on an
inhalation extend both legs up and into a straddle. Gaze
up toward the heavens as you stay for 5 breaths.

8 Vikasitakamalasana
(Blossoming Lotus Pose), preparation
Return to the Blossoming Lotus preparation and observe
any transformations that have occurred in your body and
mind as you take 5 deep breaths.
6
9 Baddha Konasana (Bound Angle Pose)
Finish the sequence by coming back to Baddha Konasana.
After 5 to 10 deep breaths, repeat the whole sequence,
twisting to the other side.

7
✄

8 cut out
and save!
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