Jivamukti Yoga NYC closes: a photo essay
Pashupa (that’s me) during the NYC Jivamukti Boutique remodeling in May of 2014. The window behind me has an iconic image of David Life and Sharon Gannon giving a urdvha dhanurasana assist.
“Everything that has a beginning has an ending. Make your peace with that and all will be well.” ― Jack Kornfield
Life moves on, like a river flowing, ever changing even though we don’t notice much from moment to moment. I dipped my toes into the world of Jivamukti Yoga at their teacher training in 2011, and by 2012 was fully immersed, living in NYC and working as Web Editor at the mothership. I stayed there until the summer of 2018 when we parted ways. On December 22nd, 2019, the Jivamukti Yoga School in NYC closed its doors, and an era ended.
In my job, I was entrusted with archives going back to the heady early days when Jivamukti Yoga was founded in 1984 and rose up in the East Village, then moved to Lafayette St in 1998. Sharon Gannon and David Life are the founders, who poured their hearts and spirits into building a lineage that honored its roots in the ancient teachings of Patanjali and the Bhagavad Gita, while integrating elements of modern western culture that made yoga appealing to, and practical for, the masses. The impact of Jivamukti Yoga on the explosion of yoga in the United States is under-appreciated in todays commercialized yoga scene, but anyone teaching vinyasa or power yoga today owes a debt of gratitude.
Jivamukti Yoga moved its NYC to Union Square in 2006, opening one of the largest schools in the city. At the time the yoga boom had not yet swept over the city. By the time I arrived in 2012, there were competing boutique yoga schools all around, and other large studios that were perhaps more corporate-minded and business savvy. Still, Jivamukti was one of the most authentic places to practice in Manhattan, had a solid following of students seeking something deeper than a workout, and some of the best teachers in the city. It was a true satsang, a spiritual community.
The following photos and commentary highlight some of my favorite moments with the Jivamukti Yoga satsang.
Jivamukti Yoga Teacher Portraits
I have done photo shoots with dozens of Jivamukti Yoga teachers in multiple locations. The photos included here were either taken at the Jivamukti Yoga NYC school, or taken to promote events at the school. Some of the teachers were regular teachers at the school, and some came from around the world to teach at our events.
Classes with Sharon Gannon and David Life
One of the greatest benefits to working at Jivamukti NYC was that I got to spend time with the founders, Sharon Gannon and David Life. They didn’t teach there regularly, but when they did it was always magical. Students and teachers would come from around the world to take the classes, many of whom I knew from previous events or my teacher training. I photographed many of the classes, and also got to take some of them myself. David is a storyteller and sage who I associate with Shiva, and Sharon is a Bhakti yogi and Krishna devotee. Together they create a oneness, and I will always be grateful for the wisdom they passed on in their teaching.
The Rimaswari Experience
Rima Rani Rabbath was the most popular teacher at Jivamukti Yoga NYC, regularly filling the room to capacity with seventy students. Yogeswari is a beloved Jivamukti Yoga teacher, who spends most of her time teaching internationally but calls NYC her home. When she was in NYC, she often taught classes or workshops with Rima. I coined the name Rimaswari for such occasions. These are some of my favorite photos of them together and separately.
The Jivamukti Yoga Tribe
The Jivamukti Yoga Tribe Gathering is an event that is held annually, most years, and brings teachers and students from around the world. It also featured performers and speakers. It started in Europe and then was hosted in NYC for several years. With the closing of the Jivamukti Yoga School in NYC the event is returning to Europe this year. The event was held at the Prince George Ballroom in NYC in the first years I was there, and then held at the the school in later years.
The Elephant in the Room
In 2016 Jivamukti went through some turmoil, which has been reported in the news and I won’t get into it here. The fallout resulted in a loss of teachers, a drop in attendance, and the eventual “letting go” of staff and management, including the beloved manager Carlos “Ganesh Das” Menjivar (Ganesha being the elephant-headed Hindu deity).
Carlos was a fatherly figure who loved the school (worked there for 12 years) and was devoted to Sharon and David. He worked too hard and he was not a perfect boss, but he did his best and I respected him. For me Jivamukti NYC lost a piece of its heart when Carlos was let go. These photos are my tribute to the man I remember as “Gran jefe.” I can still hear his voice calling me over to his desk. “Pashupa, come!”
Special Events at Jivamukti NYC
Jivamukti Yoga School in NYC had a great space in Union Square for events, from kirtan to Ecstatic Dance to speakers and yoga workshops. The ones I am featuring here were special to the lineage. The one that was the most fun to photograph was certainly the launch party for Sharon Gannon’s cookbook, Simple Recipes for Joy. Like the cookbook, it had an Alice in Wonderland theme, with Sharon Gannon as Alice and David Life as the Mad Hatter. A performance piece with violin virtuoso Tim Fain was a highlight, with guests including Sting, Krishna Das, Seane Corn, and many more. To see all the photos I shot that night, check out this gallery.
Another special event for the community was the release of a documentary about Jivamukti Yoga called What is Real, which “trail the film’s South African director and narrator, Jay Mac, in his practice of Jivamukti Yoga to transcend personal tragedy and liberate from material conditioning. The movie also includes narratives and interviews from famous figures and yoga practitioners such as Sting, Krishna Das, Donna Karan, MC Yogi, and more.” Following the film a panel gathered on stage for a Q&A. Notable guests MC Yogi and Trudy Styler joined Sharon Gannon, David Life, Jay Mac and his wife Mischa McNamara, and Jivamukti Yoga teachers Rima Rani Rabbath, Julie Kirkpatrick, and Ruth Lauer-Manenti.
Finally I include photos of spiritual teachers who came to give dharma talks and sacred chants. I was fortunate to be there in September 2012 when Shyam Das came for his last visit to the studio, singing kirtan with Bhagavad Gita scholar Joshua Greene. Shyam was one of Sharon’s dearest friends and teachers, who left his body the following year in India. Another influential teacher in Sharon’s life is Radhanath Swami, who came to the school several times.
The Jivamukti Yoga NYC Featured Student
For years, there was a tradition to hang beautiful portraits of featured Jivamukti Yoga teachers in the hallway. The photographs were mostly studio portraits taken by Sharon’s friend Les Guzman. Towards the end of his time at the school, Carlos had the idea that we should start featuring students, photographed in the center or Union Square. These photos are the result.
The Jivamuktea Café
The Jivamuktea Café was a vegan restaurant inside of Jivamuktea Yoga NYC. It featured recipes created mainly by Sharon Gannon, although there were some other contributions. During my time there it went through several managers, and incarnations. April Dechagas and Bhagavan were both café employees when I came, and became Jivamukti Yoga teachers.
Another Door Opens…
I was not surprised to hear that Jivamukti Yoga NYC was closing at the end of 2019, as their lease was up in 2020 and the rent was untenable. I was already settling in to my new home in Boulder, Colorado by the time I heard the news.
I still feel a part of the tribe, still consider Sharon and David my teachers, but am now happily expanding my yoga practice in other directions. I have found an amazing teacher in Colorado, Amy Ippoliti, and joined her 90 Monkeys Advanced Teacher Training. From Jiva monkey to 90 monkey. My practice has new inspiration and I am finding a new community to share my talents with. Still, I am hoping to bring some Jivamukti Yoga classes to Colorado, and visit the Jivamukti Yoga School in LA regularly, so that I can keep the lineage in my heart.
As far as Jivamukti NYC is concerned, I am happy to repeat the mantra that Sharon and David have taught us. Inhale, “let.” Exhale, “go.” Let Go.
