Lokah samastah sukhino bhavantu – May all beings be happy and free.

The chanting filled the space. Twenty-five people had entered the studio alone or in small groups only thirty minutes earlier, yet now we had become one, living the true meaning of yoga, ‘union’.

It was a chilly Sunday evening and the first satsang, or gathering, of our Thaxted Yoga community. The studio space had been transformed, full of cosy corners to relax. There was a plentiful supply of refreshments; hot chai, vegan hot dogs and tacos, raw chocolate brownies and energy balls, popcorn, even cupcakes iced with the Thaxted Yoga logo, yoga poses and tiny rolled up mats. People curled up in blankets, resting on bolsters and cushions, bathed in the soft glow of candles and dimmed lights.

The evening had begun with resident Jivamukti teacher, Andy, introducing some key elements of the yoga method that was devised by David Life and Sharon Gannon in the USA during the 1980s. We heard about the five tenets; ahimsa (non-harming), bhakti (devotion), dhyana (meditation), nada (sound) and shastra (scripture). Like all yoga, the best way to understand it is to experience it, and we quickly became absorbed in the Sanskrit chant, lokah samastah sukhino bhavantu, accompanied by Andy’s harmonium.

The event centered around a film projected onto the vast back wall of the studio. ‘What is Real? A Story of Jivamukti Yoga,’ by Jay Mac, is a beautiful film tracing the Jivamukti method of yoga. It was artfully shot, with some huge questions and ideas crammed into a short space of time. After it ended, Andy guided us through a short meditation. I think we all needed a moment to settle our minds and bring ourselves back into the room. It is perhaps a film to watch more than once, taking time to absorb and explore the content, but that first viewing led to an inspiring group discussion. Transformational work seemed to be happening around the studio as ideas from the film were commented on and questions were raised.

It was an incredibly moving evening. As someone said, it felt like a group hug in a difficult world. I left feeling inspired, uplifted and with a comforting sense of belonging. What is real? The compassion, warmth and kindness shared amongst the yoga community.

Special thanks to Casey, Andy and the Thaxted Yoga community for such a wonderful evening xx