Sharon Gannon - Tripura Sundari

Yogini Sharon Gannon's quest for independence began with her birth on July 4th in Washington, DC. Her interest in mysticism was nourished by her Catholic upbringing. She holds a BA in Dance and has studied ballet, modern, classical and various forms of Indian Dance; as well as music and Eastern philosophy.

Jivamukti Yoga

Together with David Life, and through the blessings of her teachers, Sharon has created the Jivamukti Yoga Method, which focuses on teaching and practicing yoga as a means to enlightenment. The Jivamukti Yoga Method is taught world-wide in Jivamukti Yoga centers independently owned and directed by students of Gannon and Life. These centers are in Munich, London, Toronto, Detroit and the West Village of NYC. Sharon co- directs the Jivamukti Yoga Center in NYC. The Jivamukti Yoga method is recognized by TIME magazine as one of the nine methods of hatha Yoga taught in the world today and is featured in the acclaimed video: What is Yoga?

Yoga Master

Sharon has studied yoga since 1976 with many teachers around the globe, most noteworthy being her guru's Shri Brahmananda Saraswati, Swami Nirmalanada, Shri K. Pattabhi Jois, as well as Swami Shankarananda, and Shyam Das. Sharon brings a rare blend of scholarly study, artistic pursuits and a highly disciplined asana and meditation practice to her offerings as a teacher. Sharon is a renowned teacher around the globe. She has taught yoga students throughout the United States and as far afield as Canada, Germany, Switzerland, France, UK, Italy, India, Singapore, Philippines, the Caribbean, and Israel. Since 1993 she has presented annually at various national conferences hosted by Omega Institute, Yoga Journal, Southwest Yoga, Arizona Yoga Conference and others. Along with David Life she teaches a one month intensive Jivamukti Yoga Teacher Training course offered at the Omega Institute. She is a featured yogini in various books: Yoga by Linda Sparrowe, American Yoga by Carrie Schneider, and Women to Women by Christina Lessa. Her high profile students include Sting, Russell Simmons and Geshe Michael Roach.

Artist

As a musician, dancer and producer, Sharon views art as a means for uplifting the soul and her artistic pursuits seek to enrich the community by being both inspirational and educational. During the 1970's & 80's first in Seattle and then in NYC she was the vocalist and violinist for the jazz/rock band Audio Letter as well as directing and choreographing for the dance company 'Moon-Food'. Her choreography is featured in the Video: Asana: sacred dance of the Yogi. In 2003 she produced the album Neti-Neti, a remix of the 1987 Audio Letter album of the same name, receiving rave reviews and critical acclaim from Billboard Magazine, Rolling Stone, Yoga Journal and others. In 2004 she co-produced with White Swan Music, the CD, Jai MA, a collection of divine women singers. Sharon is a guest vocalist, appearing on albums with innovative world-beat musicians like Bill Laswell, Mike D. Sean Dinsmore, David Newman and DJ Cheb I Sabbah.

Animal Advocate

Sharon is an animal-rights activist and outspoken advocate of ethical veganism. She was nominated for the "Gutsiest Woman of the Year 1999" by Jane Magazine. She is the author of Cats and Dogs are People Too, an investigation of the corporate profit-driven insensitive attitudes that result in commercial "pet food" and the health risks to companion animals who eat it. Together with David Life and Janet Rienstra, she established the Animal Mukti Free Spay & Neuter Clinic in New York City at the Humane Society of NYC in 1999. In 2004 she was recognized as "Friend of Ferals" by the Humane Society of New York and Neighborhood Cats. She is a long time vanguard member of PETA, working with them on various projects and campaigns to help make this world a kinder place. In 2003 she appeared on a billboard in Times Square behind the New Years Ball advocating Yoga and Vegetarianism as a step toward world Peace. Along with Life she has established a 76 acre Wildlife Forest Sanctuary in upstate New York.

Author

Sharon has co-authored two books on Yoga with David Life, Jivamukti Yoga: Practices for Liberating Body & Soul and The Art of Yoga. She contributes the Focus of the Month, a monthly essay, focusing on yogic topics which can be read on www.jivamuktiyoga.com. She is the compiler and translator of the Jivamukti Chant Book. She was a past editor of Patio Table Magazine. A collection of her poems and essays are complied in the book Freedom is a Psycho-Kinetic Skill. She is currently working on a soon to be published Vegan Cookbook.