Sanskrit 101: Discover the Basics of Sanskrit

Have you ever been to a yoga class and felt totally lost when the instructor started speaking words in Sanskrit? Were you wondering whether you had accidentally wandered into a foreign language class instead of a yoga class?

I've been there.

Sanskrit is a classical language like Greek, Latin, and Persian. It's the sacred language of Hinduism and the language of classical Hindu philosophy. It's believed to be the oldest written language in the world.

The original yoga scriptures were written in Sanskrit.

Yoga teachers like to use Sanskrit words in their classes in an attempt to bring their students into the same lineage as the original yoga teachings from India.

That said, it can be hard for yogis, especially newbies, to keep up with all those Sanskrit terms. I find that the use of Sanskrit in yoga classes can be intimidating and confusing to students. Also, it can hinder students from focusing on the real reason for doing yoga -- focusing inwards and calming our minds.

That is why I don't use Sanskrit to instruct poses when I teach yoga. I instruct my students in plain, easy-to-understand English (with a German accent 🤣).

Actually, there is one exception: I use the Sanskrit term Shavasana (which can also be spelled without the "h", as in Savasana) in my classes. Why? Because the English translation of Corpse Pose just doesn't resonate. Right?

​

Sanskrit names for popular yoga poses

That said, if you're interested in Sanskrit, check out the Sanskrit names for some popular poses you might hear in yoga classes:

• Adho Mukha Svanasana (downward-facing dog pose)
• Ardha Chaturanga Dandasana (plank pose)
• Salabhasana (locust pose)
• Setu Bandha Sarvangasana (bridge pose)
• Shavasana (corpse pose)
• Surya Namaskar (sun salutation sequence)
• Tadasana (mountain pose)
• Utkatasana (chair pose)
• Uttanasana (standing forward bend)
• Virabhadrasana (warrior pose)
• Vrksasana (tree pose)

​

Additional yoga terms in Sanskrit

And here are some additional Sanskrit terms you'll likely encounter on your yoga path:

• Asana. Simply put, asana means "seat". In yoga, the word asana also means "pose".
• Chakra. A chakra is a wheel or energetic center inside your body. Mainstream yoga recognizes seven different chakras in the human body.
• Namaste. This is one of the most widely known Sanskrit yoga terms. It means "the light within me honors the light within you." It's a way of telling someone that you see, acknowledge, and respect them. It's usually said at the end of a yoga session.
• Mantra. A mantra is like a meditation phrase you could say during your practice; some people believe mantras hold power, while others just use them to focus on during their practice.
• Mudra. Mudras are specific hand gestures created to facilitate the flow of energy in the body and mind.
• Om. Om is considered the original sound; the one from which all the other sounds in the universe came into being. It represents the union of mind, body, and spirit.
• Prana. Prana literally means "breath". It's often used in reference to the energy that flows through us all and keeps us alive.

​

Do you prefer that your yoga teacher uses Sanskrit in class or that she speaks in plain English? I'm curious. Let me know.

Best,

Christine

P.S. I invite you to sign up for my weekly wellness newsletter, filled with wellness tips & tools. As a bonus, instantly receive a free video series ("Yoga Bites"), where you discover effective yoga tools to relieve stress in just 5 minutes!

Wellness & Yoga with Christine

Inspiring you to bring wellness into your life and providing you with the tools to do so.​​​​ ​​​