

It is actually considered one of the most beautiful languages and can easily be broken down to help explain the meaning behind the poses. But Sanskrit doesn’t have to be intimidating or confusing. Many teachers incorporate the Sanskrit names of yoga poses and philosophy into their classes, which can sometimes be confusing to the new yogi. Sanskrit was used to write the ancient collections of hymns, literature, philosophy and texts known as the Vedas, which much of our yoga practice was derived from.įind out something really interesting about the Rig Veda here! It wasn’t until around 1,500 BCE that Sanskrit was written down on paper in the form of the Rig Veda. For centuries, seers and teachers studied these sacred texts and orally passed the teachings along to their students. Sanskrit was used to write the ancient collections of hymns, literature, philosophy and texts known as the Vedas, which much of our yoga practice was derived from. That was why it commanded the attention of people who were not followers of a particular culture.” Sanskrit literature is national in one sense, but its purpose has been universal. “Sanskrit has moulded the minds of our people to the extent to which they themselves are not conscious. This is Sanskrit – the ancient language of India.


Why does it sound like my yoga teacher is speaking a different language? One simple explanation for you – s/he is! You may have heard words like, “Adho Mukha Svanasana,” “Vrksasana” or “Chaturanga Dandasana” in your yoga class.
