Sanskrit is an ancient language of vibrations with a history spanning over 3,500 years. Beyond a way of simply communicating, it holds a profound significance in the practice and teaching of yoga.
For yoga practitioners and teachers alike, understanding Sanskrit goes beyond mere linguistic knowledge; it is a gateway to the essence of yoga philosophy, enriching both personal practice and teaching methodologies.
By understanding this vibrational language and its significance throughout history, both spiritually and culturally, we expand our capacity to understand and teach yoga from a more knowledgeable and insightful perspective.
At the heart of Sanskrit’s importance in yoga is its role in preserving and transmitting the wisdom of the ancient yogic texts, such as the Vedas, Upanishads, and the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali.
These texts, written in Sanskrit, form the philosophical foundation of yoga, clarifying its principles and practices. Learning some Sanskrit allows yoga teachers to gain a better understanding of these texts, unlocking deeper insights into the philosophical underpinnings of yoga.
A 300-hour yoga teacher training is the perfect environment to uncover their deeper meaning and to learn how to apply this ancient wisdom to your own life and practices. In a world where asana (physical postures) seems to have taken front and center stage, learning the foundations of Sanskrit tethers us to yoga’s origin and gives us access to the foundational principles of this sacred practice.
One of the most significant aspects of Sanskrit in yoga is its role in understanding and chanting mantras. Mantras are sacred sounds, syllables, or phrases that are believed to have spiritual and transformative powers through their vibration.
From a yogic perspective, the language of Sanskrit is considered to be inherently sacred, and chanting mantras in Sanskrit is believed to have a purifying and elevating effect on the mind and body. They are a tool to focus the mind, uplift the spirit and connect with something greater than ourselves.
One of the most significant sounds of Sanskrit that holds great significance is “AUM” or “OM.” AUM – considered the origin sound of the Universe, representing the vibration that underlies all of creation.
It is often chanted at the beginning and end of yoga classes, symbolizing the cyclical nature of existence—an acknowledgment and unification of the past, present, and future.
Chanting AUM is believed to align an individual with this universal rhythm, promoting a sense of harmony and oneness with the wider Universe.
As a yoga teacher, incorporating Sanskrit mantras into your classes you can add depth, an authentic expression of yoga, and a sense of reverence that is inevitably felt by students however it also carries a responsibility to understand the profound meaning of what you are chanting.
While a 300-hour yoga teacher training program won’t teach you to read the Vedas, having a foundational understanding of the language and its significance will add depth to your experience as both a yoga practitioner and teacher. In addition to its philosophical and spiritual significance, Sanskrit plays a practical role in yoga asana practice.
Each yoga pose, or asana, has a Sanskrit name that describes the shape of the pose or its benefits. Learning these names can deepen practitioners’ understanding of the poses and their effects on the body and mind. Often the names of the poses and their vibration alone is an embodiment of the pose itself in sound form. For yoga teachers, using Sanskrit names for asanas creates an added layer of depth to the practice as well as paying homage to the tradition and lineage of their teaching.
Furthermore, Sanskrit is a language rich in nuances and subtleties, making it well-suited for describing the intricacies of yogic concepts. Terms like “prana” (life force energy), “chakra” (energy center), and “kundalini” (coiled serpent power) are all Sanskrit words that carry deep meaning in the context of yoga. For many Sanskrit words, there are no concrete direct translations to a singular English word. By learning some Sanskrit during your
300-hour yoga teacher training in Bali, yoga teachers can communicate concepts more precisely and effectively, in doing so enhancing their students’ understanding and practice. Ultimately, understanding the basics of Sanskrit provides depth and richness to yoga philosophy and practice for teachers and practitioners alike. Learning the spiritual and cultural significance of this language leads to a deeper cognitive and embodied understanding of yoga’s origin and ancient wisdom still applicable today.