What are you saying?!

Sanskrit

You’ll often hear a yoga teacher speaking a few words here and there in another language. What the heck are they even saying?! Well, they are likely speaking Sanskrit, an ancient language originating in India. The name Sanskrit means “refined,” “consecrated,” and “sanctified.” It is a very intentional language where the meaning of the word is itself also the sound, or the vibration, of the word. For this reason, yogis continue to use the Sanskrit language in mantras, chants, and prayers. Think of it kind of like a Catholic mass. It wasn’t that long ago that they switched from Latin to English- and they didn’t for so long because the Latin had a deeper meaning. It’s a beautiful language and there’s something very healing about listening to the mantras and chants.

So you’re in a yoga class and you hear some words you don’t know. Here’s a list of a few words I use more often than others along with their meaning.

Om- Om is the seed sound of the universe, the creator, destroyer, preserver. Om is God, the universe, the sound that connects us all as one.

Shanti- Peace

Mantra- A phrase or sacred sound that has a transformative effect on there person repeating it. We often start classes with the Student Teacher Mantra.

Driste- Gaze

Ayurveda- The life science of yoga. It encompasses food as medicine and your elemental constitution.

Mudra- Seal, how we hold our hands in specific positions, but can also be other areas of the body.

Ahimsa- Non-violence

Namaste- When we recognize the light (love, truth, peace) in each other, we are one.

Asana- Seat/Pose

Citta- Monkey mind

Pranayama- Prana means breath or life force. Pranayama is our breathing practice.

Sadhana- Daily spiritual practice.

If you’d like to learn more about Sanskrit, I encourage you to visit Prem Sadasivananda’s website, https://www.vidya-samyogah.com. He is my Sanskrit teacher and a wealth of knowledge. Occasionally SreeDevi Bringi comes to Lincoln for trainings in Sanskrit so keep an eye out for her as well.