My Sanskrit journey began last spring in my 200 hour teacher training at ODD. Reading the Yoga Sutras I referred over and over to the pronunciation guide at the back of Heart of Yoga. For my final projectI decided to teach a short lesson on phonetics (which letters produce which sounds) and diacritics (the accents, dots and lines above and below letters). The lesson was a big success, and Jessica Rosen suggested I study Sanskrit at LMU.
What do you love most about the language?
Sanskrit is fascinating. It can encapsulate lots of meaning within a few words, making it super poetic and also super potent. In English we use all these filler words (like, as, this, that, in, on, beyond, etc.), to make meaning. In Sanskrit these filler words are folded into the main words of every sentence, so the language flows beautifully. Translation is really challenging, but it’s also really fun.
Why is it important for teachers to use the language?
I am not of the opinion that every teacher must use the Sanskrit names of poses. However, I do think a basic familiarity with the language is important. Cultural appropriation and decolonization are big buzzwords these days. Learning more about where yoga came from is a way for practitioners to honor its culture. Awareness of Sanskrit pronunciation and spelling will better enable teachers and students to engage in meaningful dialogue, both with texts such as the Yoga Sūtras of Patañjali, and also with practitioners from India.
Any advice for new teachers/yogis who are intimidated by Sanskrit?
Bring your beginner’s mind! Learning any language is a little bit awkward, but a willingness to try despite that awkwardness will go a long way. Making unfamiliar sounds is challenging at first, but eventually with practice the sounds of Sanskrit will feel normal. Remember how foreign yoga felt the first few times you tried, but eventually the poses feel like home.
What are you hoping people leave with after taking this workshop?I want people to leave feeling more comfortable using Sanskrit terms. The main focus will be on pronunciation of transliterated Sanskrit, with emphasis on words and phrases common in the yoga studio.
And just for fun: What is your favorite Sanskrit word or phrase? Sukham bandhāt pramucyate -Bhagavad Gītā verse 5.3
We’re truly gifted to have a spirited and sparkling community that outshines even the most brilliant holiday decorations! To return the love and gratitude we feel every time we open... read more
Voted “Best Personality” in high school and the daughter of hippie parents in Central Texas, you’d never expect that Hannah leads one of our more somber workshops, Death Awareness. Somber... read more
ODD before ODD was even a thing and the visionary eyeballs behind much of our photography, Sarit is our resident Renaissance Woman of trauma-aware and inclusive yoga. Although her many... read more
SUBTLE BODY & DIVINE CONSCIOUSNESS: HOW TO PRACTICE FEELING COZY IN YOUR BODY From knit socks and shawls to rock ‘n’ rolls, we’re celebrating coziness from the inside out at... read more
Not only is Lani a boisterous presence at the head of class, but she’s also lead teacher Cindy Godell’s right hand, helping out with things like scheduling those monthly workshops... read more
In class, Natalie is your stability sage, leading balanced, steady, and strong sequences and repeating some aspects week to week, so you can build your body and your practice. Outside... read more