“Set an intention for your practice today.” Have you heard this common phrase in your yoga classes? We often are called to think about a loved one or focus on giving ourselves and what we truly need. But with each pose we bring to the mat, the creators of yoga had their own intentions. With each asana, we are called to reach a higher sense of enlightenment, awareness, and clarity. To know each intention is to understand Sanskrit.
The oldest language in the world, Sanskrit translates to “perfect, sacred, complete.” A host of different languages have origins in Sanskrit and modern day languages have a wide range of words rooted in Sanskrit. Because of this, Sanskrit is known as the “mother language.” Essentially, we can credit Sanskrit with language itself. Used in Hinduism, Sikhism, Jainism, and Buddhism, as well as modern computer programming, Sanskrit has a wide reach and is revered by many.
In our yoga practices, we have inevitably come across Sanskrit terms for poses, called “asanas,” and Sanskrit words for the beginning and end of classes (“Namaste” and “Om” to name a few). Whether we’ve been practicing for years or have just started our practice, it’s important to take a closer look at the origins of the language that informs our movement and the ways it can continue to help our progression.
Understanding Asanas from Sanskrit
To translate poses from Sanskrit, we can gain a deeper meaning of their intention. For example, we use the term “Standing Forward Fold,” but to deepen the idea of this, consider it’s Sanskrit origin. Uttanasana: ut = denotes intensity and tan = to stretch, lengthen, to rise. When we finish this word with asana, meaning “pose”, we can come to know “Standing Forward Fold” as “an intense stretching/lengthening pose.” This completely changes this pose that could be quite static, thinking of “just” folding.
Decoding each pose can be daunting, but knowing key pieces of each word we use frequently in yoga can help to fortify our yoga movements. Check out the Sanskrit glossary to learn more about connecting the Sanskrit translations to your poses.
Connection To the Ancient
Not only does Sanskrit translations help us move through our yoga practice with a renewed sense of intention, it also connects us to a sacred, ancient tradition. As we move through our own practices, it’s easy to forget that we are all practicing a form of movement thousands of years old. To retain the language of that teaching is to pay homage to its origins and connect with those that developed it.
Chakra Cleansing
Often times, our yoga classes begin and end with the sound of “om.” The origins of this practice are vast, as “om” is considered a sacred, life energizing syllable, aligning the practitioner with the Divine when repeated and chanted. Chanting certain syllables in Sanskrit can engage corresponding chakras, clearing energetic blockages. For example, when chanting “ham” (pronounced “hum”), your throat chakra is engaged, responsible for communication, creative expression, and memory. If this chakra is blocked or overactive, you could be experiencing writer’s block or memory loss, or conversely, an overabundance in communication that is mindless, often leading to miscommunications in your daily life.
When we arrive at our mat and begin our practice, we chant, we meditate, we flow throw our poses, and we inevitably feel a sense of renewal. But our work does not have to stop there. A connection to the rich history of of yoga through understanding Sanskrit feels like a gift; a portal through time where the connection between the creators and yourself is possible, powerful, and important.
Author: Sarah Ronau