{"id":1253,"date":"2021-04-13T12:34:44","date_gmt":"2021-04-13T12:34:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/insight.yoga\/Insight\/?page_id=1253"},"modified":"2025-05-20T06:23:24","modified_gmt":"2025-05-20T05:23:24","slug":"language-of-yoga","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/insight.yoga\/de\/language-of-yoga\/","title":{"rendered":"language of yoga"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Sanskrit-The Main language of yoga<\/h3>\n
<\/div>\n

TAs I lived in India for seven years and worked in meditation centres and ashrams, I needed
\nto learn the modern Indian language \u2018Hindi\u2019, which is based on Sanskrit and has the same
\nscript. From 1996 onwards, I have studied at the Landour Language School, which offers
\nwell-structured courses in Hindi and Sanskrit. Many universities in the west send their
\nstudents there to live and breathe these languages in their cultural setting.<\/p>\n

While privately studying these languages, I cannot claim to be a Sanskrit scholar or linguist.
\nTherefore, I only teach introductory courses, focusing on important vocabulary for yoga
\nteaching. These introductions range from absolute basics to learning to read and write. Here
\nis an overview of what I offer in this area of study:<\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

<\/div>\n

History<\/h3>\n
    \n
  • \n
      \n
    • Origins of Language<\/li>\n
    • The Indo-European Language Family<\/li>\n
    • The Harrapan Civilisation (c. 3500-1500 B.C.E.)<\/li>\n
    • The Aryan Invasion (c. 1750 B.C.E.)<\/li>\n
    • The Indus-Sarasvati-Civilisation<\/li>\n
    • Sanskrit in Vedic Rituals (Vedic Sanskrit): Mantra Yoga<\/li>\n
    • Classical Sanskrit<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

      Devan\u0101gari-Script: Transliteration & Pronunciation<\/h3>\n
        \n
      • \n
          \n
        • Sanskrit is a phonetic language<\/li>\n
        • The Devan\u0101gari-Script<\/li>\n
        • Vocals<\/li>\n
        • Vocals with a long\/pronounced and short-form<\/li>\n
        • Other Vocals<\/li>\n
        • The special vocals: Anusv\u0101ra & Visarga<\/li>\n
        • The short-forms of vocals<\/li>\n
        • Consonants<\/li>\n
        • Unaspirated & aspirated consonants<\/li>\n
        • Gutturals<\/li>\n
        • Palatals<\/li>\n
        • Cerebrals<\/li>\n
        • Dentals<\/li>\n
        • Labials<\/li>\n
        • Semi-Vowels<\/li>\n
        • Sibilants<\/li>\n
        • Combinations of Consonants<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

          Exercises<\/h3>\n

          Forming simple words<\/p>\n

            \n
          • Writing the Devan\u0101gari Alphabet<\/li>\n
          • Transliterating the Devan\u0101gari-Script<\/li>\n
          • Writing Exercises<\/li>\n
          • Reading Exercises
            \n

            \u0100sana-Names<\/h3>\n<\/li>\n
          • Combining words in Sanskrit<\/li>\n
          • S\u016brya Namask\u0101ra<\/li>\n
          • Counting<\/li>\n
          • Standing Poses<\/li>\n
          • Backbending Poses<\/li>\n
          • Seated Forward Bends<\/li>\n
          • Twists<\/li>\n
          • H\u00fcft\u00f6ffner<\/li>\n
          • Inversions<\/li>\n
          • Postures lying down
            \n

            Pr\u0101\u1e47\u0101y\u0101ma-Terminology<\/h3>\n<\/li>\n
          • Breathing Techniques<\/li>\n
          • Mudr\u0101 & Bandha<\/li>\n
          • Kumbhaka
            \n

            The Energetic System (pr\u0101\u1e47amayako\u015ba)<\/h3>\n<\/li>\n
          • Ko\u015ba<\/li>\n
          • Cakra<\/li>\n
          • N\u0101\u1e0d\u012b<\/li>\n
          • V\u0101yu<\/li>\n
          • Miscellaneous
            \n

            Yoga Philosophy<\/h3>\n<\/li>\n
          • Foundational Terms<\/li>\n
          • Philosophical Systems
            \n

            Important Mantras<\/h3>\n<\/li>\n
          • -Mantra (\u1e5ag-Veda)<\/li>\n
          • Ma\u1e45gala-Mantra<\/li>\n
          • Teacher-Student Invocation (\u015a\u0101nti-Mantra)<\/li>\n
          • Jyotir-Mantra (B\u1e5bhad\u0101ra\u1e47yaka Upani\u1e63ad)<\/li>\n
          • Completeness-Mantra (I\u015bopani\u1e63ad)<\/li>\n
          • Mah\u0101-M\u1e5btyu\u1e45jaya Mantra (\u1e5ag-Veda)
            \n

            Classical Quotes<\/h3>\n<\/li>\n
          • Upani\u1e63ads<\/li>\n
          • P\u0101ta\u00f1jala Yoga\u015b\u0101stra<\/li>\n
          • Ha\u1e6dha Yoga Texts<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>