language of yoga

Sanskrit-The Main language of yoga

TAs I lived in India for seven years and worked in meditation centres and ashrams, I needed
to learn the modern Indian language ‘Hindi’, which is based on Sanskrit and has the same
script. From 1996 onwards, I have studied at the Landour Language School, which offers
well-structured courses in Hindi and Sanskrit. Many universities in the west send their
students there to live and breathe these languages in their cultural setting.

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

History

- Origins of Language
- The Indo-European Language Family
- The Harrapan Civilisation (c. 3500-1500 B.C.E.)
- The Aryan Invasion (c. 1750 B.C.E.)
- The Indus-Sarasvati-Civilisation
- Sanskrit in Vedic Rituals (Vedic Sanskrit): Mantra Yoga
- Classical Sanskrit

Devanāgari-Script: Transliteration & Pronunciation

- Sanskrit is a phonetic language
- The Devanāgari-Script
- Vocals
- Vocals with a long/pronounced and short-form
- Other Vocals
- The special vocals: Anusvāra & Visarga
- The short-forms of vocals
- Consonants
- Unaspirated & aspirated consonants
- Gutturals
- Palatals
- Cerebrals
- Dentals
- Labials
- Semi-Vowels
- Sibilants
- Combinations of Consonants