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Sanskrit is the ancient language of India. All of the ancient Indian texts were written in Sanskrit. You may recall a mention of the Vedas and the Upanishads in your high school history class; these texts are the foundation of Hindu philosophy and sacred treatises.
The Yoga postures/poses are in Sanskrit as well as the mantras and kirtans that you may chant in a Yoga class. It is handy getting to know some of the basics of Sanskrit when it comes to learning the poses because it’s a universal language used in every Yoga class. You could be on holiday in France, Japan, Peru or anywhere for that matter, and if you attend a Yoga class there, it’s highly likely your teacher will say the pose in Sanskrit as well as translated into the local language.
I love studying languages, so when I was studying for my Yoga teacher certification, the Sanskrit module really caught my attention. Below are some examples of animals, numbers and body parts in Sanskrit that are used in a Yoga class.

Posters from my Yoga Teacher Training

More Posters from my Yoga Teacher Training
If you would like to brush up on your Sanskrit and how it relates to Yoga, feel free to contact me for a class and during your Yoga session I will put an emphasis on your learning and understanding of the poses and their Sanskrit equivalent.