The Language Of Yoga: Complete A To Y Guide To Āsana Names, Sanskrit Terms, And Chants

by Nicolai Bachman

The Language of Yoga is a definitive guide to the asana (physical postures) limb of yoga. This edition contains more than 200 illustrated yoga postures with both English and Sanskrit names. Additional yoga-related Sanskrit terms and over a dozen common chants and sutras round out the content. Audio pronunciation guides help readers gain the knowledge, confidence, and precision of mastering the Sanskrit names and chants correctly. Written by a respected Sanskrit scholar, The Language of Yoga is a perfect tool to help edify and empower yoga students (and teachers) on their path to deepening their yoga practice.

Genres: Nonfiction, Reference, Spirituality, Hinduism, Health

152 pages, Spiral-bound

First published October 31, 2005

Reviews

[Julie]

At last adding this to my yoga library, during the week I signed up for Yoga Teacher Training, set to begin April 2020. You may recall that I signed up for YTT last year for a program set to take place earlier this year. Program was cancelled, but my disappointment was short-lived. I learned over the summer the teacher-trainer-yogi I've been waiting years for is finally offering her training, along with a MD-yogi and an ayurvedic specialist.

This glossary, with its two CDs, is an absolute treasure. I'm such a visual learner, but also have an ear for languages, that to finally put both together- hearing those familiar sounds pronounced correctly and seeing phonetic spellings AND the definitions all at one time helps the linguistic light to turn on. I look forward to deepening my practice with a better understanding of how the Sanskrit relates to position and limb.

[Connie]

The book is basically a reference with 2 CD's so you can follow along and hear the pronunciations - and also see the written sanskrit if you are working on that as well. I found this very helpful - the CD's are organized so that you can hear the pronunciation and english translation and there is a pause for you to practice pronouncing it and then it is repeated again. I found this to be pretty helpful in working on remembering it all.

Note that it's very Astanga oriented, but that's a great place to start.

[Kathleen]

Fabulous yoga reference book - illustrations of yoga asanas (postures), with accompanying Sanskrit and English names is invaluable. An added bonus is the CD with correct pronunciations and wonderful, lyric chants. A sensational, must-have book for the yoga teacher. Another book that is always by my side, constantly referred to and re-reading (and listening!)

[D]

Spiral bound book that is easy to lay flat.

Sanskirt is called the "language of the Gods" because it is said that the Gods understand and communicate in Sanskrit. The sound of the Vedic hymns is their life, preserved by thousands of generations through chanting.

This sacred language originated from oral traditions developed to communicate the spiritual insights of ancient sages.

Vedas are the earliest known Sanskrit writing, beginning with the Rg Veda, whose written form dates back to at least 1500 BCE.


Includes a list of the vāyus, the primary components of breath. These energies are responsible for all movement in the body. Governed by prāna, all five affect and are affected by an āsana:

apāna: downward moving force governing excretion, "downward breath"
prāna: primary moving force governing ingestion, attention, "primary breath"
samāna: inward moving force governing digestion and homeostasis, "equalizing breath"
vyāna: outward moving force governing circulation, "pervading breath"
udāna: upward moving force governing effort, speech, "upward breath"

While yoga in the West is largely focused on practicing physical postures (āsanas), the āsana, in face, is only one of eight distinct limbs of yoga. The Indian process of learning is largely based on viewing an object from a variety of angles, thus seeing it in its complete form.

Cakra Location Element
throat space
heart air
navel fire
reproductive area water
base of the spine earth

Chants

Vande Gurūnām

Devotion to the lotus feet of all gurus, equated with Śiva. Second half to Patañjali, considred an incarnation of Visnu.

I worship the lotus feet of all the gurus,
which awaken and manifest joy in oneself;
beyond comparison, appearing as a snake-charmer (Śiva)
for pacifying the poisonous delusion of samsāra (the cycle of birth and death).

In the form of a man up to the shoulders,
holding the conch (divine sound), discus (wheel of time), and sword (discrimination),
thousand-headed, white,
I bow respectfully to Patañjali.

Mańgala Mantra (Auspicious Mantra)

May all people be well.
May great masters protect the earth properly and justly.
May one be eternally fortunate with cows (wealth) and wise ones.
May all worlds be happy.

Śiva Matra (from Nirālamba Upanisad)

Om namah Śivāya gurave
saccidānanda-mūrtaye,
nisprapañcāya śantāya
nirālambāya tejase.

Salutations to Śiva, the teacher
whose form is truth, consciousness, and bliss,
who is without deceit, tranquil,
independent, and illuminating.

Patañjali wrote the yoga sūtras between 500-200 BCE. This concise set of 196 aphorisms has become the most widely accepted treatise on yoga as a development of human consciousness.


Directions and Positions

adho downward
parivartana revolving
parivrtta revolved
pārśva side
paścima back, behind, West
prasārita spread
pūrva front, East
sthiti standing
supta supine
tiryań oblique
upavista seated
ūrdhva upward
utthita extended
uttāna out-stretching
viparìta inverted


Drstis (view)
angusthāgra tip of thumb
bhrūmadhya between the eyebrows
hastāgra tip of the hand
nābhicakr navel cakra
nasāgra tip of the nose
pādāgra tip of the foot
pārśva sideways (far left or far right)
ūrdhva upwards

Kleśas (afflictions)

In Patanjali's Yoga Sūtras, these five afflictions are the cause of future karma and suffering. Avidyā (ignorance), the most important, is the field for the others, which can only exist in its presence.

avidyā ignorance
asmitā ego (I am-ness)
rāga attachment, passion, desire
dvesa aversion, dislike
abhiniveśa will to survive, fear of death

Mudrās (seals or gestures)

Each mudrā> has a specific energetic. Often fingers touch each other, effectively connecting energy channels (nādīs) of the body that affect both the gesturer and gesturee.

abhaya-mudrā "no fear gesture"
añjali-mudrā "prayer gesture"
cin-mudrā "consciousness gesture"
dhyāna-mudrā "meditation gesture"
jñāna-mudrā "knowledge gesture"
kārana-mudrā "banishing gesture"
varadā-mudrā "granting a boon geasture"
yoni-mudrā "womb gesture"

Prānāyāma (breath regulation)

kapāla-bhaāti breath of fire "skull-shining"
ujjāyī breathe making a sound in the throat by narrowing the trachea "overcoming"

Bandhas (bindings or locks)

Bandhas are muscular locks created by contracting or squeezing certain muscles, holding them, then releasing them, thereby relaxing that area of the body. Bandhas strengthen and balance the nervous system and subtle body, and can be used for a variety of therapeutic effects.

jālandhara-bandha throat lock "net support"
jihvā-bandha tongue lock
mūla-bandha root lock
uddīyāna-bandha rising up lock

[Britt Skrabanek]

You know all of that Sanskrit you've heard in your Yoga classes? Chances are the pronunciation is all wrong.

This is a great tool for anyone who is becoming a Yoga teacher, or a student who wants to learn the right way to say those tongue-twisting asanas.

Great tool!

[Kaethe]

Only 3 stars because the companion CDs are poor - they only give one repetition and in pitched language/chanting, one should really employ someone who will maintain correct pitch throughout. Additionally, the introduction is full of blanket statements, overstatements, and incorrect facts.

[Anna]

Not one i would sit down and read cover to cover, but one of favorite, most useful resources for sure! Love the spiral binding and CDs, also the sketches of postures are great for getting the general idea of a pose. Great to make flash cards for too!

[Stephanie Spence]

I refer to this again and again. Bachman delivered an indispensable reference guide for any student of yoga.

[judith carlisle]

Useful as overview and quick reference

[Em]

Required for YogaFit training. The CDs are very helpful.

[Malasana]

The Language of Yoga gives a brief yet balanced introduction to Sanskrit, the language of yoga. This book has two accompanying CDs that demonstrate Sanskrit pronunciation. The CDs touch on the alphabet, yoga terms, yoga sutras, pose (asana) names and chants. Pose pictures are provided throughout the book which will help beginners identify poses with odd names. Learning Sanskrit or any language is a challenging commitment. The Language of Yoga offers a strong base -- a solid starting point... For the rest of my review, visit YogaShelf.

[Kimberly K]

This is a great way to learn Sanskrit... I had so much trouble remembering the words when I wasn't sure how to pronounce them. This book includes two audio CDs to listen to. The words are written in English, in Sanskrit symbols and phonetically.

[Lauren]

The book and the accompanying CDs are THE way to learn the Sanskrit asana names. The book is primarily based on Ashtanga series poses, but so resourceful for all traditions of yoga. Very good and will be a frequently used tool for many many years.

[Amy]

This reference tool is soooper-helpful for learning Sanskrit names of poses and the meanings of the building-block syllables of Sanskrit (dwi eka pada etc.). The accompanying audio CDs are terrific for listening in the car.

[Carrie LeAnne]

This is an excellent book with accompanying CD's for the student learning Sanskrit pronunciation as well as the meaning of common yoga Sanskrit words. Highly recommend!

Required reading for YogaFit's Level 4 Training.


I own a hardback and an IBook version as well.

[Melissa]

wonderful resource for learning the Sanskrit names for yoga poses

[Nikki]

very useful

[Ruby Annette]

The audio CDs is very helpful to learn sanscript faster.

[Susie Schmidt]

Awesome tool for reference

[Heather]

An invaluable reference for yoga teachers!

[Cody]

Immensely useful as a quick reference for any yoga teacher or practitioner.