Cobra or Bhujangasana
Down Dog or Adho Mukha Svanasana
Chair or Utkatasana
Or the real question being: is it important to use Sanskrit, or does sticking with English make yoga more accessible? Does knowing the Sanskrit make you a "serious yogi" or does it create an intimidating environment for beginniners?
My own teacher training emphasized using both--knowing the Sanskrit to honor the tradition, but giving the English translation to allow students to easily learn poses. Calling the pose Chair makes a quick connection--we all know what that is and can find the pose in our bodies. But then, I like using the Sanskrit because it's fun to say (try it with me: OOT-ka-TAHS-anna).
When it comes to poses I think that whatever helps you connect and be comfortable is what you should use. Where it seems to me useful to use Sanskrit is in the larger concepts that make up yoga philosophy--words that might not have an easy translation into English. The concept of dharma for example. A simple translation would be duty, or work. These have fairly negative connotations, and don't give the full breadth of the idea. My favorite way of thinking of dharma is as the need to have a meaningful interactions with the world--reminding us that we must work, but we also need that work to express our unique potential. That's a bit much to cram into any single word, though 'right livelihood' comes close. When I use the word dharma I make space for all my ideas about the concept, and avoid this culture's more puritanical ideas of work.
What is your experience with Sanskrit? Do you find it a help or a hindrance?
Down Dog or Adho Mukha Svanasana
Chair or Utkatasana
Or the real question being: is it important to use Sanskrit, or does sticking with English make yoga more accessible? Does knowing the Sanskrit make you a "serious yogi" or does it create an intimidating environment for beginniners?
My own teacher training emphasized using both--knowing the Sanskrit to honor the tradition, but giving the English translation to allow students to easily learn poses. Calling the pose Chair makes a quick connection--we all know what that is and can find the pose in our bodies. But then, I like using the Sanskrit because it's fun to say (try it with me: OOT-ka-TAHS-anna).
ut-my-asana
When it comes to poses I think that whatever helps you connect and be comfortable is what you should use. Where it seems to me useful to use Sanskrit is in the larger concepts that make up yoga philosophy--words that might not have an easy translation into English. The concept of dharma for example. A simple translation would be duty, or work. These have fairly negative connotations, and don't give the full breadth of the idea. My favorite way of thinking of dharma is as the need to have a meaningful interactions with the world--reminding us that we must work, but we also need that work to express our unique potential. That's a bit much to cram into any single word, though 'right livelihood' comes close. When I use the word dharma I make space for all my ideas about the concept, and avoid this culture's more puritanical ideas of work.
What is your experience with Sanskrit? Do you find it a help or a hindrance?
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