Say What?
Have you ever followed your teacher in a Sanskrit chant while thinking, "What the heck does this mean?" or even, "Can we skip this and get right to the postures?" Of course, once you understand something it always has more meaning. And if you're a yogi, it's worth gaining some understanding of this ancient tongue.
In India, Sanskrit is considered a divine language-spoken by gods and capable of connecting mere mortals with the transcendent Self. Reverence for Sanskrit mantras has been adopted by many Western yogis, either in the form of invocations before asana practice, kirtan (chanting), or japa (mantra repetition).
Given today's shortage of Sanskrit speakers (even in its heyday, several thousand years ago, the language was known only to a small clique within the educated elite), what's an American mantra aficionado to do? Check out Yoga Journal's Beginner's Guide to Common Chants. You may find it a refreshing way to revitalize your practice and get more out of class.