What's that Mean?
(Pt 1 of some)

Astavakrasana, antanasana, bhujangasana, supta padangusthasana, virabhadrasana.  You most likely have heard these words elegantly (or not) spoken by your yoga teacher.  If you've been in a traditional Ashtanga class you may hear ekam, dve, trini, catvari.  The language is Sanskrit, an ancient, historical Indo-Aryan language.  We hear Sanskrit in our yoga classes and it's even made it way into Madonna's Ray of Light CD. The climactic battle theme of The Matrix Revolutions is a Sanskrit prayer.  Sanskrit shows up in Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom and in Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace.  

Some instructors are sticklers about using Sanskrit.  They often throw out a pose in Sanskrit and wait for puzzled students to figure out what in the hell pose it is.  One student will know it and everyone falls in line.  Other teachers use a combo approach (I do), using the Sanskrit word followed by the English translation, like, ardha-chandrasana-half-moon, like it's one word.   In some classes, there is very little Sanskrit or none at all.  Every teacher has their reasons why they do what they do and I won't debate it, although I could. 

Here are a few of the most common Sanskrit terms you may hear in class:

Savasana -  You all know what this is.  Many people struggle through the class just for the opportunity to finally lay on their backs and rest (ah!).   It's important and difficult.  You're asked to let go of everything, surrender and be still and this can be tough for some.  And, unfortunately, many classes don't give enough time for this pose.  Note:  Impress your teacher and fellow yogis by pronouncing savasana correctly, like "shovel".   

Tadasana - This is "mountain pose" where you stand still upright, taking the best posture you can, stacking your head over your shoulders over your hips over your ankles.   It can be also referred to as samasthiti (equal standing).  

Namaste - If you're lucky enough to take one of Ann Austin's classes, you'll find she always gives the translation of this term that so many students have heard but do not know what it means.  I used to think it was a thank you to the teacher.  But not so.  Ann's definition is "the light in me sees the light in you."  It's a common greeting in India, coming and going, between young and old and friends and strangers.  Like a pumped up "aloha".  

Om Shanti - This is often at the end of class, following any closing chant: Om shanti, shanti, shanti.  Shanti means peace.  In doing some research, I learned that it should be chanted three times and a silence following the chant representing true peace.(1)  When we hear the word "peace" we often think of the world peace as an abstract notion.  Switch your focus to "inner" peace through mindfulness, equanimity, and compassion.  

Just like any tradition, craft, skill or art form, there are non-English words which are specific to it.  Take the French language used for ballet or Latin for Catholicism or the sciences, and Greek for yogurt (hah!).   Yoga's got Sanskirt.  Learn a few.  

Shanti, shanti, shanti.

(1) http://archives.amritapuri.org/bharat/mantra/shanti.php  

Want to read some of my previous articles?  You can do it here.  Enjoy. 

Losing weight can make a big difference in one's health.  But you don't have to loose a ton of weight to see a big change.  It's in the first 10% of weight loss, or 20 lbs if you're at 200.  Science Daily again.  This can be a big motivator to set your sights on losing a moderate amount of weight versus feeling the need to get to prom night weight.

Research showed that: 

 "Even modest weight loss, an average of 14 pounds, reduced people's risk of developing Type 2 diabetes by 58 percent, she said. What's more, the health benefits of this weight loss lasted up to 10 years, even if people gained the weight back over this time, she said. Weight losses of just 10 percent of a person's body weight (or about 20 pounds in those who weigh 200 pounds) have also been shown to have a long-term impact on sleep apnea, hypertension and quality of life, and to slow the decline in mobility that occurs as people age."

Yoga Studio Ganesha: www.yogastudioganesha.com 

Westside Yoga Studio: www.westsideyogastudio.net 

Body Works Yoga:  www.bodyworksyoga.com 

Graton's Got Yoga: www.yogaingraton.com 

Sonoma Community:  www.yogacommunity.net   

Wednesday Night Change.  

I am no longer teaching my Wednesday night class.  I will greatly miss all of my lovely, loyal students.  But you'll all be in expert hands with the teachings of Usha Carmen, who blends her background in Iyengar and Anusara Yoga to present a well-rounded flow class with attention to alignment.  Please join her on Wednesdays at 5:30.      

Westside Yoga Studio Gets It.  Find me there on Mondays at 7:30 p.m. for an hour of restorative yoga (also known as "laying around").  Please come, your nervous system will thank you.  AND just added is a Friday Vinyasa Flow class from 4:30 - 6:00. This class is for everyone, that means you!

Mary Ellen Whitton created North Bay Yoga Connections newsletter. To sign up, click here.