Introduction to Sanskrit

Sanskrit, the ancient language of India, offers yoga and meditation practitioners a deeper connection to their practice through sound, vibration, and meaning. But if you haven’t been introduced to some of the basics, it can be easy to feel intimidated by another language.

This three-hour introduction bridges the gap between modern yoga/meditation practice and the basics of Sanskrit, making the language accessible to contemporary practitioners for the purposes of chanting, reciting mantras, or in simply becoming more intimate with the tradition. Students will learn principles of pronunciation, some (very) basic grammar, and common vocabulary you’ll recognize from yoga classes, mantras, or from yogic texts.

Through a blend of traditional learning methods and modern pedagogical approaches, students will discover how Sanskrit can help serve as a gateway to understanding the subtler aspects of yoga philosophy. The workshop emphasizes practical application, focusing on some commonly used words, verses, and mantras while giving you what you need to build confidence in pronunciation (for your teaching or personal practices).

Whether you're a yoga teacher looking to enhance your instruction or a practitioner seeking to deepen your connection to the tradition, this workshop provides the foundation for a lifelong journey with this profound and beautiful language.

The three-hour workshop includes a deep-dive into pronunciation, an overview of key Sanskrit terms from yoga philosophy, and a guided practice of recitation to apply the knowledge you’ve learned. We will progress from the basics of the Sanskrit alphabet to a confident recitation of essential mantras, developing both practical skills and an appreciation for Sanskrit's important role in yogic practice.

In our increasingly digital and disconnected world, the ancient practice of chanting offers a profound way to reconnect with ourselves and others through sound vibration. Modern science is now validating what ancient practitioners knew intuitively: sound has a measurable effect on our physical and mental well-being. Research in cymatics demonstrates how sound waves create ordered geometric patterns in matter, suggesting the organizing principle of sound vibration. These patterns appear strikingly similar to those found in nature and sacred geometry, hinting at deeper universal principles.

Jacob Kyle is a meditation teacher, writer, philosophy educator, and the Founding Director of Embodied Philosophy. His guiding mission is to re-imagine the modern function of the yoga teacher in alignment with the teachings, texts, and traditions of yoga's profound history. He believes that by building a network of teachers who share a commitment to disseminating the deeper teachings and practices of yoga, we can build a world based on wisdom rather than ideology and divisiveness.

Jacob is a doctoral student at the University of Oxford, researching Abhinavagupta's Philosophy of Language and Meditation with advisor Diwakar Acharya. He holds an MPhil in Classical Indian Religions from Oxford (2023), an MA in Philosophy from the New School for Social Research (2017), and an MSc in Political Theory from the London School of Economics (2007). Jacob is a passionate advocate of Kashmir Śaivism and a devoted practitioner of the Śaiva-Śākta Darśana.

3-Hour Immersive Workshop to strengthen your practice, build confidence in Sanskrit pronunciation, enhance your understanding of yogic philosophy, and experience the transformative effects of sound and vibration through practical chanting techniques and theoretical foundations.
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