Sanskrit is the classical language of ancient India, and the language in which the earliest texts describing yoga philosophy and practice were written. Sanskrit still has a key role in modern studio-based yoga, where ideas, terms, chanting, and key phrases (like, “namaste”) are used in studios around the world.
But for most yoga teachers and practitioners, truly understanding Sanskrit has felt out of reach. Learning this difficult language properly requires years of dedicated time and effort. and many existing ways to learn Sanskrit offer sectarian or denominational perspectives on yoga.
Developed by Associate Professor Adheesh Sathaye, a leading UBC Sanskrit scholar with over 20 years of teaching experience, “Sanskrit for the Yoga Studio” is designed to address this challenge. The course focuses on appreciating the Sanskrit language in an accessible and fun way, offers non-denominational ideas, phrases, pronunciation, and chanting techniques that you can integrate directly into modern yoga studios, and creates a learning pathway that is self-paced and manageable for a wide range of learners.
What you will learn
By the end of this course, you will:
- Gain an appreciation of Sanskrit as the classical language of yoga philosophy and practice in premodern India.
- Develop pronunciation and chanting skills to articulate Sanskrit syllables, words, and verses in a mindful and culturally respectful manner.
- Integrate classical yoga ideas, vocabulary, and verses (mantras) into your professional and/or personal yoga practice, through textually- and historically-grounded, non-denominational pathways.
- Build a foundation for future formal language training in Sanskrit if you’d like to dive deeper.
Details
- Date: October, 2026 (day TBC)
- Course Type: hybrid - online asynchronous with lecture videos, assignments and exercises and a 2 hour live instructor session each week (recorded for students who cannot attend).
- Price: TBC
Who is this for?
English-proficient yoga professionals and practitioners who wish to integrate Sanskrit language (pronunciation and vocabulary), ideas (philosophical and practical), and chanting techniques into their studio-based yoga practice—or those who are curious about this language, and wish to develop an appreciation in order to begin a formal study of the language.
No prior knowledge of Sanskrit is required, only curiosity and a connection to yoga practice.
It’s the right fit if you:
- Teach yoga and want to introduce or refine Sanskrit pronunciation and vocabulary in your classes
- Practice yoga and are curious about the classical language and ideas behind what you hear and say
- Are interested in chanting techniques but unsure how to approach them respectfully and meaningfully
- Want a foundation in Sanskrit before pursuing more formal language study
Meet your instructor
Adheesh Sathaye is an expert in Sanskrit language, literature, and cultural history who has taught at UBC for more than 20 years. He specializes in Sanskrit poetry, theatre, and story literature, and was the Lead Organizer of the 2018 World Sanskrit Conference. His online course materials on Sanskrit have thousands of views and are used by universities all over the world. Born in the US and raised by Indian parents, Adheesh has had a lifelong interest in investigating the classical traditions of India, including yoga, and to find ways to help North American learners appreciate these incredible ideas and practices from a nondenominational perspective.
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