The Language of Yoga: Complete A-to-Y Guide to Asana Names, Sanskrit Terms, and Chants

An in-depth reference guide to the vast majority of Sanskrit posture names, terms, and chants used in yoga.

Ashtanga. Adhomukhashvanasana, Chakra. Prana. The complex terminology of yoga can be overwhelming to someone new to the practice.

For longtime Sanskrit and yoga scholar Nicolai Bachman, these words are not just foreign terms to be memorized and recited during practice. In The Language of Yoga, Bachman shows that each syllable is a door to deeper, richer engagement with yoga not only as a physical exercise, but as a living, vibrating connection to the life force of this tradition. Providing translation, cultural significance, and precise pronunciation for more than 200 illustrated asanas, The Language of Yoga is the definitive guide to the modern usage of Sanskrit.