As every true yogi knows, there is so much more to yoga than poses, deep breathing and exercise. To live the lifestyle, you must immerse yourself in the beautiful Sanskrit language.
Are you ready to venture beyond the Shamanic experience of your typical yoga practice? Here are the top five Sanskrit words we believe every yogi should know.
#1 Drishti (concentrated intention)
At its heart, yoga is the practice of concentration. It teaches you to see everything that is in front of you, by harnessing every one of your senses – including intuition. Practising yoga allows you to focus your energy and attention entirely on your immediate thoughts and feelings.
#2 Satya (honesty and truth)
Be honest with yourself. Once you grab hold of and internalise this truth, you will stop seeking answers, approval and validation from others. Your daily yoga routine will enlighten you to be upfront about your mistakes and help you make better choices in future.
Before long, you will surrender all the baggage, and become a living expression of your innermost desires.
#3 Santosa (contentment)
Your thoughts are extremely powerful. They can give rise to all sorts of positive and negative emotions. Some of these emotions come directly from outside influences, and some are hidden within.
As a big part of yoga is practising mindfulness, you can find the right balance and gain control of every thought. Through daily practice, you will also learn gratitude, access your inner strength and grow from the inside out.
#4 Abhyasa (practice)
Abhyasa is defined as disciplines you perform to remain in a harmonious state with your own self. To achieve this harmony, Abhyasa must be practised over many years, without interruption, and with absolute respect and honour.
During this practice, you must focus all your energy inward. This means, no thinking about how you perceive people or events, and no thinking about pain or pleasure.
#5 Sraddha (faith)
Do you feel stuck in a rut? Are you uncertain where your life is going to lead you? Sraddha is a concept you should grab onto with both hands.
It is the inner belief that you are heading exactly where you should be. The belief that all of your dreams, goals and ambitions are possible, and that you are always in the right place at the right time.
Learning Sanskrit words like these is an important step in becoming a yogi. To learn more Sanskrit terms, contact Mukti Freedom Yoga today.