Particularly in the field of yoga, the old language of Sanskrit is quite important. Yoga sutras by Patanjali and other original yoga literature were composed in Sanskrit. Gaining proficiency with the subtle features of this language promotes profound, cross-cultural communication, enabling practitioners to completely understand the background and significance of yoga. There is a physical and spiritual resonance to the sound quality, vibrations, and harmonies of Sanskrit words that enhances our practice. Ten inspiring and beautiful Sanskrit words are presented here to encourage fresh insights:

1. Agami, or आगामी
With roots in the Sanskrit verb agam, which means “to return,” “to attain,” or “impending future,” Agami is one of the three categories of karma as described in the Vedas. It explains our present ability to influence future events, either good or bad, by the choices and deeds we take right now.

2. Aham Prema (अहं प्रेम)
Aham Prema, derived from the words “affection” or “universal love” and “I” or “self,” means “I am divine love.” Our actual nature is love, kindness, and tranquilly, as this mantra serves to remind us. It stresses the heavenly ability to love without conditions that everyone of us possesses, promoting pure love and advancing the road to enlightenment.

3. Ahimsa, or अळिंऴा
Ahimsa, which means non-harm or non-violence, is a negative prefix derived from himsa, which means “to cause suffering.” One of the five yamas, or “ethical observances,” in Patanjali’s eightfold path, Ahimsa is seen to be necessary for developing an impartial mind and reaching inner tranquilly.

4. Asana, or आसन
Yoga positions are known as asana, which translates directly to “posture” or “seat.” It is also the fourth of the eight yoga limbs as described by Patanjali. For the most part, most yoga poses—like Tadasana, Bhekasana, and Savasana—have an asana suffix.

5. Atman (आत्मन्)
Atman is the seer, or oneself. Brahman, the world, all that is, is seen to include Atman, the individual soul, in non-dual teachings such as those found in the Upanishads. To dualist schools of thinking, however, they are different.

6. Avidya (अविद्या)
Translating from vidya (meaning “to understand,” “to know,” or “to see clearly”) with the negative prefix a (meaning “un” or “not”), Avidya means “ignorance,” “misunderstanding,” or “delusion.” Important to both Hindu and Buddhist literature, Avidya characterizes a condition of ignorance, or a lack of firsthand knowledge of things as they really are.

7. Ayurveda (आयुर्वेए)
Ayurveda is the combination of ayur, which means “life” or “daily living,” and veda, which means “wisdom” or “knowledge.” Its translation is “wisdom for daily living.” Over 2000 years ago, in India, Ayurveda emerged as a medicinal system predicated on the Doshas.

8. Bhakti Yoga (यक्ति योग)
Known by another name, Bhakti Marga, Bhakti Yoga is the devotional and loving yoga method. Within Hindu canon, it is the way of unselfish love for love’s sake, sung, chanted, prayed, or worshipped a deity.

9. Nine Bhavana (भावना)
Bhavana, derived from bhava, which means “becoming,” “cultivating,” or “development,” is a meditation method for evoking particular bodily states or attributes. It creates an internal state by use of thought, imagery, and imagination, and frequently serves as the foundation for meditation practice.

10. Ten Bandhas (बंप)
Known by their other name, “locks,” bandhas are physical energetic grips used to regulate the pranic energy flow. They are internal mudras and, as kriyas in Hatha Yoga, are methods for body purification.