Trikonasana or Triangle?

Have you ever attended a yoga class during which the teacher only used the Sanskrit terms for the poses and wasn't demonstrating? I have, so I know it can be very intimidating. Even with 14 years of teaching under my belt, I don't remember all the Sanskrit names. After all, I don't speak Sanskrit, and there's a part of me that's always felt it wasn't my place to use it since I'm not Hindu, Buddhist or Jain. So for the most part I don't use it, except when cuing "Savasanah" (corpse pose), which we do at the end of class, (i.e. final relaxation), and in closing with "Namaste" (greeting, honoring the divinity or light in all).

There are many opinions about whether Western yoga teachers should or should not use the Sanskrit. I've always opted not to do so, but with time and learning and reflection that could change. In the meantime, know that you can come to my class and not only will you see me demonstrate every pose, I will also use the English name and clearly instruct how to do each pose.

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