Sanskrit

Yoga seems to be in the news lately, probably because it has become fairly popular in mainstream culture.  I read about the problems that some people have when practicing yoga too strenuously (not an issue for me, that's for sure!).  Just last week I read that some purists are concerned that the word Hindu does not even appear in yoga magazines.

I understand that my once-a-week yoga class does not, in many ways, mirror a true yogi's practice, but I do know that I feel good after a class, and the physical stretching to keep my muscles from becoming too stiff is part of the three-pronged approach to exercise (with aerobic and strengthening exercises also important).

My yoga teacher does, actually, hint at Hinduism at the beginning of every class.  We start with three Ohms and then chant the Invocation to Patanjali.  Over the past two years I have gone from the "repeat after me" mode of the chant to almost having it memorized, even though I really don't think about the meaning of the Sanskrit.  I have looked it up, and you can read the chant here in both Sanskrit and English.