Sanskrit for Yoga Teacher Training
Online and In Person Across the UK and Internationally
Give your students a deeper understanding of the language, terminology and traditions that underpin yoga. Sanskrit is an essential part of the yoga tradition, yet it is often overlooked in teacher-training programmes.
I offer specialist Sanskrit teaching for yoga teacher-training courses, helping students develop a greater understanding of the language and its relationship to yoga philosophy and practice.
Whether you're looking for a dedicated Sanskrit module or a session tailored to your existing curriculum, I can adapt my teaching to suit the needs and interests of your students.
Why include Sanskrit in your Teacher Training?
Give Your Students More Than Sanskrit Terminology
Sanskrit is woven into the language, philosophy and practice of yoga, yet many yoga teachers complete their training with only a superficial understanding of it.
By including Sanskrit in your teacher-training programme, you can give your students something more than a list of postures and terminology to memorise. You can help them understand the language they are using and the traditions from which it comes.
Help Your Students Find Their Voice with Confidence
Teach with greater confidence and authenticity. Use Sanskrit accurately, thoughtfully and respectfully in their own classes.
Whether your students are encountering Sanskrit for the first time or already have some familiarity with it, I can make the subject accessible, engaging and relevant to their future teaching.
Connect Your Students with the Deep Lineage of Yoga
Understand what they're saying. Learn the meaning and correct pronunciation of familiar āsana names and commonly used Sanskrit terminology.
Explore the language of yoga beyond the postures. Discover the Sanskrit behind mantras, chanting and traditional texts.
Connect language with philosophy. Develop a deeper understanding of the philosophical and cultural traditions that have shaped yoga.
How Sanskrit Could Be Taught On Your Yoga Teacher Training
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A structured programme delivered over several sessions, giving students time to develop their understanding of Sanskrit sounds, pronunciation, Devanāgarī or terminology, according to the needs and level of the training.
A dedicated Sanskrit module
A focused session within an existing teacher-training programme, bringing specialist knowledge to a particular aspect of Sanskrit, chanting or yoga terminology.
Specialist guest teaching
Work together to identify where Sanskrit could add value to your programme and shape the content around your students, syllabus and available teaching time.
Tailored curriculum support
What Could Your Sanskrit Module Cover?
Every yoga teacher-training programme is different, so I can tailor the content to suit your curriculum and your students' level of experience.
Topics can include:
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Sanskrit pronunciation: Understanding the sounds of Sanskrit and learning to pronounce them accurately.
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Yoga terminology: Exploring the meaning of commonly used Sanskrit terms.
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Āsana names: Understanding how posture names are formed and what they mean.
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Devanāgarī and transliteration: An introduction to the Sanskrit writing system and how Sanskrit is represented in Roman letters.
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Mantras and chanting: Learning traditional chants, their pronunciation and their meanings.
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Sanskrit and yoga philosophy: Exploring key philosophical concepts through the language in which they were expressed.
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Traditional Sanskrit texts: An introduction to reading and understanding passages from texts connected with yoga.
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Bringing Sanskrit into your teaching and practice: Exploring practical ways to incorporate Sanskrit into yoga classes and personal practice, from using āsana names and explaining terminology to introducing chanting, mantras and philosophical ideas.
The content, depth and format can be agreed together, whether you need a single workshop, a series of sessions or a more substantial Sanskrit module.
Elena is a very welcome guest tutor on our yoga teacher training, helping our trainees gain confidence in the use and pronunciation of Sanskrit. Her warmth and humour puts everyone at ease and Elena has that rare gift among academics in making her subject feel accessible rather than intimidating. Breaking down common words and terms used in everyday class settings, trainees practice writing and sounding them aloud together so that pronunciation settles into the head as well as the body. Having a go and making mistakes is welcomed, never judged. I would recommend Elena’s approach to both new and seasoned yoga teachers who want to grow or consolidate their confidence with Sanskrit. -
Beverley Nolan, Founder & Director of Studies, Barefoot Body Training.
Online, In Person or a Combination of Both
Every training programme is different. I can discuss the most suitable format for your school, whether that means live online teaching, in-person sessions or a combination of approaches.
The length, structure and focus of the teaching can be discussed around your curriculum, timetable and students' needs.
Specialist Sanskrit Teaching for Yoga Schools
With over 30 years of experience teaching Sanskrit to children and adults, I bring both academic expertise and a practical understanding of how to make this fascinating language accessible and engaging.
I hold a Master's degree in Sanskrit Literature from the University of London and am a Fellow of the Royal Asiatic Society. Alongside my many years teaching at St James School in London, I have worked with a wide range of yoga schools, teacher-training programmes and organisations specialising in meditation, sound and traditional Indian knowledge.
My particular strength lies in making Sanskrit approachable. It can seem like an intimidating language, especially to those encountering it for the first time, but I enjoy breaking down those barriers and helping students discover that Sanskrit is something they can understand and enjoy. My teaching combines academic rigour with warmth, clarity and enthusiasm, giving students the confidence to explore the language and bring what they learn into their own teaching and practice.
I have worked with many organisations on YTT and other types of workshops and courses:
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College of Sound Healing
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British School of Meditation
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Temenos Academy (Perennial Philosophy Course)
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A Fine Balance Yoga Studio
Frequently Asked Questions About Adding Sanskrit to Your Syllabus
Yes. I regularly work with yoga schools and teacher-training providers, delivering Sanskrit teaching as part of their existing programmes. I can offer a standalone workshop, a series of sessions or a more substantial module, depending on your requirements.
Absolutely. Every training programme is different, and I'm happy to work with you to develop content that complements your existing curriculum. We can focus on the areas most relevant to your students, whether that's pronunciation, āsana terminology, chanting, philosophy or traditional texts.
Yes. I can adapt the content and level of teaching to suit both 200-hour foundation programmes and more advanced 300-hour training. For students with some existing knowledge, we can explore Sanskrit language, philosophy and texts in greater depth.
Yes. I teach online and in person across the UK and internationally. Online sessions can be delivered live and interactively, with opportunities for questions, discussion and chanting practice.
This depends on what you'd like your students to gain from the experience. Even a short workshop can provide a valuable introduction to Sanskrit pronunciation and terminology. With more time, we can explore the language in greater depth and give students opportunities to practise and consolidate what they've learned. I'm happy to discuss what would work best within your programme.
Not at all. Most of the students I teach in yoga teacher-training programmes are complete beginners. My particular strength is making Sanskrit approachable, breaking down what can initially seem complicated into clear, manageable steps. Students with previous experience can also be accommodated.
Yes. Alongside general introductions to Sanskrit, I offer more focused teaching in areas such as Devanāgarī, Sanskrit pronunciation, Vedic chanting, mantras, yoga philosophy and traditional texts. We can also explore practical ways for students to incorporate Sanskrit into their own yoga teaching and personal practice.
Let's Talk About Sanskrit for Your Training
Whether you're building a new teacher-training curriculum or looking to strengthen an existing programme, I would love to discuss how Sanskrit teaching could fit.