Hello October

It’s been a year that I began tutoring school-age children after my yoga classes. The other day, one of my students was reading a Japanese story and after stumbling over the main character’s name, opted to skip over it when he encountered it next. This got me thinking: what happens when we skip over words or other experiences, for that matter, that challenge us? And more specifically, is yoga still yoga without Sanskrit pose names?

Names are often simplified to make it easier to pronounce and not draw attention in another language. However, that can dilute the significance of the name and our experience of it. Take for example, the name of the pose Utthita Trikonasana. In English, it’s typically translated as Extended Triangle Pose. In class, we often abbreviate it further to “Triangle Pose.” While you might move into the pose when directed, knowing the full name, can create awareness within your body that surpasses merely bending into it.

The word Utthita begins with the root “ut”, meaning intense. This is not simply an intense extension of the sides of the torso and the legs. It’s an invitation to bring intensity of awareness that moves beyond physical sensation or effort. The intensity awakens intelligence of the body. We often refer to this as “muscle memory,” but it’s much more. Each time you do the pose, your mind recalls the action and the feeling, sending input to your brain that expands neural pathways. It’s similar to taking the same path you always take and encountering different situations each time; each journey is unique.

Then there’s Trikonasana which means triangle, “tri” three + “kon” angle. When we say this, even silently, we can imagine creating three angles with our arms, body, and legs. Already there arises a firmness, a steadiness to the pose. When we add the idea of extension, Utthita, it deepens the posture, bringing length, awareness, and presence. The intensity embedded in the name isn't just physical; it’s there to awaken you and bring you to life.

So yes, we can skip over hard to pronounce words in a story or simplify Sanskrit names in yoga. And yet, we also have the option to engage more fully by exploring the meaning of words and in doing so, enrich that experience and our life.