Course Info:
Class Dates
Saturday, November 12th
Saturday, November 19th
Saturday, December 3rd
Saturday, December 10th
Class Time
10:00am - 11:30am CST
Online via Zoom
Registration Price
Full-time Student: $50
Attendee: $100
Supporter: $250
Class Materials
Reference material and exercises will be provided
As the practice of Yoga continues to grow around the world Sanskrit—the language of Indian spiritual scriptures, such as the Bhagavad Gita, the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, the Vedas, and the Upanishads—plays an important role in honoring and connecting with the ancient roots of the Indian spiritual traditions.
The practice of Yoga teaches us that our studentship is never over, and that true understanding comes with reflection and discernment. Studying Sanskrit gives us the opportunity to find a deeper understanding of the messages found in the Vedic and yogic texts so that we may reflect on parallels and differences between our current expression of life and the path to enlightenment.
However, the desire to connect with and honor the roots of yoga through Sanskrit is often overshadowed by hesitation and the difficulty of learning a new language.
In this introductory course, through a combination of lecture and in-class exercises focused on pronunciation and writing, students will be exposed to scriptures without the complexity of in-depth grammar rules and the need for memorization.
This series is perfect for anyone looking to gain familiarity with the use of Sanskrit, whether while practicing or teaching yoga or studying the ancient texts.
Registration includes access to recordings of all of the classes, which can be viewed for two weeks following the date of the last class.
Late registrants will also receive recording links to all missed sessions for viewing.
Goals of the Course:
Learn basic alphabets in Devanagari and Roman script (expanded keyboard)
Learn the pronunciation of Sanskrit words
Gain the ability to read, write, and understand key Sanskrit vocabulary
Gain an overview of Sanskrit language grammar structure(s) and the ability to use a Sanskrit dictionary
Gain understanding the meanings of popular Sanskrit mantras and the ability to read and write them
Meet Vivek
Vivek is the founder of Sangam Retreat, the spiritual arm of The Writing Barn—a writing retreat and workshop space in Austin, Texas that he owns and operates with his wife, Bethany Hegedus.
Born in Lucknow, India, and a graduate of the Indian Institute of Technology, he received his Ph.D. in Physics in the US. A physicist by trade, Vivek is a man of many talents—in fact he was one of the original co-owners of Toy Joy (an Austin staple) and is a Sanskrit scholar.
Vivek has long been a seeker of spiritual wisdom, including meditation, Sanskrit, and the study of various religious traditions. A student of yoga for the past fifteen years, coupled with his studies of Sanskrit at the University of Texas, has led Vivek to develop programming in an effort to serve yogis, yoga therapists, and other spiritual seekers.