Following a recent article in the Sunday Times magazine, where the journalist suggested that a lot of people have no idea what they are chanting in their yoga class, here is the Sanskrit version of the Ashtanga Yoga Opening Chant along with the English translation. Enjoy!! om vande gurunam charanaravinde sandarshita svatma sukhava bodhe nih shreyase jangalikayamane samsara halahala mohashantyai abahu purusakaram shankhacakrasi dharinam sahasra shirasam shvetam pranamami patanjalim om The opening chant translated to English: Om I bow to the lotus feet of the gurus, The awakening happiness of one’s own self revealed, Beyond better, acting like the jungle physician, Pacifying delusion, the poison of samsara. Taking the form of a man to the shoulders, Holding a conch, a discus, and a sword, One thousand heads white, To Patanjali, I salute. Om