The Intersection Between Linguistics and Yoga
How Practicing in a New Language Can Transform Your Mind and Body - By Orla Carlin
Reading time: 3 minutes
The intersection of linguistics and yoga: Why practicing yoga in another language is awesome
Recently, I traveled to Barcelona and after a week of learning Spanish I started to miss my Hot Yoga sessions. Although the studios there offered sessions in English; I thought why not just try in Spanish. After learning numbers, colours and objects- I packed my mochila and went to Hot Yoga instructed in Spanish.
We can see many different styles of yoga such as a class with donkeys, some with music and others with flashlights. Although not always acceptable- I think adding another language can be more helpful than harmful.
This is what I learnt:
Yoga in another language helped enhance my cognitive flexibility. It required active listening and quick adaptation. For language learners this is a valuable lesson in immersing in language learning whilst deepening my own physical practice.
Secondly, it helped to enhance mindfulness as I had to try to decipher and follow instructions in real time. I felt more in touch with my breath and body. After the class, I definitely had more mental clarity.
The instructor was American but had been living in Spain for a decade. I felt the class opened up doors to the power of being a linguist and how it can aid in global connections whilst traveling or moving to work in another country. It shows open mindedness, courage and bravery.
Lastly, the novelty of following instructions in another language made me more motivated to sign up to Spanish classes. It helped me reignite enthusiasm for yoga and made the session more enjoyable and engaging.
I know travel is not always accessible to everyone. I won't be traveling for a while. However, I have decided to create a yoga script in my native indigenous language which is Irish. I plan to offer it to my friends to help deepen my yoga teacher training, develop my linguistic brain and help the revival of this beautiful indigenous language.
So if you're thinking of learning a new language, or want to change up your yoga practice why not try visiting a session somewhere else or teaching a class in another language.
