While many people find themselves in yoga class because their doctor advised it as a natural way to lower blood pressure or relieve an aching back, the real purpose of yoga is to achieve the blissful state of awakening known as Samadhi.
The language of yoga is Sanskrit, the sacred language of India. Akin to the place of Latin and Greek in Europe, Sanskrit is an ancient, refined and ritual language. In the branch of yoga that I study, all postures have a Sanskrit name, and seasoned students learn these names and the postures they stand for.