Ashtanga Yoga Opening & Closing Invocation in Sign Language

We are delighted to present a beautiful offering from our dear student Manako Yabe, who has been a dedicated member of our Mysore program and community for several years. Manako generously shared this resource with us with the intention of making it accessible to our wider community.

Through extensive research, we found no similar resources available, which makes this project all the more valuable as an open, shared tool. This initiative was developed with the support and collaboration of Manako Yabe, Samuel Horsley (PhD student and yoga teacher), Devon Hawthorn Taylor (Mysore assistant & ASL signer), Emma Isokivi (Mysore Program Director), and the then Meadowlark Yoga (Karen Kirkness), now Ashtanga Yoga Edinburgh.

Samuel and Manako thoughtfully crafted sign gestures and movements—both energetic and physical—to capture the essence of each Sanskrit word, rather than relying on fingerspelling each letter, which would have proven lengthy and cumbersome. When Manako chanted alongside the group, her pacing closely matched that of those chanting aloud, demonstrating a seamless integration of the signs with the rhythm and flow of the practice.

This resource represents a meaningful step toward greater inclusivity within the Ashtanga Yoga community. We are honoured to share it and hope it supports practitioners near and far.