The singing is ‘call and response’ so the teacher sings first and the students repeat. This signifies that we are there to learn – to listen carefully and to respond. Singing itself is uplifting and the different voices and tones combine to create their own harmony in a completely natural way. The vibrations of the singing fills ourselves and the space we are in and helps to us to feel our connection with others in the class.After singing the Invocation we bow our heads while we lift our chests. This action is both a sign of respect and also a symbolic way of bowing the head to the heart and joining the two. Yoga means union and this is one of the unions we look for in yoga.As you become familiar with the words it becomes a way of leaving behind whatever has happened before class; a quiet pause that leaves you uplifted and calm and prepares you to make the most of the yoga class. The Invocation to PatanjaliThe first verse describes what Patanjali gave us and the second describes his symbolic form as the incarnation of the Hindu snake god Adisesa represented by his statue.Yogena cittasya padena vacamMalam sarirasyaca vaidyakenaYopakarottam prvaram muninamPatanjalim pranjaliranato’smiTo the noblest of sages, Patanjali, who gave us yoga for serenity of mind, grammar for purity of speech and medicine for the perfection of the body, I salute.Abahu purusakaramSankha cakrasi dharinamSahasara sirasam svetamPranamami Patanjalim I salute before Patanjali whose upperbody has human form, whose arms hold a conch, and disc and a sword, who is crowned by a thousand headed cobra. Oh incarnation of Adisesa my humble salutions.You can hear how the invocation should sound herehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VtxVmoZerpQ&sns=em