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SKT 101 | Elementary Sanskrit I

Instructor: Dr. Antonia Ruppel
Dates: Sep 14 - Dec 4, 2026 (12 weeks)
Meetings: Mon 10-11:30am / Wed 12-1:30pm PT

ENROLLMENT OPTIONS

Course Description

SKT 101 is the first term of our acclaimed Elementary Sanskrit sequence, taught by Dr. Antonia Ruppel, one of the world's foremost teachers of ancient languages, and the author of the field's leading introductory textbook.

Over the course of this nine-month, three-term sequence, students will be systematically introduced to all regular Sanskrit grammar, build a working vocabulary of approximately 500 words, and develop the reading fluency necessary to engage with original Sanskrit texts. From the very first lesson, the program is designed not merely to help you memorize paradigms, but to help you genuinely understand the elegant and intricate structures that underlie the Sanskrit language—minimizing rote learning wherever possible and building lasting competence.

The sequence follows The Cambridge Introduction to Sanskrit (Cambridge University Press, 2017), written by Dr. Ruppel herself, and advances at approximately one chapter per week. Each week's material is supported by a rich array of pedagogical resources developed specifically for the course: dedicated chapter videos, electronic flashcards for all verb and noun forms, curated vocabulary lists, and a variety of supplementary downloads—ensuring that students encounter new material through multiple modes of engagement and reinforcement.

Whether you are a yoga practitioner, a student of Indian philosophy or religion, an academic, or simply someone who has long dreamed of reading the UpaniáčŁads, the Bhagavad GÄ«tā, or the Yoga SĆ«tras in the original, this course is your gateway. There is no better place to begin.

Course Preview

Video Poster Image

Three 12-Week Terms

  • SKT 101 | Elementary Sanskrit I (Sep 14 – Dec 4, 2026)
  • SKT 102 | Elementary Sanskrit II (Jan 4 – March 26, 2027)
  • SKT 103 | Elementary Sanskrit III (May 3 – July 23, 2027)

Course Structure

  • Two 90-minute live lessons will be held per week on Zoom:

    • Mondays 10-11:30am and Wednesdays 12-1:30pm Pacific Time
    • All live sessions will take place via Zoom and will be recorded for later viewing. 

  • Live sessions will address all student questions, go over exercises and readings together, as well as personalize the learning experience with your instructor.

  • Weekly written homework, quizzes to test yourself, as well as a mid-term and a final.

Students Will Receive: 

  • 24 Zoom live class sessions + recordings (90 min)
  • 5 ACP Credits
  • Up to 36 Hours of CE credit with YA
  • Yogic Studies Certificate upon completion (PDF)
  • Access to the private Community Forum

Dr. Antonia M. Ruppel

Lecturer in Sanskrit, Greek, and Latin

Antonia Ruppel is a Classicist by training who came to Sanskrit through a series of fortunate accidents. She learnt the language as an autodidact, and one of her reasons for writing her textbook, The Cambridge Introduction to Sanskrit (2017), was to make the experience of studying Sanskrit easier and more pleasant for others. In 2021, she published the follow-up volume, An Introductory Sanskrit Reader: Improving Reading Fluency, designed to help students gain reading fluency in an enjoyable and straightforward way.

Language pedagogy is at the heart of her life. She has been teaching Sanskrit for almost 20 years at universities such as Cornell, Oxford and the LMU in Munich, Germany, as well as offering courses in variety of formats online.

Listen to our interview with Dr. Ruppel on the Yogic Studies Podcast.

"Dr. Ruppel is without a doubt one of the finest teachers I've ever encountered, in any subject. SKT 101 was superbly organized and I'm immensely grateful for the ease of use and especially the recordings which allowed me to attend classes I otherwise could not have done."

— Jeffrey Kahane, Professor of Keyboard Studies, University of Southern California, PhD Student Classics, USC

"This is an exceptionally well written and presented course. Dr. Ruppel has an infectious enthusiasm for the material, and firm command of the subject. Not only will you learn a lot about Sanskrit, but you will also learn a lot about language in general, and will think about your own mother tongue in new ways. She is good at integrating students with various levels of experience in languages, including beginners. I spent a lot of time each week on the course, but I was happy when I worked out each exercise, like a puzzle. If you have ever thought about learning Sanskrit, grab this opportunity."

— Michael Essex, M.D., Vista, CA

"This course was much more than I expected it to be. I was so happy that the content was rich and in-depth. The textbook is packed with information, and there is a ton of resource material to support learning. Dr. Antonia Ruppel is without a doubt one of the best teachers I've ever had. Her passion for Sanskrit is electrifying and contagious. Her support is encouraging. Her ability to convey concepts clearly and precisely is superb. I don't believe that I would have learned so much from this course if it had been taught by anyone other than Dr. Ruppel. And I surely know that I would not have had such an enjoyable learning experience!"

— Kevin Sharpe, Educational Consultant Georgia, USA

"Antonia Ruppel knows how to teach! All the challenges are met with encouragement and positivity. No one is more surprised than me that I am reading, writing and understanding Sanskrit after just 12 weeks! I am grateful for Antonia’s interest and commitment to my success."

— Previous SKT 101 Student

"This course is an excellent and very accessible introduction to Sanskrit. The material is made very 'digestible' by 'bite-sized' chapters with many resources to appeal to varied learning styles - a recorded video for each chapter, community forum, digital flashcards, live class twice a week and a variety of practice exercises. Antonia is amazingly knowledgeable and passionate about the subject, very patient with questions, thoughtful and receptive to requests about the course. I'm thrilled with how much I've learned. I highly recommend this course."

— Audrey Harpe, Yoga practitioner and instructor Hemlock, NY USA

"It is an incredible course! Antonia is one of the most helpful and considerate teachers I have ever had the chance to learn from. Her method and sequencing of materials (in her book) is quite unique and every subject makes more sense each passing week."

— Gülnihal Özdener, Translator / Yoga Instructor, Istanbul Turkey

"Antonia is a professional with a capital P! She is a great linguist. She has patience and a very rare gift of explaining complex things in a digestible way. I learnt a lot and cannot wait to start SKT 102!"

— MaƂgorzata SzczypiƄska, PhD, WrocƂaw, Poland

"Looking back it is amazing to see how much ground we covered in just 12 weeks! Antonia is a great teacher who is always willing to help and explains things very clearly. Her textbook is a marvelous resource. Overall it has been a fun and fulfilling experience."

— Aram Tavitian, Nicosia, Cyprus

"My expectations were exceeded on this 12 week course. Dr. Ruppel is a considerate and mindful teacher, presenting sometimes difficult subject matter in an accessible manner. Looking forward to further Sanskrit courses."

— Lauren, Yoga Teacher, Hawai’i USA

"I expected to drop out after the first or second week but I was inspired by an excellent teacher in Dr. Antonia Ruppel. Each week I had my doubts as we began a new chapter but somehow Dr. Ruppel made challenging concepts understandable and I was able to learn a great deal in this course. If you want to learn Sanskrit, this is the course to take!"

— Sandy Kobayashi, Honolulu, HI

"I cannot tell you how amazing, insane, wonderful, and perfect this class is. Antonia is mind blowing. Her ability to answer any question at any time is nuts. I am so happy I discovered Yogic Studies. I studied Sanskrit for 3.5 years as an undergraduate many years ago (in the nineties!) and always wanted to come back. I found many 'online studies' but they did not seem serious or professional. I feel like I am in a graduate class right now—and this is exactly where I want to be. I am so grateful. Thank you for all of this. I foresee many years of taking classes from you." 

— SKT 101 student

Enrollment is now open! 

SKT 101 Tuition

$300

One-Time Payment

  • Lifetime access to SKT 101
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SKT 101 Tuition

$100 x 3

Three Monthly Payments

  • Lifetime access to SKT 101
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SKT 101-103 Bundle

$800

One-Time Payment

  • Lifetime access to SKT 101, 102, and 103
  • Save $100 by enrolling in all three terms up front! 
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Frequently Asked Questions

This course is eligible for 36 hours of Continued Education (CE) credits with Yoga Alliance

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