Yoga Terminology

Asana - a steady and comfortable meditative pose according to Patanjali. A specific position of the body which channelizes prana, opens the chakras and removes energy blocks.

Ashtanga yoga - The eight limbed yoga of Patanjali: yama, niyama, asana, pranayama, pratyahara, dharana, dhyana, samadhi.

Bandha - "binding, bondage;" a posture in which organs and muscles are contracted and controlled creating a psychomuscular energy lock which redirects the flow of energy or prana in the body and locks it into a specific area.

Chakra - A sanskrit word meaning "wheel" or "circle"; usually refers to the centers or points of spiritual power that resides in or compose the human astral / subtle body. They are considered to have correspondences with the physical body and function as psychic portals to the world at large.

Hatha yoga - Science of yoga which purifies the whole physical body by means of asana, pranayama, mudra, bandha, concentration; a prelude to raja yoga and samadhi.

Iyengar yoga - Form of hatha yoga founded by B.K.S. Iyengar. It is firmly based on the traditional eight limbs of yoga emphasizing the development of strength, stamina, flexibility and balance, as well as concentration. It is unique for its use of props such as straps, blocks and cushions to assist in doing the postures with correct alignment.

Mantra - A sacred verbal formula repeated in prayer, meditation or incantation, such as an invocation to God or a syllable or portion of scripture containing mystical potentialities.

Mudra - literally means "gesture;" physical, mental and psychic attitude which expresses and channels cosmic energy within mind and body.

Namaste - An Indian greeting simply translated "I bow to the divine in you"; from the root words: 

Namas - bow, reverential salutation (from "Nam" -humbly submitting) 

Te - to you, acknowledging the divine presence in another. Traditionally said while bringing the palms together at the heart in prayer position and lightly bowing the head and shoulders.

Om or Aum - Cosmic vibration of the universe; universal mantra; represents the 4 states of consciousness: conscious, subconscious, unconscious, supraconscious.

Prana - vital energy force sustaining life and creation, permeating the whole of creation and existing in both the macrocosms and microcosms.

Pranayama - technique of breathing and breath retention which increases the pranic capacity.

Raja yoga - The supreme yoga: union through concentration of mind.

Sanskrit - The ancient sacred language of the Aryans. The sanskrit language possesses voluminous and valuable works in prose and in verse, some of which, like the Vedas, date back, in the opinion of certain scholars, to the year 30,000 BC or even far beyond. Almost every phrase of philosophic thought expressed and studied in the West, is represented in one form or another in ancient Hindu literature. Besides this, these old Sanskrit writings are replete with recondite subjects dealing with the wondrous.

Savasana - sava / shava means corpse or dead body. A resting posture in which the senses are drawn inward and the physical body is at complete ease.

Vinyasa - A sequence of movements and postures connected with inhalations and exhalation. (vinyasa flow)

The Eight Limbs of Ashtanga Yoga

Yama - self restraint.

Niyama - fixed observance, rules of raja yoga.

Asana - a steady and comfortable meditative pose according to Patanjali. A specific position of the body which channelizes prana, opens the chakras and removes energy blocks.

Pranayama -technique of breathing and breath retention which increases the pranic capacity.

Pratyahara - sense withdrawal; the first stage of concentrating the mind.

Dharana - practice of concentration.

Dhyana - meditation; one-pointedness of mind through concentration on either form, thought, or sound. Absorption in the object of meditation.

Samadhi - culmination of meditation, state of oneness of mind with the object of concentration; supramental consciousness.