Glossary of Yoga Terms

Definitions of Commonly Asked Yoga Terms

Asana: A physical position that a yogi will assume to facilitate the flow of prana (breath, life-force). Initially yoga was comprised primarily of breath-work and meditation exercises.

Ashtanga Yoga: method of yoga involves synchronizing the breath with a progressive series of postures--a process producing intense internal heat and a profuse, purifying sweat that detoxifies muscles and organs. The result is improved circulation, a light and strong body, and a calm mind.

Bikram Yoga: is a system of yoga that Bikram Choudhury synthesized from traditional yoga techniques and popularized beginning in the early 1970s. It is comprised of 26 posyures done in a specific order and performed in a heated room.

Bakasana, or Crane pose, is a yoga posture in which the body supposedly resembles a crane standing in water. The name comes from the Sanskrit words Baka (Crane) and Asana (pose). Bakasana is also known as Crow pose.

Bow Pose: (Dhanurasana) The Sanskrit word dhanur means bow-shaped, curved or bent. The bow referred is a bow as in "bow and arrow." This asana is so named because the body mimics the shape of a bow with its string stretched back ready to shoot an arrow. The torso and legs represent the body of the bow, and the arms the string.

Camel Pose: (Ustrasana) The name comes from the Sanskrit words Ushtra (??????, U??ra) meaning "camel",[2] and Asana (???, Asana) meaning "posture" or "seat".[3]is a very deep backward bend performed in a kneeling position.

Chaturanga Dandasana: yoga push-up frequently practiced as part of the traditional Sun Salutation sequence.

Corpse Pose: Savasana: Savasana or mrtasana, corpse or death pose. Lying on the back, the arms and legs are spread at about 45 degrees, the eyes are closed and the breath deep,

Cow's Face Pose: (Gomukhasana). Gomukhasana_248. (go-moo-KAHS-anna) go = cow (Sanskrit go is a distant relative of the English word "cow") mukha = face ...
(go-moo-KAHS-anna)
go = cow (Sanskrit go is a distant relative of the English word "cow")
mukha = face Sit in Dandasana (Staff Pose), then bend your knees and put your feet on the floor. Slide your left foot under the right knee to the outside of the right hip. Then cross your right leg over the left, stacking the right knee on top of the left, and bring the right foot to the outside of the left hip. Try to bring the heels equidistant from the hips: with the right leg on top you'll have to tug the right heel in closer to the left hip. Sit evenly on the sitting bones. Some say you can see the cow's face: notice that the crossed legs look like the lips. The bent-elbow arms, one up and one down, are the ears.

Crane Pose (same as Crow Pose above)

Child's Pose: (Balasana) is a restful pose that can be sequenced between more challenging asanas. Kneel on the floor. Touch your big toes together and sit on your heels, then separate your knees about as wide as your hips. Exhale and lay your torso down between your thighs. Broaden your sacrum across the back of your pelvis and narrow your hip points toward the navel, so that they nestle down onto the inner thighs. Lengthen your tailbone away from the back of the pelvis while you lift the base of your skull away from the back of your neck.

Camel Pose:(Ustrasana) same as listed above The Camel Pose. Translation: The Sanskrit word ushtra means camel. Pronunciation: oosh-trah-sa-na

Dead Bug Pose: (Ananda Balasana) aka: Happy Baby aka: Blissful Baby aka: Dead Bug (if hands are on inner arches rather than outer arches

Downward Dog Pose: (Meru Asana) Meru refers to the sacred Mount Meru, considered to reside at the centre of the Universe Down Dog is probably the most recognized yoga position today is the 'downward facing dog'. With both hands and feel on teh ground, you are making a beautiful inverted letter "V" with your body, gently pushing your heels back to teh ground behind you. A corresponding Sanskrit word, adho mukha svanasana, has also been invented to match this. This is, however, erroneous. There is no such asana name in the tradition of yog. This yoga pose, then, represents stability, balance, strength and support on all levels; not the stretch-like action of your pet getting up from its afternoon nap!

Dolphin Pose

Hot Yoga: Hot Yoga is a series of yoga poses done in a heated room. The room is usually maintained at a temperature of 95-100 degrees. As you can imagine, a vigorous yoga session at this temperature promotes profuse sweating and makes the body very warm, and therefore more flexible.

HeadStand Pose: The headstand or sirsha-asana is perhaps the most well-known Yoga posture. Its benefits are many and is fully deserving of all its notoriety. Its physical and mental benefits derive both from emphasis on balance and the body's inverted position.

Kundalini yoga: is a physical, mental and spiritual discipline for developing strength, awareness, character, and consciousness. Practitioners call Kundalini yoga, the yoga of awareness because they claim it expands sensory sensitivity, enhances intuition, and merges individual consciousness with the infinite consciousness of God. Considered an advanced form of yoga and meditation, its goal is to cultivate and harness the unlimited creative and spiritual potential that exists within every human beingAccording to yogic philosophy, kundalini is a spiritual energy or life force located at the base of the spine. It is conceptualized as a coiled up serpent.

Literally, kundalini or kundala is that which is coiled (Sanskrit kund, to burn; kunda, to coil or to spiral). It is believed that Kundalini yoga is that which arouses the sleeping Kundalini Shakti from its coiled base through the 6 chakras, and penetrate the 7th chakra, or crown. This energy is said to travel along the ida (left), pingala (right) and central, or sushumna nadi - the main channels of pranic energy in the bodyAlong with the many kriyas, meditations and practices of Kundalini Yoga, a simple breathing technique of alternate nostril breathing (left nostril, right nostril) is taught as a method to cleanse the nadis, or subtle channels and pathways, to help awaken Kundalini energy.The word 'Kundalini' can be traced to the Sanskrit word 'kundala', which means 'coiled'. Kundalini can therefore be used by believers to refer to the latent energy within the human body which is constantly trying to manifest as our insight, power and blissThe path of Kundalini is said to proceed from the Muladhara Chakra at the lower end of the spinal column up to the Sahasara Chakra at the top of the head. But its awakening is not thought to be a physical occurrence; it consists exclusively of a development in consciousness.

According to some claims, awakening of kundalini brings with it pure joy, pure knowledge and pure love

Meditation

Mountain Pose

Pranayama

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yoga poses: Yoga poses are also refereed to as Yoga asanas. These are the positions a yoga assumes physically in an effort to further facilitate the flow of prana, which is life force or chi.

Yoga positions: Yoga positions are also refereed to as Yoga postures, and/or yoga asanas. These are the positions a yoga assumes physically in an effort to further facilitate the flow of prana, which is life force or chi.

yoga practice

yoga postures: Yoga postures are also refereed to as Yoga positions, and/or yoga asanas. These are the positions a yoga assumes physically in an effort to further facilitate the flow of prana, which is life force or chi.

Yoga: A Hindu spiritual and ascetic discipline, a part of which, including breath control, simple meditation, and the adoption of specific bodily postures, is widely practiced for health and relaxation.

The word Yoga comes from the Sanskrit word "Yuj" meaning to yoke, join or unite. This implies joining or integrating all aspects of the individual - body with mind and mind with soul - to achieve a happy, balanced and useful life, and spiritually, uniting the individual with the supreme.

In India, Yoga is considered one of the six branches of classical philosophy and is referred to throughout the Vedas - ancient Indian scriptures and amongst the oldest texts in existence.The Upanishads are also broadly philosophical treatises which postdate the Vedas and deal with the nature of the "soul" and universe.

[yoga]: A Hindu spiritual and ascetic discipline, a part of which, including breath control, simple meditation, and the adoption of specific bodily postures, is widely practiced for health and relaxation.

The word Yoga comes from the Sanskrit word "Yuj" meaning to yoke, join or unite. This implies joining or integrating all aspects of the individual - body with mind and mind with soul - to achieve a happy, balanced and useful life, and spiritually, uniting the individual with the supreme.

In India, Yoga is considered one of the six branches of classical philosophy and is referred to throughout the Vedas - ancient Indian scriptures and amongst the oldest texts in existence.The Upanishads are also broadly philosophical treatises which postdate the Vedas and deal with the nature of the "soul" and universe.

"yoga": A Hindu spiritual and ascetic discipline, a part of which, including breath control, simple meditation, and the adoption of specific bodily postures, is widely practiced for health and relaxation.

The word Yoga comes from the Sanskrit word "Yuj" meaning to yoke, join or unite. This implies joining or integrating all aspects of the individual - body with mind and mind with soul - to achieve a happy, balanced and useful life, and spiritually, uniting the individual with the supreme.

In India, Yoga is considered one of the six branches of classical philosophy and is referred to throughout the Vedas - ancient Indian scriptures and amongst the oldest texts in existence.The Upanishads are also broadly philosophical treatises which postdate the Vedas and deal with the nature of the "soul" and universe.