Yoga Terms

COMMONLY USED YOGA TERMS

• Asana: literal translation is “seat” but currently used to mean poses or postures

• Bandha: internal muscular “locks” that support the toning and internal lifting including mula bandha (the pelvic floor), uddiyana bandha (abdominals up to diaphragm), and Jalandhara bandha (the throat)

• Chakra: energy centers in the body (in the western world, 7 are used starting at the base of the spine to the top of the head). The chakras are: the root, sacral, solar plexus, heart, throat, third eye, and crown

• Chaturanga: from plank, lowering yourself slowly down to the mat while keeping the elbows close to the body

• Drishti: focal point of gazing (useful for balancing poses)

• Heart Center: center of the chest

• Mantra: a sound or phrase repeated to increase concentration

• Mudra: a hand position  

• Namaste: the light in me bows or honors the light in you

• Om: a mantra with many meanings considered the origin of sound, often described as the universal sound of consciousness

• Prana: life force (for example, the sun and food)

• Pranayama: breathwork (breathing exercises)

• Savasana: corpse pose used as the final resting pose of class

• Sun salutation: “Surya namaskar” is a sequence of poses often used to warm up at the beginning of class

• Ujjayi: described as ocean breath because it is audible on the inhale and exhale

• Vinyasa: postures linked together with breath into a flow

• Yoga: to yoke or bind body and breath