Navigating the path of Yoga, I encountered a myriad of Sanskrit terms. This article serves as a guide, demystifying the language of Yoga for both personal reference and shared understanding. Explore the essence of Yoga through its terminology. I will continue to add to this list with my progress and if I encounter any other terms.
Yoga Glossary – A to I
| Sanskrit/Non-English Word | Meaning/Description |
|---|---|
| Abhyasa | Practice – the act of practicing. |
| Acharya | Religious Teacher. |
| Adwaita | A philosophy according to which there is no duality – only a singular state of consciousness. |
| Agni | Fire. |
| Agnisar Kriya | One of the shatkarmas (cleansing practices) – intestinal cleansing. |
| Aham | Ego or the “Self” |
| Ahimsa | Non-violence, non-injury – one of the yamas of Ashtanga yoga. |
| Ajapa Japa | Spontaneous repetition of the ‘soham’ mantra. |
| Ajna Chakra | Energy center located behind the forehead, also called psychic centre or the third eye – one of the seven energy centers. |
| Akasha | Ether, space. |
| Anahata Chakra | Energy center located in the heart region; also called pranic centre – fourth of the seven energy centers. The heart chakra is associated with love, kindness and compassion. |
| Ananda | Bliss, ecstasy. The highest state of being. |
| Antar | Inner, internal. |
| Antar Dhauti | Internal yoga cleansing (shatkarma) techniques. |
| Antar Kumbhaka | Internal breath retention. The stage of pranayama where breath is retained after inhalation. |
| Antar Mouna | Internal silence – a meditation practice. |
| Anubhava | Experience, realization. |
| Ardha | Half. |
| Ardha Dhanurasana | Half bow yoga pose. |
| Ardha Matsyendrasana | Half spinal twist yoga position. |
| Ardha Padmasana | Half lotus pose. |
| Asana | Yoga position or yoga pose, also called yogasana. A balanced position for smooth energy flow in specific areas of the body and mind. |
| Ashrama | Residential place of people living together in yogic tradition. |
| Ashtanga Yoga | The eightfold path of yoga as outlined by Patanjali: yama, niyama, asana, pranayama, pratyahara, dharana, dhyana, samadhi. |
| Ashwini Mudra | Practice of contracting the anal sphincter. |
| Atman | Soul. |
| AUM | AUM, also spelled OM, is a sacred sound and a spiritual icon in Indian religions. It is considered a primordial sound, representing the essence of the ultimate reality, consciousness, or Atman (the inner self). AUM is a central concept in Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism. |
| Avidya | Ignorance. |
| Bahir | Outside, external. |
| Bahir Kumbhaka | External breath retention. The stage of pranayama where breath is retained after exhalation. |
| Bahiranga Trataka | Concentrating the attention (gaze) upon an external object such as a candle flame. |
| Bandha | A posture in which organs and muscles are contracted to create an energy lock in a specific area. |
| Basti | A colon cleansing technique (shatkarma), yogic enema. |
| Bhagavad Gita | A part of the famous Hindu epic ‘Mahabharata’. Teachings of Lord Krishna to his disciple Arjuna at the commencement of the battle of Kurukshetra, with explanations on sannyasa yoga, karma yoga, bhakti yoga, and jnana yoga. |
| Bhakti | Devotion. |
| Bhakti Yoga | The yoga of devotion. |
| Bhastrika Pranayama | ‘Bellows’ breathing technique in which the breath is forcibly drawn in and out through the nose in equal proportions, like the pumping action of the bellows. |
| Bhramari Pranayama | Breathing practice in which a soft “humming-bee” sound is produced during exhalation to stimulate the Ajna Chakra. |
| Bhujangasana | ‘Cobra’ pose. |
| Brahman | Supreme consciousness, absolute reality. |
| Chakra | Literally meaning circle or wheel, in yoga this refers to the energy centers lying along the confluence of the nadis (energy channels). |
| Chandra | Moon. |
| Chandra Nadi | Ida nadi. |
| Chidakasha | Psychic space in front of the closed eyes, just behind the forehead. |
| Chin Mudra | Hand gesture in which the first finger is kept at the root of the thumb, the last three fingers are unfolded. |
| Danda | Stick. |
| Danda Dhauti | One of the cleansing techniques (shatkarmas), used to clean the oesophagus with a stick. |
| Danta Dhauti | Teeth cleansing technique. |
| Dhanurasana | ‘Bow’ pose; backward-bending yoga pose. |
| Dharana | Practice of concentration; the sixth of the eightfold path in Ashtanga yoga. |
| Dharma | Duty, righteous path. |
| Dhauti | Second of the shatkarmas; cleansing technique of the eyes, ears, tongue, forehead, oesophagus, stomach, rectum, and anus. |
| Dhyana | Meditation; single-pointed focus of the mind on either a form, thought, or sound. |
| Diksha | Initiation given by the guru. |
| Dosha | Three humours of the body; see kapha, pitta, vata. |
| Dugdha Neti | Nasal irrigation or cleansing technique using milk. |
| Ghrita Neti | Neti (nasal cleansing technique) performed with ghee. |
| Gomukhasana | ‘Cow’s face’ posture. |
| Gorakshasana | ‘Yogi Gorakhnath’s’ pose. |
| Guna | Quality of nature viz. tamas, rajas, sattva. |
| Guptasana | The ‘secret’ pose. |
| Guru | Spiritually enlightened soul, who can dispel darkness, ignorance, and illusion from the mind and enlighten the consciousness of a devotee/disciple. |
| Hatha Yoga | Science of yoga which purifies the whole physical body by means of shatkarma, asana, pranayama, mudra, bandha, and concentration. |
| Hridaya Akasha | Psychic space of the heart center. |
| Ida Nadi | One of the main energy channels running on the left side of the |
Yoga Glossary – J to S
| Sanskrit/Non-English Word | Meaning/Description |
|---|---|
| Jala | Water. |
| Jala Basti | The yoga technique of enema using water – one of the yoga shatkarma. |
| Jala Neti | A shatkarma technique – cleansing of the nasal passages with water by alternating the flow of water in the nostrils, preferably using a neti pot. |
| Jalandhara Bandha | ‘Throat lock’ to restrict the flow of breath through the throat – done by resting the chin on the upper sternum (chest). |
| Japa | Continuous chanting, i.e., repetition of a mantra. |
| Jihva Dhauti | One of the shatkarma techniques for cleansing the tongue. |
| Jnana | Knowledge, understanding, wisdom. |
| Jnana Mudra | The gesture of knowledge – in this, the index finger is bent so that its tip is joined with the tip of the thumb, the other three fingers are spread out. |
| Jnana Yoga | The yoga of knowledge – attained through spontaneous self-analysis and investigation of abstract and speculative ideas. |
| Kapal | Skull or cerebrum. |
| Kapalbhati Pranayama | A breathing technique aimed at cleaning the frontal part of the brain; also called skull polishing – done through rapid breaths with more force on exhalation. |
| Karma | Action; the act of doing. |
| Karma Yoga | The yoga of action – aims at supreme consciousness through action; discussed in Bhagavad Gita. |
| Karna Dhauti | One of the shatkarma which involves cleansing the ears. |
| Kati Chakrasana | ‘Waist rotating’ pose. |
| Kevala Kumbhaka | Spontaneous cessation of breath without any conscious effort. |
| Klesha | Afflictions or tensions – according to yoga, there are 5 such afflictions present in humans from birth. |
| Koormasana | ‘Tortoise’ pose – an advanced posture. |
| Kosha | Sheath or body; realm of experience and existence. |
| Kriya | Activity, dynamic yogic practice. |
| Kriya Yoga | The practice of Kundalini yoga. |
| Kukkutasana | ‘Cockerel’ pose. |
| Kumbhaka | Breath retention. |
| Kundalini | Man’s retained energy or potential energy and consciousness. |
| Kundalini Shakti | Refers to the human’s potential energy lying dormant in mooladhara (base) chakra like a coiled serpent. When awakened it rises up through the sushumna nadi. |
| Kundalini Yoga | Philosophy expounding the awakening of potential energy and inherent consciousness within the human body and mind. |
| Kunjal Kriya | A shatkarma (cleansing) technique that involves the cleansing of the stomach by drinking in water and then expelling it by inducing vomiting. |
| Laghoo Shankhaprakshalana | A shatkarma technique – also referred to as the short intestinal wash. Involves the drinking of several glasses of water and expelling it through stool after a series of exercises (asanas); in the process, a thorough cleansing of the colon takes place. |
| Laya Yoga | Union with the supreme consciousness through pranayama or devotion. Literally, union by absorption. |
| Maha | Great. |
| Maha Bandha | The great lock – combines the three locks in yoga – the moola bandha, jalandhara bandha, and uddiyana bandha – together with breath retention. |
| Maha Mudra | The great gesture – combines the practice of moola bandha, shambhavi, and khechari mudras simultaneously. |
| Maha Nadi | Literally means ‘great nadi’, which is the ‘sushumna’ in yoga. |
| Makara | Crocodile. |
| Makarasana | ‘Crocodile’ pose. |
| Manas Chakra | The energy center above the ajna chakra – is depicted with six petals. |
| Manipura Chakra | The energy center in the spinal column located behind the navel – corresponding to the solar plexus. |
| Mantra | Subtle sound vibration, which through repetition aims at expanding one’s awareness or consciousness. |
| Mantra Shakti | The power of mantra. |
| Matsyendrasana | A spine-twisting pose. |
| Mayur | Peacock. |
| Mayurasana | ‘Peacock’ pose – advanced pose aims at strengthening the arms and stimulating the manipura chakra. |
| Moksha | Liberation from the cycle of birth and death. |
| Moola | Root. |
| Moola Bandha | Energy lock created by the contraction of the perineum in the male and the cervix in the female. |
| Mooladhara Chakra | Lowest energy center in the human body where the kundalini shakti (serpent power) resides – situated in the perineal floor in men and the cervix in women. |
| Moorchha Pranayama | ‘Fainting or swooning breath’ in which the breath is inhaled slowly and retained for an extended period. |
| Mouna | Silence – the practice of silence. |
| Mudra | Literally means ‘gesture’ – mudra expresses and channelizes cosmic energy within the mind and body. |
| Nadi | Energy channels in the body, similar to the meridians in acupuncture. |
| Nadi Shodhana Pranayama | Breathing technique – is the ‘alternate nostril breathing’ or ‘balanced breathing’ – balances the energy flow in the channels and purifies the energy channels (nadi) by balancing the flow of breath through the right and left nostrils. |
| Nasagra/Nasikagra Mudra | Hand gesture adopted during pranayama to alternate the flow of breath through the nostrils. |
| Nauli | ‘Abdominal massage’ – a cleansing technique (shatkarma) involving the contraction of the rectus abdominal muscles. |
| Neti Kriya | Another shatkarma (cleansing technique) – involves cleaning of the nasal passages or sinus irrigation; jala neti forms a part of the various neti kriyas. |
| Nirguna | Without form or attributes – refers to the formless aspect of the divine. |
| Niyama | One of the eight limbs of Patanjali’s Ashtanga yoga, meaning self-discipline. |
| Omkara | The sound ‘Aum’ – the primordial sound and symbol of the absolute. |
| Pada | Foot or leg. |
| Pada Hastasana | ‘Hand to foot’ pose. |
| Padmasana | ‘Lotus’ pose. |
| Pancha | Five. |
| Pancha Kosha | Five sheaths or layers of human existence, as described in Vedanta. |
| Pancha Tattva | Five elements – earth, water, fire, air, and ether. |
| Pancha Vayu | The five main currents of prana or life force that flow in the body. |
| Panchagni | Five fires – the five vital breaths, which burn in the human body. |
| Panchakarma | Five actions – Ayurvedic detoxification and rejuvenation program. |
| Panchendriya | Five sensory organs. |
| Panchikarana | Fivefold transformation of the elements. |
| Paravastha | Superconscious state. |
| Parivritti | Revolved or twisted. |
| Parivritti Janu Sirshasana | Revolved head-to-knee pose. |
| Parivritti Trikonasana | Revolved triangle pose. |
| Parshva | Side. |
| Parshva Konasana | ‘Side angle’ pose. |
| Parshva Uttanasana | ‘Side intense stretch’ pose. |
| Paschimottanasana | ‘Intense stretch to the west’ pose. |
| Pashu | Animal. |
| Pashchim | Back. |
| Pashchimottanasana | ‘Back stretch’ or ‘intense stretch of the back’ pose. |
| Patra | Chalice or bowl. |
| Pavana Muktasana | ‘Wind relieving’ pose. |
| Pinda | Embryo or fetus. |
| Pinda Shuddhi | Purification of the individual body and mind. |
| Pinda Stana | Centre of the physical body where the human soul is present. |
| Pingala Nadi | One of the main energy channels running on the right side of the spine. |
| Pippal | Fig tree. |
| Pippal Asana | ‘Fig tree’ pose. |
| Pitta | Bile or fire humour. |
| Prakriti | Nature; refers to the material cause of the world and consists of the three gunas – sattva, rajas, and tamas. |
| Pran Mudra | Gesture of life – involves the touching of the tips of the ring finger and the little finger to the tip of the thumb. |
| Prana | Life force, breath. |
| Pranayama | Breathing exercises aimed at controlling prana and life force energy within the body. |
| Pranic | Relating to prana. |
| Prashanta | Calm, quiet, serene. |
| Prashikasana | ‘Intense stretch of the back’ pose. |
| Prashtana | The back, behind. |
| Pratyahara | Withdrawal of the senses; the fifth of the eight limbs of Patanjali’s Ashtanga yoga. |
| Pret | Ghost or demon. |
| Pretasana | Corpse pose. |
| Psoas | Hip flexor muscle. |
| Puraka | Inhalation. |
| Purusha | Cosmic soul or person. |
| Purusha Sukta | A hymn in the Rigveda that describes the creation of the universe and the sacrifice of the primeval person, purusha. |
| Purvottanasana | ‘Upward plank’ or ‘intense stretch of the east’ pose. |
| Rajas | Quality of activity or passion. |
| Rajasic | Pertaining to the quality of rajas. |
| Rishi | Sage. |
| Ruchaka Pranayama | A pranayama technique that stimulates the solar plexus, i.e., the manipura chakra, with the help of breath. |
| Rudra | A form of Lord Shiva – the god of destruction and transformation. |
| Rudra Granthi | Psychic knot located in the manipura chakra. |
| Sadhaka | One who follows the path of sadhana. |
| Sadhana | Spiritual practice, discipline, and the path to realization. |
| Sahasrara Chakra | The highest energy center located at the crown of the head – the thousand-petalled lotus. |
| Sama Vritti Pranayama | Equal breath ratio – a type of pranayama where the duration of inhalation and exhalation is the same. |
| Sambhavi Mudra | The gesture of looking inward – in this, the eyes are focused at the spot between the eyebrows. |
| Samsara | The cycle of birth, death, and rebirth. |
| Samskara | Impressions, imprints, or psychological imprints from past experiences. |
| Samyama | A collective term for dharana, dhyana, and samadhi – the last three limbs of Ashtanga yoga. |
| Samyukta Hastasana | ‘United hands’ pose. |
| Sanatan | Eternal, timeless. |
| Sankalpa | Resolution, determination, or will. |
| Sankhya Yoga | The philosophy of Sankhya, which enumerates the 25 fundamental principles of creation. |
| Sannyasa | Renunciation. |
| Sannyasa Yoga | The yoga of renunciation, one of the paths to spiritual realization. |
| Sarvangasana | ‘Shoulder stand’ pose. |
| Sarvastha | All-pervading. |
| Sasangasana | ‘Rabbit’ pose. |
| Sattva | Quality of purity or goodness. |
| Sattvic | Pertaining to the quality of sattva. |
Yoga Glossary – S to Z
| Sanskrit/Non-English Word | Meaning/Description |
|---|---|
| Savasana | ‘Corpse’ pose – a relaxation pose often practiced at the end of a yoga session. |
| Shakti | Cosmic energy, often personified as the goddess who represents the dynamic, feminine aspect of the divine. |
| Shakti Chalana | The technique of awakening and moving the kundalini shakti through various energy centers in the body. |
| Shalabhasana | ‘Locust’ or ‘grasshopper’ pose. |
| Shambhavi Mudra | Gesture of Shambhu (Shiva) – involves focusing the gaze at the space between the eyebrows. |
| Shankha | Conch shell. |
| Shankhaprakshalana | A yogic cleansing technique involving the drinking of salty water and performing a series of asanas to cleanse the entire digestive tract. |
| Shanti | Peace. |
| Shashankasana | ‘Hare’ pose – a kneeling forward bend with arms stretched forward. |
| Shatkarma | Six purification practices in Hatha Yoga, including Neti, Dhauti, Basti, Nauli, Kapalabhati, and Trataka. |
| Shitali Pranayama | ‘Cooling’ breath – involves inhaling through a rolled tongue or pursed lips to cool the breath. |
| Shiva | The auspicious one, one of the principal deities in Hinduism, associated with destruction and transformation. |
| Shiva Linga | Symbol representing Lord Shiva, often a cylindrical stone or pillar. |
| Shiva Nataraja | The dancing form of Lord Shiva, symbolizing the cosmic cycles of creation and destruction. |
| Shodhana | Purification. |
| Shraddha | Faith or devotion. |
| Shrishasana | ‘Headstand’ pose. |
| Shruti | That which is heard – refers to the Vedas, considered as divine revelations. |
| Siddha | Perfected being or one who has attained spiritual realization. |
| Siddhasana | ‘Accomplished’ or ‘adept’ pose – a seated posture for meditation. |
| Simhasana | ‘Lion’ pose – a yoga posture that involves a distinctive facial expression. |
| Sirsha | Head. |
| Sirsasana | ‘Headstand’ pose. |
| Sitali | Cool, soothing. |
| Sivananda Yoga | A style of Hatha Yoga founded by Swami Sivananda that emphasizes a holistic approach to health and well-being. |
| Smriti | That which is remembered – refers to the body of traditional Hindu law, including the Puranas, epics, and other texts. |
| Sodhana | Purification. |
| Soma | The nectar of immortality, often associated with the moon. |
| Spanda | The creative pulsation or vibration of the cosmic energy. |
| Sphinx Pose | A yoga pose that resembles the Sphinx, involving a gentle backbend. |
| Sthira | Steady, stable. |
| Sthiti | Steady state or posture. |
| Sukha | Comfort, ease. |
| Sukhasana | ‘Easy’ or ‘comfortable’ pose – a simple cross-legged sitting posture. |
| Surya Namaskar | ‘Sun Salutation’ – a sequence of yoga poses performed in a flowing manner, often used as a warm-up or dynamic stretching exercise. |
| Surya Namaskara A & B | Variations of Sun Salutation sequences in Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga. |
| Sushumna Nadi | The central energy channel in the subtle body through which the kundalini rises. |
| Sutra | A concise statement or thread of wisdom, often used in the context of the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali. |
| Svadhyaya | Self-study or self-reflection; one of the Niyamas in Patanjali’s Ashtanga Yoga. |
| Svarga Dvijasana | ‘Bird of Paradise’ pose – a standing yoga posture requiring balance and flexibility. |
| Swadhisthana Chakra | The second energy center located at the sacral region, associated with emotions, creativity, and sexuality. |
| Tadasana | ‘Mountain’ pose – a foundational standing pose in yoga. |
| Tamas | Quality of inertia or darkness. |
| Tantra | A spiritual tradition that views the material world as a manifestation of divine energy and seeks liberation through ritual and meditation. |
| Tantra Yoga | A form of yoga associated with the Tantric tradition, emphasizing the awakening of kundalini energy. |
| Tapas | Austerity, discipline, or inner heat generated through spiritual practices. |
| Tarasana | ‘Star’ pose – a yoga posture that involves stretching the body in a star shape. |
| Tiryaka Tadasana | ‘Swaying palm tree’ pose – a lateral stretch that mimics the swaying motion of a palm tree. |
| Tittibhasana | ‘Firefly’ pose – an advanced arm balance pose. |
| Trikonasana | ‘Triangle’ pose – a standing pose that involves stretching the body into a triangular shape. |
| Trishula | Trident, a symbol associated with Lord Shiva. |
| Trivikrama | A name for Lord Vishnu, often associated with the Vamana avatar. |
| Tuladandasana | ‘Balancing stick’ pose – a challenging yoga posture that involves balancing on one leg. |
| Udana Vayu | One of the five main currents of prana responsible for the upward movement of energy. |
| Uddiyana Bandha | The abdominal lock achieved by pulling the abdomen in and up during breath retention. |
| Ujjayi Pranayama | ‘Victorious’ or ‘oceanic’ breath – a breathing technique that produces a soft sound by partially closing the glottis. |
| Upa Yoga | Preliminary or preparatory yoga practices. |
| Upadesa | Spiritual instruction or guidance. |
| Upadhi | Limitations or conditions that obscure the true nature of the self. |
| Upakarma | A ritual performed by Brahmins for changing the sacred thread and renewing the study of the Vedas. |
| Upanishad | Philosophical texts that explore the nature of reality and the self, forming the basis of Vedanta. |
| Urdhva Dhanurasana | ‘Upward Bow’ or ‘Wheel’ pose – a deep backbend that resembles an upward-facing bow. |
| Urdhva Mukha Svanasana | ‘Upward-Facing Dog’ pose – an upward-facing position achieved in a flowing sequence. |
| Ushtrasana | ‘Camel’ pose – a backbend that involves kneeling and reaching back to touch the heels. |
| Utama | Best. |
| Utkata | Fierce or powerful. |
| Utkatasana | ‘Chair’ pose – a squatting yoga posture that simulates sitting in a chair. |
| Uttana | Intense stretch. |
| Uttanasana | ‘Standing forward bend’ pose – a forward fold with the hands reaching towards the floor. |
| Uttara | Higher or upper. |
| Uttarabhadrasana | ‘Warrior’ pose – a series of standing yoga poses that simulate a warrior’s stance. |
| Vahni | Fire. |
| Vajra | Thunderbolt or diamond. |
| Vajrasana | ‘Thunderbolt’ or ‘diamond’ pose – a kneeling pose often used for meditation. |
| Vakra | Twisted. |
| Vakrasana | ‘Twisted’ pose – a seated yoga posture with a twist. |
| Valakhilyas | A group of tiny sages or celestial beings in Hindu mythology. |
| Vamana Avatar | The dwarf form of Lord Vishnu, the fifth avatar, who defeated the demon king Bali. |
| Vasana | Subtle impressions in the mind that influence behavior and thoughts. |
| Vashishtha | A revered sage in Hindu tradition, known for his wisdom and teachings. |
| Vata | One of the three doshas in Ayurveda, representing the air and ether elements. |
| Vatayanasana | ‘Horse face’ pose – a yoga posture that involves sitting with one leg bent and the other extended. |
| Vayu | Air or wind; one of the five elements and a vital force in the body. |
| Veda | Sacred texts of Hinduism, including the Rigveda, Samaveda, Yajurveda, and Atharvaveda. |
| Vedanta | Philosophical traditions that interpret the Upanishads and explore the nature of reality and the self. |
| Veerasana | ‘Hero’ pose – a kneeling yoga posture with an upright posture. |
| Vidya | Knowledge or wisdom. |
| Vijnana | Discriminative knowledge or wisdom. |
| Vikriti | Modification or transformation. |
| Vikshepa | Distraction or tossing of the mind. |
| Viloma | Against the natural order. |
| Vimarsha | The power of consciousness to reflect upon itself. |
| Viniyoga | A therapeutic and individualized approach to yoga, adapting practices to the needs of the practitioner. |
| Viparita | Inverted or reversed. |
| Viparita Karani | ‘Legs up the Wall’ pose – an inverted yoga posture with the legs resting against a wall. |
| Virabhadra | A fierce warrior created by Lord Shiva in response to a great injustice. |
| Virabhadrasana | ‘Warrior’ pose – a series of standing yoga poses that simulate a warrior’s stance. |
| Vishnu | The preserver and protector among the Trimurti, the Hindu trinity of Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva. |
| Vishuddha Chakra | The fifth energy center located at the throat, associated with communication and expression. |
| Viveka | Discrimination or discernment between the real and the unreal. |
| Vriddhi | Growth or increase. |
| Vrikshasana | ‘Tree’ pose – a standing yoga posture that involves balancing on one leg with the other foot placed against the inner thigh or calf. |
| Vritti | Fluctuations or modifications of the mind. |
| Vyana Vayu | One of the five main currents of prana responsible for the circulation of energy throughout the body. |
| Yama | Moral disciplines or restraints, the first limb of Patanjali’s Ashtanga yoga. |
| Yantra | Geometric design or instrument used as a meditation aid in Tantric traditions. |
| Yoga | Union or integration; a spiritual, mental, and physical discipline aimed at achieving harmony and balance. |
| Yoga Nidra | ‘Yogic sleep’ – a state of conscious relaxation, often guided in a meditative format. |
| Yogacharya | A master or teacher of yoga. |
| Yogini | A female practitioner of yoga. |
| Yogi/Yogini | A male/female practitioner of yoga. |
| Yoni Mudra | A symbolic gesture representing the womb or creative source. |
| Yuga | An age or era in Hindu cosmology, such as Satya Yuga, Treta Yuga, Dvapara Yuga, and Kali Yuga. |
| Yuj | To yoke or unite. |
| Yuj Yoga | The path of union or integration, often used as another term for yoga. |
| Yuj Samadhi | Union with the divine or the ultimate reality, often used synonymously with Samadhi. |
| Yujir | One who practices yoga. |
| Yoni | Symbolic representation of the female reproductive organ, often associated with the divine feminine. |
Final Thoughts
Embarking on the journey of yoga and spiritual exploration can be a profound and transformative experience. As you delve into the realms of meditation, physical postures, and philosophical concepts, a rich tapestry of Sanskrit terms unfolds. This glossary serves as a compass, offering clarity amid the linguistic intricacies that accompany the yogic path.
From the foundational asanas to the depths of pranayama and the heights of spiritual philosophy, each term encapsulates a facet of this holistic practice. Whether you’re a seasoned yogi or a curious beginner, this guide aims to demystify the language woven into the fabric of yoga.
As you navigate through the intricacies of bandhas, chakras, and the profound wisdom of ancient texts, remember that this glossary is a companion—a tool to enhance your understanding and appreciation of the profound journey you’ve chosen. May it illuminate your path and deepen your connection with the profound essence of yoga.