A–Z of yoga's original language
Sanskrit is more than vocabulary, it carries the vibration of thousands of years of dedicated spiritual practices. This glossary provides a range of relevant references to help students dive more deeply into yoga, reading texts, hearing cues in class, or diving into deeper study.
Ahimsa
Non-violence or non-harming. One of the five Yamas from Patanjali's Yoga Sutras. It includes non-harm in thought, word, and action.
Asana
A physical posture or seat. Originally described as a steady and comfortable position for meditation.
Atman
The soul or innermost self. Considered eternal and unchanging, distinct from ego or personality.
Aparigraha
Non-possessiveness or non-grasping. The practice of letting go of attachment to material things or outcomes. One of the yamas.
Ananda
Bliss or pure joy. Often described as the natural state of the self once the mind is quiet.
Bhakti
Devotion, love, or surrender. Bhakti yoga can be defined as the path of devotion to the divine or highest truth.
Bandha
An internal energy lock is used to control and direct prana. Common types include Mula Bandha (root lock), Uddiyana Bandha (abdominal lock), and Jalandhara Bandha (throat lock).
Brahmacharya
Traditionally interpreted as celibacy, but more broadly as the wise use of energy. One of the yamas.
Brahman
The ultimate, formless reality: the infinite consciousness that underlies everything.
Chakra
Energy centers or wheels within the body. Traditional yogic systems describe seven main chakras aligned along the spine.
Chitta
The field of the mind, thoughts, emotions, and memories. Yoga is often defined as the stilling of chitta's fluctuations.
Dharana
Concentration. The practice of one-pointed focus, such as on a mantra, breath, or object.
Dhyana
Meditation. A continuous, effortless flow of awareness toward the object of concentration.
Dosha
In Ayurveda, the bodily constitutions or energy types are Vata, Pitta, or Kapha.
Drishti
Gaze point used during asana to support concentration and alignment. Each posture has an associated drishti in many lineages.
Guna
The three fundamental qualities present in all things are sattva (clarity), rajas (activity), and tamas (inertia).
Guru
A teacher or guide. In Sanskrit, it means ‘one who dispels darkness.’
Hatha
Often translated as ‘sun and moon,’ symbolizing the balance of opposing forces. Hatha yoga refers broadly to physical practices aimed at preparing the body and mind for meditation.
Hanumanasana
Named after the deity Hanuman, this posture is the front split, symbolizing devotion and leap of faith.
Ishvara
The divine, God, or universal consciousness. In Patanjali’s system, surrender to Ishvara is one of the paths to liberation.
Japa
The repetition of a mantra, either silently or aloud, as a meditative practice.
Jnana
Wisdom or knowledge. Jnana yoga is considered as the real path of self-inquiry and discernment.
Karma
Action and its consequences. Refers to the idea that our choices shape future experiences.
Kriya
A cleansing action or yogic practice designed to purify the body and mind.
Kapala Bhati
A kriya (cleansing breath) using short, forceful exhalations. Often used in pranayama to stimulate energy.
Kleshas
The five obstacles or causes of suffering: ignorance (avidya), egoism (asmita), attachment (raga), aversion (dvesha), and fear of death (abhinivesha).
Loka
A realm or plane of existence. In yogic cosmology, there are multiple lokas, both physical and spiritual.
Lakshmi
The goddess of wealth, beauty, and abundance. Often invoked in devotional practices.
Mantra
A sacred sound, word, or phrase that is repeated to focus the mind and invoke specific energies.
Moksha
Liberation or freedom from the cycle of birth and death (samsara).
Mudra
A symbolic hand gesture or body seal used in meditation and pranayama to channel energy.
Mala
A string of beads used for counting mantra repetitions during japa meditation, typically 108 beads.
Manomaya Kosha
The mental sheath, part of the five-layer model (koshas) of the human experience in yogic philosophy.
Nadi
Subtle energy channels. Yogic texts describe 72,000 nadis in the body, with three main ones: Ida, Pingala, and Sushumna.
Niyama
The second limb of Patanjali’s eight-limbed path. Personal observances such as cleanliness, contentment, and self-discipline.
Neti
A cleansing technique for the nasal passages, part of traditional yogic kriyas.
Prana
Life force or vital energy. Considered the essence that sustains all living beings.
Pranayama
Regulating the breath to control prana. Includes techniques like alternate nostril breathing and breath retention.
Patanjali
The sage credited with compiling the Yoga Sutras, one of the foundational texts of classical yoga.
Purusha
Pure consciousness—the eternal witness. In Samkhya and yoga philosophy, it is the unchanging self.
Prajna
Direct, intuitive knowledge. Often contrasted with intellectual knowledge.
Raja Yoga
The 'royal' path of yoga, often used to refer to Patanjali’s eight-limbed path.
Raga
Attachment or craving; considered one of the obstacles to liberation.
Rishi
A seer or sage, someone who has realized truth through direct experience and meditation.
Samadhi
The state of deep absorption or union. The final limb of yoga, where the practitioner merges with the object of meditation.
Samsara
The cycle of birth, death, and rebirth.
Sankalpa
A conscious intention or vow, often set before meditation or yoga practice.
Satya
Truthfulness. One of the yamas; the practice of being honest in thought, speech, and action.
Shakti
Divine feminine energy or creative power.
Shanti
Peace. Often repeated three times in chants to bring peace to body, mind, and spirit.
Sutra
A concise aphorism. Many yogic teachings are composed as sutras, compact, logical lines of wisdom.
Sadhana
A spiritual practice or discipline. It can include asanas, meditation, mantra use, or any form of devotional or inner work.
Samskara
Mental impressions or subconscious patterns formed by past actions or experiences.
Seva
Selfless service, conducted without desire for reward, often offered as an act of devotion.
Swadhyaya
Self-study. One of the niyamas; study of the scriptures, oneself, or any form of personal introspection.
Sushumna
The main subtle energy channel running along the spine, associated with awakening and spiritual growth.
Tapas
Discipline or inner fire. One of the niyamas, the energy that drives consistent effort.
Tantra
A spiritual tradition focused on weaving together all aspects of life, often misunderstood as being only sexual in nature.
Tamas
One of the three gunas (qualities of nature). Related to darkness, inertia, and decay. Often associated with stagnation or ignorance.
Upanishads
Ancient philosophical texts, which explore the nature of reality, the self, and ultimate truth; considered part of the Vedas.
Ujjayi
A breathing technique that creates a gentle ocean-like sound. Often used in yoga classes to regulate breath and focus the mind.
Vasana
Latent mental or subconscious impressions that shape our behavior.
Vairagya
A state of detachment; releasing the desire to benefit from actions; key to the ideal of intelligent progression.
Vedanta
A school of Indian philosophy focused on the ultimate nature of the self and reality.
Vairagya
Detachment or dispassion. A key principle in yoga, helping let go of clinging and craving.
Viveka
Discrimination or discernment, the ability to distinguish between what is real and unreal.
Yama
Moral disciplines or ethical rules. The first of Patanjali’s eight limbs, they address non-violence, truthfulness, non-stealing, moderation, and non-possessiveness.
Yoga
A spiritual discipline, a path for training body, mind, and spirit to unite with one’s true nature.
Zero (Shunya)
The concept of emptiness or void in Sanskrit. Shunya represents both a mathematical zero and a metaphysical state of stillness.
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