Yoga Explained_Ashtanga , Kundalini_ Basics for Beginners_Power of Yoga
Yoga for beginners
Articles /Guides(49)
Yoga Index
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Glossary of Yoga Terms
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Ajna Chakra:
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The sixth chakra, also called the Sun Chakra or Brow Chakra is located at the
point between the eyebrows. It is often referred to as the "third eye". It is
the center of imagination, concentration, and intuition.
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Anahata Chakra:
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The fourth chakra, also called the Venus Chakra or Heart Chakra is located
behind the heart. It is the center of compassion, love and devotion.
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Ananda Yoga:
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A style or school of hatha yoga that teaches affirmations, or positive
thoughts, to accompany different poses. It uses poses to clear and energize the
body in preparation for meditation while simultaneously focusing on the
postures to heighten self-awareness.
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Asana:
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The third stage or limb of yoga as defined by Patanjali in his
Yoga Sutras
and is the postures or poses designed to help master control of the mind and
body to prepare the body for meditation.
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Ashram:
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A peaceful retreat where yoga is taught and practiced.
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Ashtanga:
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Literally means "eight limbs". It refers to the eight stages or limbs of yoga
as described in Pantanjali's
The Yoga Sutras
." These eight steps basically act as guidelines on how to live a meaningful
and purposeful life.
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Ashtanga Yoga:
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A style or school of hatha yoga that includes an intense physically challenging
workout, also referred to as "power yoga". It places equal emphasis on
strength, flexibility and stamina while it synchronizes movements with breath
in a continual flow of action to create heat which produces a cleansing or
detoxifying effect of the body.
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Astral Body:
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Yogic philosophy sees the body as a vehicle for the soul in its journey toward
enlightenment and as such is really three "bodies". The astral body is the
vehicle of the spirit corresponding with the mind. It contains the prana,
intellect and emotions. It is higher than the physical body, but below the
causal body.
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Ayurveda:
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A medical science that originated in India five thousand years ago and is based
on the existence of a primal energy and the belief that when an individual's
energy flow is smooth, health is maintained. Ayurveda is a holistic approach to
health that recognizes the importance of mind-body balance.
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Bhagavad Gita:
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One of India's most beloved and famous sacred texts, it is the epic story of
Arjuna, a warrior prince, who confronts moral dilemmas and is led to a better
understanding of reality through the intercession of the god Krishna. It
provides the philosophical basis of yoga.
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Bhakti Yoga:
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A branch or path of yoga. It is the path of love and devotion which sees the
Divine in all of creation and places devotion to the Divine ahead of everything
else. It provides us with an opportunity to cultivate acceptance and tolerance
for everyone we come into contact with.
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Bikram Yoga:
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A style or school of hatha yoga that emphasizes a high-energy workout and
sweating which focuses on cleansing the body from the inside out. It is also
referred to Choudhury Yoga or the Yoga College of India.
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Brahman:
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A Hindu priest, also an Indian caste.
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Breath of Fire:
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See Kapalabhati
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Causal Body:
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Yogic philosophy sees the body as a vehicle for the soul in its journey toward
enlightenment and as such is really three "bodies". The causal body is the
subtlest of the three bodies. It houses the spirit and contains the karmic
blue-print that determines the person you are. It is higher than the physical
and astral bodies.
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Chakras:
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The seven major energy centers in the astral body; they correspond to nerve
centers located along the spine in the physical body. They move in ascending
order starting with the base of the spine, the genitals, the solar plexus, the
heart, the throat, between the eyebrows and the crown of the head.
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Ch'i:
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Chinese word for life force.
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Corpse Pose:
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See Shavasana
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Crown Chakra:
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See Sahasrara Chakra
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Dharana:
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The sixth stage or limb of yoga as defined by Patanjali in his
Yoga Sutras
and is the practice of concentration which precedes meditation. It strives to
slow down and discipline the mind so that it becomes single-pointed and
focused. Extended periods of concentration naturally lead to meditation.
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Dharma:
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One's duty or path in life; the duty of being true to oneself.
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Dhyana:
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The seventh stage or limb of yoga as defined by Patanjali in his
Yoga Sutras
and is contemplation or meditation. At this stage the mind has been quieted,
and in the stillness, it produces few or no thoughts at all which allows the
achievement of a state of profound mental and emotional calm and to focus on
the inner person or soul.
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Dristi:
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A soft gaze, focus or awareness that keeps you attentive to what your body is
doing in relation to your breath and your mind. Depending on the posture you
may focus on the tip of the nose, the thumb, the third-eye point (an internal
point located behind the middle of the forehead, the horizon line or a point on
the floor or wall in front of you.
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Guru:
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A spiritual teacher or advisor who helps direct the yogi or yogini toward
enlightenment.
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Hatha Yoga:
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A branch or path of yoga. It is the path that deals primarily with control of
the physical body and consists of asanas (postures), pranayamas (breathing
exercises), and meditation.
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Heart Chakra:
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See Anahata Chakra
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Hinduism:
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The major religion of India.
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Integral Yoga:
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A style or school of hatha yoga that combines all the paths of yoga: asana
(postures), pranayama (controlled breathing), meditation,
prayer, chanting, selfless service and self-inquiry into one approach. Emphasis
is placed on relaxation, alignment, and finding your comfort center while
practicing yoga.
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ISHTA Yoga:
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An emerging style or school of hatha yoga taught at Yoga Zone studios. The
acronym ISHTA stands for the Integrated Science of Hatha, Tantra and Ayerveda
and is derived from the Sanskrit word
ishta
which means "personalized" and is a style of yoga that adapts to the needs of
the individual.
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Iyengar Yoga:
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A style or school of hatha yoga that focuses on alignment, symmetry and
technique. This style of yoga also relies a lot on props: wood blocks, benches,
chairs, sandbags, blankets, bolsters and straps as a support system to achieve
greater symmetry and extension in the posture. It is the most widely practiced
form of yoga in the West.
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Jnana:
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Knowledge or wisdom.
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Jnana Yoga:
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A branch or path of yoga. It is the path of the mind and requires development
of the intellect through the study of the scriptures and texts of the yogic
tradition.
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Jupiter Chakra:
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See Svadhishthana Chakra
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Kapalabhati:
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A breathing exercise involving rapid abdominal breathing which is carried out
to cleanse the respiratory tract; also called "Breath of Fire". This is one of
the 6 kriyas, or cleansing exercises.
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Karma:
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Literal translation of this Sanskrit word means "action". Karma operates
through the law of cause and effect, meaning that everything happening to you
is the effect of your past actions.
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Karma Yoga:
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A branch or path or yoga. It is the path of selfless service by performing
actions without wanting reward or payment. The principle of Karma Yoga is that
what we experience today is created by our actions in the past. Therefore, all
of our present efforts become a way to consciously create a future that frees
us from being bound by negativity and selfishness.
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Kripalu Yoga:
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A style or school of hatha yoga that teaches the basic mechanics of yoga
postures and introduces the concepts of breathwork. It is less concerned with
the structural detail of the postures and is a more inner-directed form of
yoga. It emphasizes the student's mental and emotional states as the poses are
held and encourages a gentle, compassionate and introspective approach. Kripalu
teachers emphasize the importance of accepting the body, encouraging students
to note where tension is held or simply to recognize their strengths and
weaknesses.
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Kriyas:
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Six cleansing and energizing techniques for purification of the physical body;
purity of the body encourages purity of the mind.
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Kundalini:
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The primordial cosmic energy dormant within each individual. It is often
described as a serpent, coiled at the base of the spine. Through practice, this
energy is awakened and moves up through the spine.
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Kundalini Yoga:
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A style or school of hatha yoga. It is a path centered around awakening and
employing kundalini energy stored at the base of the spine. It uses the breath,
postures, chanting and meditation to stimulate and move this energy up the
spine.
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Lotus Flower:
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Symbolizes our human spiritual evolution. The root in the soil represents our
lowest nature. The stem, which develops from water, denotes our intuitive
endeavors; and the flowering lotus blossom, which develops from the sun,
represents self-realization.
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Mala:
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A string of 108 beads; it is a tool to help focus the mind for meditation. The
string of beads is held in the right hand. Each bead is rolled with the thumb
and a finger, one by one, as you repeat and focus on your mantra.
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Mandala:
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Beautiful, usually circular, geometric design that draws your eyes to the
center and is used as an object of focus for concentration and meditation.
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Manipura Chakra:
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The third chakra, also called the Mars Chakra or Solar Plexus Chakra is located
on the spine behind the navel. It the center of true energy, willpower and our
sense of self. It is involved in the digestive process and distributes the life
force to all parts of the body.
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Mantra:
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A syllable, word or phrase used to focus the mind during meditation. It can be
repeated mentally or out loud. Om is the best known mantra.
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Mars Chakra:
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See Manipura Chakra
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Meditation:
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The state of consciousness characterized by mental stillness and inner calm
coupled with an intense awareness. The goal is to free the mind from the stream
of thoughts that usually inhabit it and the attainment of supreme spiritual
peace.
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Mercury Chakra:
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See Vishuddha
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Mindfullness Meditation:
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A form of meditation originally developed in the Buddhist traditions of Asia
and can be defined as awareness of each moment as it occurs. Your body, mind,
feelings, mental states, perceptions, sounds and sights are all equally
recognized with the intention to understand what is actually taking place
beneath your concepts, thoughts or ideas of what is occurring.
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Mountain Pose:
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See Tadasana
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Muladhara Chakra:
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The first chakra, also called the Saturn Chakra or Root Chakra is located at
the base of the coccyx in the lower spine. It is the center of physical
vitality and energy. It is the anchor or foundation chakra in which a coiled
energy lies sleeping like a serpent. When awakened through yoga this energy (or
kundalini) travels up the spine through all the chakras.
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Mudras:
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Hand positions that direct the life current or prana in specific directions
through the body.
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Nadis:
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In Yogic theory there are about 72,000 nadis or subtle tubes in the astral
body. They equate to the acupuncture meridians.
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Namaste:
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The traditional expression of greeting and farewell practiced among yogis and
performed with the hands placed in prayer position at the heart center. It is
usually accompanied with a bowing of the head and body. It means "The Divine in
me salutes the Divine in you."
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Namaste Mudra:
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A mudra or hand position in which the hands are placed together in prayerlike
fashion to honor the inner light.
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Niyamas:
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The second stage or limb of yoga as defined by Patanjali in his
Yoga Sutras
and is a collection of five observances or personal disciplines. The five
niyamas are purity, contentment, self-discipline, self-study, and living with
an awareness of the Divine.
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Om:
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A sacred monosyllable often written as "Aum" commonly used as a mantra during
meditation and representative of the absolute or oneness of the universe.
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Patanjali:
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A sixth-century Indian scholar who collected all the known knowledge of yoga
and organized it into a treatise called the
Yoga Sutras
which describes all the techniques and aims of yoga.
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Phoenix Rising Yoga:
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An emerging style or school of hatha yoga based on the Kripalu style and is a
combination of classical yoga poses married to elements of mind-body
psychology. It's immensely therapeutic, incorporating poses for inner
awareness, mental acuity, emotional stability and physical balance, as well as
spiritual awareness.
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Physical Body:
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Yogic philosophy sees the body as a vehicle for the soul in its journey toward
enlightenment and as such is really three "bodies". The physical body is the
body we see. It is the body that is born, grows and eventually dies while the
other two: the astral and causal bodies continue on to the hereafter. It is the
lowest of the three bodies.
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Power Yoga:
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An emerging style or school of hatha yoga based on the Ashtanga style of yoga.
This physical form of yoga incorporates both a strong mind and body workout.
Practiced in a sequence of postures, power yoga builds strength and focus while
unwinding tight joints and muscles.
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Prana:
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Universal energy or life force which sustains all life. We take in prana or
energy from the food we eat, the air we breathe and from sunshine. Yoga
postures, good food, sunlight, fresh air, correct breathing techniques and
meditation can all encourage prana to flow through the astral body in the nadis.
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Pranayama:
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The fourth stage or limb of yoga as defined by Patanjali in his
Yoga Sutras
and is the breathing exercises designed to help you master control of your
breath to prepare the body and mind for meditation.
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Pratyahara:
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The fifth stage or limb of yoga as defined by Patanjali in his
Yoga Sutras
and is the practice of drawing inside of oneself by training the mind to shift
awareness away from the external world, resting instead on what is going on
within. It is the withdrawal of the mind from the senses in order to still the
mind and is an essential first step in meditation.
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Raja:
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Royal or ruler.
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Raja Yoga:
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A branch or path of yoga also known as the "royal" path, and "classical" yoga.
It is considered the highest form of yoga. It concentrates on physical and
mental control and meditation is the focal point. The practice of raja yoga
typically starts with hatha yoga, which gives the body the needed health and
strength to endure the more advanced stages of training.
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Rajasic Foods:
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Foods that cause excessive energy and agitation, leading to discomfort. They
create a distracting, restless state of mind. Rajasic foods include stimulants
such as onion, garlic, coffee, black tea, sugary foods, chocolate and spicy and
salted foods. Tobacco is also considered rajasic. A healthy yogic diet would
limit these types of foods.
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Root Chakra:
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See Muladhara Chakra
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Sacral Chakra:
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See Svadhishthana Chakra
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Sahasrara Chakra:
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The seventh chakra, also called the Thousand Petaled Lotus Chakra or Crown
Chakra is located at the crown of the head. It is the center of
self-realization, perspective, unity, and enlightenment.
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Samadhi:
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The eighth stage or limb of yoga as defined by Patanjali in his
Yoga Sutras
and is the enlightened and ecstatic state of supreme consciousness and union.
It is the ultimate goal of yoga when the meditator comes to realize a profound
connection to the Divine and an interconnectedness with all living things.
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Sanskrit:
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An ancient literary language of India. Early yoga literature and terms were
written in Sanskrit.
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Sattvic Foods:
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Foods that promotes health, vitality, strength, and tranquility. They calm the
mind and sharpen the intellect, maintaining mental poise throughout the day.
They are also soothing and nourishing to the body. Sattvic foods include raw
fruits and raw or lightly cooked vegetables, nuts, seeds, legumes, whole-grain
bread, dairy products such as cheese and butter, and herbal tea. They are
additive and chemical free. A healthy yogic diet would concentrate on these
types of foods.
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Saturn Chakra:
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See Muladhara Chakra
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Shavasana:
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Also known as the Corpse Pose, this pose is meant to bring the body and mind
into total, conscious relaxation.
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Sivananda Yoga:
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A style or school of hatha yoga that teaches a five-point philosophy, including
breath, relaxation, diet, exercise and positive thinking. The classes follow a
standard format based on a routine of breathing exercises, sun salutations, a
series of 12 classic yoga postures and relaxation.
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Solar Plexus Chakra:
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See Manipura Chakra
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Sun Chakra:
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See Ajna Chakra
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Sun Salutation:
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See Surya Namaskara
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Surya Namaskara:
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The Salutation to the Sun which is a series of 12 fluid postures coordinated
with the breath that move from pose to counterpose giving you an easy,
energizing workout. It is customarily done in the morning at sun rise.
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Svadhishthana Chakra:
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The second chakra, also called the Jupiter Chakra or Sacral Chakra is located
on the spine near the genitals. It is the center of sexuality, passion, and the
creation of life.
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Swami:
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A holy man.
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Tadasana:
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The basic standing posture in yoga, also called Mountain Pose. It begins and
ends all the standing postures. The practice of this pose establishes the
fundamentals of placement and alignment, the principles of which will be
carried out in all standing poses. The emphasis in this posture is on creating
a foundation of stability and symmetry.
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Tamasic Foods:
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Foods that contribute to lethargy, laziness, and inactivity. They are thought
to decrease motivation and purpose, and are associated with depression.
Overeating is also considered tamasic. Tamasic foods include meat, fish, eggs,
drugs, and alcohol, as well as any foods that have been fermented, burned,
fried or reheated many times. Mushrooms, because they grow in darkness, are
also considered tamasic. A healthy yogic diet would limit these types of foods.
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Tantra Yoga:
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A branch or path of yoga. It is the pathway of ritual designed to awaken the
kundalini energy in the body. Practitioners experience the Divine in all of
life's activities including the consecration of relationships and the divine
nature of sexuality and use ceremonies, customs and rituals as opportunities to
experience union with the greater life force.
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Third Eye Chakra:
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See Ajna Chakra
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Thousand Petaled Lotus Chakra:
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See Sahasrara Chakra
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Throat Chakra:
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See Vishuddha
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Transcendental Meditation:
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A form of meditation, also known as TM, that involves the mental repetition of
a mantra. Traditionally, you can only receive a mantra from a teacher, one who
knows you and your particular needs. Transcendental Meditation was founded by
Maharishi Mahesh Yogi in the late 1960's, whose most famous disciples were The
Beatles.
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Tri-Yoga Yoga:
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An emerging style or school of hatha yoga that incorporates a series of
continuous, flowing postures accompanied by background music. It integrates
asana, pranayama and meditation practice and is divided into seven levels,
ranging from basic beginner to advanced.
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Vedanta:
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The philosophy on which yoga theory is based.
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Venus Chakra:
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See Anahata Chakra
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Viniyoga:
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A style or school of hatha yoga that emphasizes integrating poses and
breathing. Awareness of the breath is central in this style and inhalation and
exhalation are stressed a great deal throughout a class. It is an
individualized, step-by-step approach that adjusts teaching to the level and
needs of the students.
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Vinyasa:
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A steady flow of connected yoga asanas linked with breathwork in a continuous
movement. It is a particularly dynamic form of yoga. The Sun Salutation is one
example of a vinyasa yoga routine.
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Vishuddha Chakra:
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The fifth chakra, also called the Mercury Chakra or Throat Chakra is located at
the throat. It is the center concerned with how we communicate and express
ourselves in the world.
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Yamas:
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The first stage or limb of yoga as defined by Patanjali in his
Yoga Sutras
and is a collection of five abstinences or principles governing the way to
relate to other people. The five yamas are nonviolence, nonlying, nonstealing,
moderation in sensual activities, and nonpossessiveness.
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Yoga:
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A term derived from the Sanskrit word "yug" meaning to join together, to yoke
or to unite. It is a set of various techniques to unite the mind, body and
spirit within the individual and to unite the individual with the Divine, the
infinite or the universe.
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Yoga Sutras of Patanjali:
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A collection of one hundred and ninety-five statements compiled two thousand
years ago by an Indian sage named Patanjali giving guidance on how to gain
mastery over the mind and emotions and advice on spiritual growth. It is the
source of Patanjali's Eightfold Path of Ashtanga and has largely defined the
modern concept of yoga.
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Yogi:
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A male student of yoga.
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Yogini:
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A female student of yoga.
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