YOGA FROM A TO Z: BREAKING DOWN THE YOGA VOCABULARY. PART I

Is the yoga vocabulary a mystery for you?

Don’t worry. I’ve got your back!

In this 2-part post, I’m breaking down for you 20+ yoga terms that you might hear in your next class.

This time we’ll be covering from A to M. Enjoy!

• Asana. Asana can be translated literally as “seat,” but in the practical context we understand asana as the physical practice of postures. Asana is also the third limb described by Patanjali in the Yoga Sutras.

• Bandha. Bandhas are internal muscular ‘locks’. The 4 bandhas are:

  • Mula Bandha: pelvic floor

  • Uddiyana Bandha: abdominal muscles

  • Jalandhara Bandha: throat

  • Maha Bandha: perform simultaneously all 3 bandhas

• Chakra. Chakra is a Sanskrit term that means “wheel”. According to the yoga philosophy, they are 114 energy centers in the human body and the most relevant are those placed in 7 points on the spinal column. They are:

  • Muladhara: root chakra

  • Swadhisthana: sacral chakra

  • Manipura: solar plexus chakra

  • Anahata: heart chakra

  • Vishudda: throat chakra

  • Ajna: third eye chakra

  • Sahasrara: crown chakra

• Drishti. Drishti is the focus of the gaze at a specific point. Nose, third eye, fingers or toes are common drishtis.

• Ekam. Ekam is a Sanskrit word that means “One.” In some traditions, it is also a synonnymous for God or Supreme Oneness.

• Forrest Yoga. It is a modern style of yoga developed by Ana Forrest, which focuses on the work of the core, breathing and holding postures longer than in other styles.

• Ganesh or Ganesha is one of the most worshipped and popular deities in Hinduism. Known for its characteristic elephant head in a human body, it is the god of wisdom, success and the remover of obstacles.

• Hot Yoga. It refers to those yoga styles that are practiced in heated rooms with temperatures between 85F and 105F. Bikram or Baptiste yoga are among the most popular hot yoga styles.

• Iyengar Yoga. It is a style of yoga developed by B.K.S. Iyengar, which focus on the use of different props to achieve physical alignment in the postures.

• Japamala. A japamala or mala is a string of beads, traditionally 108, that is “used in prayer for counting and keeping focused on the repetition of a mantra.” (Stern, 2010)

• Kumbhaka. Kumbhaka means “breath retention.” Antar kumbhaka is the retention of the breath after the inhalation; bahya kumbhaka is the retention after the exhalation.

• Loving Kindness Meditation. The Loving Kindness or Metta meditation is a practice from the Buddhist tradition focused on extending thoughts and feelings of love, compassion, and kindness to ourselves and the others.

• Mantra. A mantra is a repeated syllable, word or phrase, either out loud or in the mind. Om is the most common mantra used during a regular yoga class.

We are halfway there friends! Come back next week for part II (from N to Z).

Much love,

Gaby