Yoga Terms & Sanskrit Glossary
A comprehensive reference guide to essential Sanskrit terms, concepts, and practices used across all schools of yoga.
Asana
A set of yoga postures in which you are comfortable and stable. Asanas make muscles stress-free and increase their efficiency.
Ashtanga Yoga
It means practice of 8-limb yoga as defined by sage Patanjali in Yoga Sutras. It is a path of internal purification of self though 8 practices namely Yama, Niyama, Asana, Pranayama, Pratyahara, Dharana, Dhyana and Samadhi.
Aikam
It means one in Sanskrit.
Ashta
It means eight in Sanskrit.
Ashtaadasha
It means eighteen in Sanskrit.
Anahata chakra
Anahata is the heart chakra. Its element is air.
Ajna chakra
It is the location of 3rd eye and is the master of all chakras. Mind is its element.
Asteya
Non-Stealing.
Ahimsaa
Non violence.
Aparigraha
Non-Possession.
Ananda
Happiness.
AUM or OM
Aum or OM is a mantra that represents the universe, where A represents the creation aspect of the universe, U represents the maintaining energy of the universe and M characterizes the transformative energy of the universe.
Bandha
Bandhas are certain locks done to channelize the energy within. Bandhas are also used to align the backbone, and are usually practiced during asanas.
Bhakti Yoga
It means devotion to the god almighty. It is the yoga through heart.
Bhastrika
Bhastrika in Sanskrit means 'bellows'. It is a kind of pranayama in which breathing exercise is done either in a slow or in a fast way to get maximum oxygen for the body through inhaling and exhaling.
Bhramari
Bhramari comes from the Sanskrit word 'Bramar' which means the black Indian bee. In Bhramari pranayama, humming sound is produced during slow exhalation. One's eyes and ears are closed using fingers and a humming sound is made within mouth.
Bhrumadhya
Bhrumadhya (3rd Eye) is the location of Ajna chakra. It is located on the forehead, between two eyebrows. It is the centre-point of concentration.
Brammcharya
Celibacy.
Chatvaari
It means four in Sanskrit.
Chaturdash
It means fourteen in Sanskrit.
Chakra
Chakra means wheel of Nadis or energy channels. There are total 7 chakras.
Chin-mudra
A common hand gesture used in meditation. Index finger and thumb touching each other.
Dhyana
Dhyana is one of the 8 limbs of yoga and concentrates on a particular point of focus, with the intention of knowing truth about it. Dhyana means meditation. It is derived from the Sanskrit root 'dhyai' meaning 'to think of'.
Dharana
Means fixing the mind at one point. We call it concentration of mind on one point. It is the 6th limb of yoga sutras.
Dve
It means two in Sanskrit.
Dasha
It means ten in Sanskrit.
Dvaadasha
It means twelve in Sanskrit.
Drishti
Point of focus while asana practice or meditation.
Ekaadasha
It means eleven in Sanskrit.
Flow Yoga
Flow yoga is one in which poses are connected with each-other and the practitioner transits from one pose to another without any break.
Gyan Yoga
It is the yoga through brain in which a person gets realization through wisdom.
Guru
A spiritual teacher.
Hatha Yoga
Hatha yoga is that yoga which is balance flowing between left and right sides of the body. 'Ha' means sun (right-side) and 'Tha' means moon (left side), which together form Hatha meaning balance of two opposite energies.
Hatha Vinyasa Yoga
This style of yoga is a combination of Hatha and Vinyasa which is practice of Hatha yoga postures mixed with Chaturanga upward-downdog (Vinyasa) poses. Usually the poses are difficult.
Hastha
Hastha means hand and it represents the creativity of sun. Closed fist of a hand gives a person ability to achieve his/her goals and good manners. It is a drishti used in Ashtanga Vinyasa yoga.
Ida Nadi
It is the main energy channel in the left side of the body and is feminine in nature.
Japa Yoga
Repetition of any mantra or repetition of god's name while doing certain yoga asanas is called Japa yoga.
Jalandhara Bandha
Chin lock used to activate the Vishuddhi chakra.
Kriya
Kriya means category of actions to clean and detoxify body and mind.
Karma Yoga
It is a self-service to the holy divine in any and every way or form. It is yoga through hand.
Kriya Yoga
Kriya Yoga means union of finite (human) with infinite (God) through regular practice of yoga, meditation and mudra.
Kundalini Yoga
Kundalini yoga is about awakening of Kundalini energies (Sleeping Prana or Unmanifested Prana) to Sahasara chakra.
Kapal Bhati
It is a breathing exercise done to clean the windpipe. It is also a part of pranayama which is done to remove toxins out of the body and cleanse it. It is done to treat stomach related disorders and to lose weight.
Kunjal Kriya
Kunjal kriya is yogic vomiting which is done to purify stomach and cleanse the upper digestive tract.
Laya Yoga
It is that kind of yoga which merges the mind with any inner or outer sound. Those sounds might come from within and through them, one tries to connect with the almighty.
Mudra
Mudras are the shortcut to meditate. Usually they are hand and mind expressions to lead us to meditation.
Mula Bandha
Root lock used to align the lower back, sacral region and also used in pranayama.
Muladhara chakra
It is a basic chakra located on root of the spine.
Manipura chakra
This is the gem chakra or fire chakra which controls all energy within the body. It is located in the naval of human body.
Mantra
MAN (Mind) + TRA (instrument) — a sacred sound or syllable used as an instrument of the mind.
Nadi Shodhana
'Nadi' means 'energy channels', 'Shodhana' means 'purification'. Thus, Nadi Shodhana means purification of energy channels. It is the alternate nostril breathing technique which helps in keeping the mind calm, happy and peaceful.
Nava
It means nine in Sanskrit.
Navadasha
It means nineteen in Sanskrit.
Nadi
Nadis are the energy channels through which Prana flows.
Neti / Jal Neti
Neti is an important part of shatkriya and is a yogic system of clearing air passage-ways in the head. It is also used for nasal-cleansing.
Nauli
Nauli is a powerful technique, used to massage all muscles of abdomen. It is 1 of the 6 purification methods of Shatkarma.
Niyama
Means positive personal duties. It's a personal code of conduct of recommended activities and habits for healthy living, which should be observed every day.
Pranayama
Control of Prana or regulation of breath to regulate energy within body and mind.
Power Yoga
It is a fitness-based and calorie burning style of yoga which includes fast paced exercises and yoga postures and is aimed at strengthening physical, mental and spiritual strength.
Pada
Pada means foot and is used in Ashtanga. Pada also means 'connected' with what precedes it and what follows it.
Pancha
It means five in Sanskrit.
Panchadasha
It means fifteen in Sanskrit.
Pingala Nadi
It is the main energy channel in the right side of the body and is masculine in nature.
Prana
Means 'vital energy' or 'life force'. It is the force that exists in all living beings, small or large.
Raj Yoga
Raja Yoga also called 'Royal Yoga' at times, includes all kinds of yoga including meditation. It emphasizes on benefits of meditation for realization of spiritual self and meaningful evolution of one's self-consciousness. It is a systematic yoga.
Sutra
Sutra is that in which knowledge is condensed in few words. A person has to decode sutras to get its meaning.
Samadhi
State of autonomous and continuous flow of mind on any one object of meditation. The last of Patanjali's 8 limbs, state of UNION, all chakras open, absolute meditation state. It also means balance of mind.
Shat
It means six in Sanskrit.
Sapta
It means seven in Sanskrit.
Shodash
It means sixteen in Sanskrit.
Saptadasha
It means seventeen in Sanskrit.
Swadhistana chakra
It is the 2nd chakra located near Pubis bone. Its element is water and it controls all fluidity in the body.
Sushumna Nadi
It is the central energy channel and is the balance between feminine and masculine by nature.
Sutra Neti
Sutra means 'thread' and cleansing nose through waxed (Honey wax) cotton thread is called Sutra Neti.
Shankha Prakshalana
Shank means shell and Prakshalana means cleansing. Together it means cleaning the elementary canal from mouth to anus, by drinking saline water and doing a set of certain asanas.
Samatvam
Consistency.
Satya
Truth.
Shanti
Means tranquility, peace, is often chanted three times after one chant of Aum.
Tark-Vitark
Debate.
Traditional Yoga
It is the most real and authentic form of yoga which has been practiced for ages in India. Raja yoga and Hatha yoga are both considered as traditional yoga.
Treeni
It means three in Sanskrit.
Trayodasha
It means thirteen in Sanskrit.
Trataka
Trataka means yogic gazing where the gaze is fixed at an object for some time, after which it can be gazed through closed eyes.
Ujjayi
It is a conscious breathing in which our breath catches the windpipe. It is used to enhance Hatha yoga practice.
Uddiyan Bandha
Abdominal lock used to align the lumber back.
Vinyasa Yoga
It is that style of yoga in which one goes from one pose to another through transition in a specific way and with controlled breathing.
Vinyasa Flow Yoga
It is a style of yoga in which yoga poses are done in a synchronized way, combined with controlled breathing (inhale and exhale). The poses are practiced in an inter-linked way including Chaturanga up-dog, down-dog.
Vimshatihi
It means twenty in Sanskrit.
Vishuddhi chakra
It is the 5th basic chakra also known as the throat chakra with the element of aakash (space).
Yoga
Yoga means union or connection. Yoga is a state of mind in which there is no modification of mind, which remains peaceful and silent. It is also a set of body techniques which allow one to connect with divine.
Yoga Sutra
The first 4 stages of yoga namely Samadhi, Sadhana, Vibhuti and Kaivalya are together known as yoga sutra, written by sage Patanjali.
Yama
1st of Patanjali's 8 limbs of Yoga.