Yoga Glossary Updated

Agnisar kriya(अगिनसार कृया)

One of the shatkarmas (cleansing practices) -intestinal cleansing
Ajapa japa(अजाप जाप)
Spontaneous repetition of 'soham' (सोऽहं) mantra
Ajna chakra
Energy center located behind the forehead, also called psychic centre - one of the seven energy centers
Anahata chakra
Energy center located in the heart region; also called pranic centre - fourth of the seven energy centers.
Antar dhauti
Internal yoga cleansing (shatkarma) techniques
Antar kumbhaka
Internal breathe retention. The stage of pranayama where breath is retained after inhalation.
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. Balanced positions for smooth energy flow in specific areas of the body and mind.
Ashtanga yoga
The eight fold path of yoga as outlined by patanjali: yama, niyama, asana, pranayama, pratyahara, dharana, dhyana, samadhi
Ashwini mudra
Practice of contracting the anal sphincter.
Aum
See om
Bahir kumbhaka
External breathe 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 energy lock in a specific area.
Basti
A colon cleansing technique (shakarma), yogic enema
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
Brahman
Supreme consciousness, absolute reality.
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 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; sixth of the eight fold path in ashtanga yoga
Dhauti
Second of the shatkarmas; cleansing technique of the eyes, ears, tongue, forehead, oesophagus, stomach, rectum and anus
Dhyana
Meditation; single-pointed focus of mind on either a form, thought or sound.
Gorakshasana
Yogi gorakhnath's' pose
Hatha yoga
Science of yoga which purifies the whole physical body by means of shatkarma, asana, pranayama, mudra, bandha and concentration
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).
Jihva dhauti
One of the shatkarma techniques for cleansing the tongue.
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.
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 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.
Koormasana
Tortoise' pose - an advanced posture.
Kriya yoga
The practice of kundalini yoga
Kukkutasana
Cockerel' pose
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 as the short intestinal wash. Involves the drinking of several glasses of water and the 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 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
Makarasana
Crocodile' pose
Mantra
Subtle sound vibration, which through repetition aims at expanding one's awareness or consciousness.
Matsyendrasana
A spine twisting pose
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 bandha
Energy lock created by the contraction of the perineum in the male and the cervix in the female.
Mooladhara chakra
Lowest energy centre 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.
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.
Niyama
Rule; there are 5 rules described in the ashtanga yoga of patanjali.
Om
The universal mantra; cosmic vibration of the universe; represents the four states of consciousness
Padmasana
Lotus pose - a seated meditative posture
Pancha makara
The five tantric practices: mansa(meat), madhya(wine), matsya(fish), mudra(grain), and maithuna(sexual intercourse)
Paschimottanasana
Back stretching pose
Plavini pranayama
Breathing technique which involves gulping air and swallowing it into the stomach and retaining it
Pranayama
Technique of breathing and breath control which regulates energy flow and aims at maintaining energy balance
Pratyahara
Sense withdrawal; first stage of concentrating on the mind during meditation
Raja yoga
Yoga in which union is achieved through concentration of mind
Samadhi
The final stage of ashtanga yoga in which concentration becomes one with the object of concentration; supreme union.
Seetkari pranayama
Breathing technique, which involves hissing leading to a cooling effect upon the whole body.
Shambhavi mudra
A yoga gesture in which one focuses at the mid-eyebrow center
Shatkarma
The six yogic techniques of purification of the body, viz. Neti, dhauti, nauli, basti, trataka, kapalbhati
Sheetali pranayama
Cooling breath' - a pranayama technique that lowers the body temperature by inhaling through the mouth while letting the breath flow in over the tongue.
Siddha yoni asana
The female counterpart of the siddhasana meditative posture, in which the left heel presses the entrance to the vagina
Sirshasana
Inverted pose - the 'headstand' in which the body is inverted and balanced on the crown of the head
Soham
Represents a mantra in meditation; literally means, 'i am that'. Represents the psychic sound with the sound 'so' during inhalation and 'ham' during exhalation.
Surya bheda pranayama
Breathing technique in which inhalation is done through the right nostril; increases vitality
Sutra neti
Yogic technique to cleanse the nasal passage using a special thread
Swadhisthana chakra
Second chakra in the spinal column, above the mooladhara.
Swastikasana
Auspicious pose -meditative posture similar to siddhasana
Tadasana
Palm tree pose- standing posture
Tiryaka bhujangasana
Twisting cobra pose
Tiryaka tadasana
Swaying palm tree pose
Trataka
One of the cleansing techniques (shatkarma) in which the gaze is focussed upon an object such as a candle flame.
Uddiyana bandha
Abdominal retraction lock'; drawing in of the abdomen towards the backbone after exhaling
Ujjayi pranayama
A kind of breathing technique, which produces a light sonorous sound.
Utkatasana
Squatting position
Uttankoormasana
Tortoise pose
Vajrasana
The 'thunderbolt' pose; a kneeling posture with buttocks resting upon the heels.
Vama swara
Flow of breath in the left nostril
Vaman dhauti
Yogic technique to cleanse the stomach by voluntary vomiting. There are two types: kunjal kriya (regurgitating of water) and vyaghra (regurgitating of food)
Varisara dhauti
Yogic cleansing technique in which a large quantity of water is drunk in conjunction with asanas to cleanse the entire digestive tract; also known as shankhaprakshalana.
Yoga
State of union between two opposites - body and mind; individual and universal consciousness; a process of uniting the opposing forces in the body and mind in order to achieve supreme awareness and enlightenment.
Yoga abhyasa
Practice of yoga.
Yoga nidra
A deep relaxation technique also called 'yogic sleep' in which mind and body is at complete rest but with complete awareness।

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