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15 Yoga Terms You Might Hear In A Yoga Class

Updated: Jun 10, 2020

Yoga is an exercise method that originated in India. It is why when in Yoga class, you often hear Yoga teachers mention strange and odd words. These terms and phrases used are Sanskrit words. With the help of some experienced teachers, we have compiled a list of the most common Yoga terms you will encounter in a class, along with practical examples of how you will use those Yoga words. If you've ever been confused in a Yoga class and can't know these phrases, this article is for you!

1. Ahimsa:

Ahimsa means nonharming or nonviolence. It is one of Yoga's five Yamas or principles that guide individual behavior.

2. Asanas ("seat")

Physical postures of Yoga. The word is also built into the name of the pose — for example, Utkatasana (Chair pose) or Virabhadrasana (Warrior pose), etc.

3. Ashtanga

Ashtanga means eight branches or twigs, and it is also a popular, traditional Yoga style. Ashtanga Yoga is a physical practice, followed by a series of specific postures.

4. Bikram

Bikram Yoga is a hot Yoga type named after its founder, Bikram Choudhury. Bikram Yoga follows a strict set of rules, including a sequence of 26 fixed postures done in the same order. Sometimes you hear the hot Yoga of Muslims, but hot Yoga practitioners don't follow many rules and often vary from room to room.

5. Chakra

If you're a fan of Naruto, I'm sure you're familiar with this word. But if not, I will tell you what it means. Chakra means "wheel" - a chakra is an energy center, the most common of which runs along with the spine. Some modern translation refers to chakra as the complexes of electromagnetism, the degree of accuracy and diversity arising directly from the combined average of all positive and negative fields called "fields," thus creating complex Nadi. In Kundalini Yoga, breathing techniques, images, mudra, bandhas, kriyas, and mantras are focused on controlling the subtle flow of energy through chakras.

6. Guru

Guru means teacher or master. While the term sometimes refers to a holy or revered figure, a modern teacher may be a teacher or leader that a student seeks or seeks advice from Kennedy to speak. You will call all the teachers you meet with a professor. This term is reserved for someone who has a profound influence on your practice or life.

7. Mantra

A mantra is a sacred saying, a vulgar sound, a syllable, a word or a phoneme, or a group of Sanskrit words believed by students to have psychological and spiritual power. Some spells have syntactic and literal structure, while others do not.

8. Mudra

Mudra means mark or gesture performed by hands used in combination with pranayama (Yoga breathing exercises), and are usually performed while sitting in the postures of Padmasana, Sukhasana or Vajrasana. Mudras work to stimulate various body parts related to breathing and affect the flow of energy in the body and even a mood. The specific gestures and hand position act like a lock that guides the flow of strength and reflexes to the brain. By curling, twisting, stretching, and touching the fingers and hands, we can control the mind-body connection because each area of the side corresponds to a specific part of the mind or body.


9. Namaste

We often see Indians greeting each other, clasping their hands, and saying Namaste. So does Namaste mean hello?

Namaste or Namaskar is a Sanskrit word derived from another Sanskrit word 'Namaha Way, which means "answer." In our writings on 'What we include' and 'Life after death,' we have stated that in each of us, there exists a God (Principle of God) called a soul (ātmā). ). Namaskar's greeting is when the soul in one person acknowledges and pays back the soul in another. While the words Namaste and Namaskar are synonymous with each other, there is a mental difference between them. Namaskar has more sāttviktā than Namaste.

10. Pranayama

Pranayama is a method to transform creative energy based on a combination of sexual virgins (restraining or retaining sexual energy), concentration, imagination, and breath. The word pranayama comes from Sanskrit, including:

· Prana: vitality, the source of life; the breath of life; energy

· Yama: restraint, control or control

11. Savasana

In Savasana, also known as the corpse posture, when you lie comfortably on the carpet, relaxing your body and mind, you can fully benefit from it just like any practice.

In this position, close your eyes, breathe naturally, and practice removing stress from your body. Ideally, pose for 10 to 20 minutes. However, even a few minutes of Savasana, it brings powerful benefits.

12. Shala

Shala means "home" in Sanskrit. In Yoga, it means Yoga school/Yoga class. While most styles of Western Yoga are practiced in studios, some other traditional forms – such as Ashtanga Yoga - use the term Shala. It could be your Yoga studio or Yoga communities

13. Sutra

Sutra means "book" in Sanskrit. Yoga Sutra is a collection of sayings, outlining eight limbs of Yoga. The "themes" (like the Sanskrit translation) of wisdom provide guidelines for living a meaningful and purposeful life. Learn more about the sutras and Patanjali, the sage wrote them.

14. Tadasana and Samasthiti

In most common terminology, Tadasana is a posture while Samasthiti is an order of attention. Looking at the roots, it becomes quite clear. Tadasana (tada = mountain and asana = pose) translates to Mountain Pose, while Samasthiti (Sama is the same, equals and Sthiti is to establish, stand) turns into an equal and stable stance.

So, if you hear "Samasthiti" from Yoga instructor when you're standing in Tadasana, realize what they are asking you to do is focus on your pose and establish a strong and equal stance.

15. Ujjayi

Ujjayi means "Victorious Uprising" in Sanskrit. Ujjayi is a breathing exercise, or pranayama, used in a Yoga exercise. This Sanskrit word can be translated as "a winner." The Ujjayi breath can also be called the breath of victory, the cobra breath, or the ocean breath because the practitioner's breathing comes out while practicing this breath.

In Ujjayi breath, both inhalation and exhalation go through the nose. The breath fills the lower abdomen first, followed by the lower chest, upper chest, and throat. The gap between the vocal cords' narrows, creating a rushing or hissing sound. This audible breath is like ocean waves, breathing through diving equipment, or Darth Vade.



Work Cited:

Gray, Kevin. "10 Common Yoga Terms to Know Before Your First Class." Aaptiv, Aaptiv, 23 Oct. 2019, aaptiv.com/magazine/common-Yoga-terms.

Romine, Stepfanie. "39 Yoga Terms You Keep Hearing in Class." Openfit, 13 Aug. 2019, www.openfit.com/Yoga-terms-glossary.

Burgess, Lynn. "Common Yoga Terms Defined." ACTIVE.com, Active.com, 16 May 2012, www.active.com/fitness/articles/common-Yoga-terms-defined.

MichelleStangerYoga. "Quick Guide to Sanskrit: 15 Common Yoga Terms Translated." YogiApproved, 16 Oct. 2016, www.yogiapproved.com/Yoga/quick-guide-sanskrit-15-common-Yoga-terms-translated/.

Southard, Ashley, and Ashley SouthardPreviously. "23 Yoga Phrases to Survive Your First Yoga Class." Yoga Rove, 3 Jan. 2020, Yogarove.com/Yoga-phrases/.

Matson, Marquis. "10 Yoga Terms That Every Yogi Must Know (Yes, Even You!)." Brett Larkin Yoga, Brett Larkin Yoga, 29 Dec. 2019, www.brettlarkin.com/10-Yoga-terms-yogi-must-know/.

Carver, Leo, et al. "10 Powerful Mudras and How to Use Them." The Chopra Center, 10 Apr. 2019, chopra.com/articles/10-powerful-mudras-and-how-to-use-them.

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