Yoga Lingo

8 Limbs : Here in the west, when we think of yoga, we think of the physical practice of postures, or asana as we say in Sanskrit.  This however is only one of the 8 limbs of yoga.  The others are as follows:

1. Yamas: How to live in relation to the outside world.  The five Yamas are:
   1. Ahimsa: Nonviolence
   2. Satya: Truthfulness
   3. Asteya: Nonstealing
   4. Brahmacarya: Control of the 5 senses
   5. Aparigraha: Non hoarding
2. Niyamas: How to live in relation to self.  The five Niyamas are:
   1. Sauca: Purity
   2. Santosha: Contentment
   3. Tapas: austerity
   4. Svadhyaya: Self-study
   5. Isvara - pranidhana: Devotion to the highest self
3. Asana: Physical Postures
4. Pranyama: Breath control
5. Pratyahara: Turning Inward
6. Dharana: Concentration
7. Dhyana: Meditation
8. Samadhi: Union with the divine/self

Ananda - Bliss

Anubhava - Individual experience

Bhakti - The practice of devotion to the higher self

Drishti - A gazing technique that fosters concentration.  To engage drishti, find a point on the wall and focus on it.  This is especially helpful for balancing postures.

Gita -  Also called the Bhagavad Gita, it is one of the world's greatest works of spiritual literature, in which Krishna (incarnation of Vishnu- the preserver) explains the paths to final Liberation to Arjun (friend of Krishna) on the battlefield of the Mahabharata.

Guru - Spiritual Teacher

Hanuman – In the Hindu tradition, Hanuman is the monkey god who was an ardent devotee of Rama, an incarnation of Lord Vishnu (the preserver).  He is considered to be an incarnation of Shiva (the destroyer).  As such he is known for his tremendous strength and his humility, love and devotion.

Hatha Yoga - The physical practice of yoga including postures, breathing techniques and meditation.  Most styles of yoga in the west fall under this type of yoga.

Karma - What goes around, comes around

Karuna - Compassion

Kirtan - Call and response devotional chanting/singing

Mahabharata - Sanskrit epic poem of India dealing in many episodes with the struggle between two rival families; It contains the Bhagavad Gita plus elaborations on theology and morality.

Mantra - a sound, syllable, word or group of words that are considered capable of creating transformation

Mauna - The practice of silence

Mudra - Spiritual hand gestures

Namaste - Our spirits are one

Nidra – Sleep

Patanjali - The name of the ancient Indian teacher who gathered and systemized the teachings of Hatha yoga and meditation.   He wrote the Yoga Sutras.

Prana - Life force/breath

Prem(a) - Love

Purnima – Full Moon

Samskara – Individual impressions, ideas, or actions taken together that make up our conditioning

Satya - Truth

Uddiyana Bandha - Pulling the belly in and up.  This engages the core and creates ease in postures

Ujaii Breath -  The Pranyama breathing we use in VEERA Vinyasa Yoga.  This breath goes in through the nose and out through the nose.  The exhale is emphasized in the back of the throat and has an oceanic like sound.

Veera - Spiritual Warrior

Vinyasa - Breath synchronized movement

Yoga Sutras - an ancient Indian text that is the foundation of yogic teachings