Welcome to Holy and Grounded Yoga!

Below is a Yoga Glossary featuring commonly used terms and their basic definitions. Feel free to adapt or expand this list to suit your practice or teaching style.

• Ahimsa: A principle of non-violence or non-harming, central to yoga philosophy.
• Alignment: The arrangement of the body to achieve stability, safety, and effectiveness in poses.

• Bandha: “Lock” or “seal” in the body used to direct energy. Common bandhas include Mula Bandha (root lock), Uddiyana Bandha (abdominal lock), and Jalandhara Bandha (throat lock).
• Bhakti Yoga: The path of devotion and love toward God or a higher power.

• Chakras: Energy centers within the body. There are seven main chakras running along the spine, each associated with different physical, emotional, and spiritual aspects.
• Child’s Pose (Balasana): A resting posture that gently stretches the back, hips, and thighs.

• Dharana: Concentration or focused attention; the sixth limb of yoga in Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras.
• Dhyana: Meditation or the seventh limb of yoga—sustained awareness without distraction.

• Ekagrata: Single-pointed focus, often cultivated through breath work or concentration on a specific object/mantra.

• Gaze (Drishti): A point of focus for the eyes, used to help maintain balance and concentration in poses.

• Hatha Yoga: Often refers to the physical branch of yoga that includes postures (asanas), breath work (pranayama), and cleansing practices. “Ha” means sun, “tha” means moon—symbolizing balance.

• Iyengar Yoga: A style of yoga developed by B.K.S. Iyengar that emphasizes precise alignment and the use of props.

• Japa: Repetition of a mantra or sacred sound as a form of meditation or prayer.
• Jnana Yoga: The path of wisdom and knowledge, focusing on self-inquiry and understanding of spiritual truths.

• Karma Yoga: The path of selfless service, performing actions without attachment to outcomes.
• Kundalini: The spiritual energy believed to lie dormant at the base of the spine, which can be awakened through certain practices.

• Mantra: A word, phrase, or sound repeated to aid concentration in meditation (e.g., “Om”).
• Mudra: A gesture or seal, usually involving the hands or fingers, to direct energy flow and focus the mind.
• Mula Bandha: The root lock—an engagement of the pelvic floor to stabilize the core and contain energy.

• Namaste: A traditional Indian greeting often used at the end of yoga classes, meaning “I bow to the divine in you.”
• Niyamas: Personal observances and the second limb of yoga, which include purity (saucha), contentment (santosha), discipline (tapas), self-study (svadhyaya), and surrender (Ishvara pranidhana).

• Om (Aum): A sacred sound or mantra said to represent the essence of the universe. Often chanted at the beginning or end of yoga practice.

• Pranayama: Breath control techniques that increase and channel life force energy (prana).
• Pratyahara: Withdrawal of the senses from external objects; the fifth limb of yoga in Patanjali’s system.
• Props: Items like blocks, straps, blankets, and bolsters used to support alignment and accessibility in poses.

• Restorative Yoga: A gentle yoga style focused on relaxation, using props for extended holds in soothing poses.

• Sanskrit: The ancient language of India in which many yoga terms and scriptures are written.
• Savasana: Corpse Pose; a final relaxation posture lying on the back, allowing the body to integrate the practice.
• Sun Salutation (Surya Namaskar): A sequence of postures linked with breath, often used as a warm-up in many yoga styles.

• Tapas: Discipline or “fiery commitment”—one of the Niyamas. Refers to the inner heat generated by dedicated practice.
• Trikonasana: Triangle Pose; a standing posture that stretches the legs and side body.

• Ujjayi Breath: A common pranayama technique where the breath is slightly constricted in the back of the throat, creating a soft ocean-like sound.
• Upavistha Konasana: Wide-Angle Seated Forward Fold; a posture stretching the inner thighs and hamstrings.

• Vinyasa: Linking breath with movement in a continuous flow of postures. Also refers to a style of yoga characterized by fluid transitions.
• Viparita Karani: Legs-Up-the-Wall Pose; a restorative inversion that can soothe tired legs and calm the mind.

• Yamas: Ethical guidelines (the first limb of yoga), which include non-violence (ahimsa), truthfulness (satya), non-stealing (asteya), moderation (brahmacharya), and non-greed (aparigraha).
• Yin Yoga: A slow-paced style of yoga with poses held for longer periods, targeting connective tissues.

• A foundational text outlining the philosophy and practice of yoga in an eight-limbed system: Yamas, Niyamas, Asana, Pranayama, Pratyahara, Dharana, Dhyana, and Samadhi.