YogaRenew 200 HR Sanskrit Yoga Terms
Glossary
Adho Mukha Svanasana (AH-doh MOO-kah shwan-Nahs-uh-nuh): downward facing dog
pose
Ahimsa (uh-him-sa): non-harming, one of the five yamas of the 8 Limbs Of Yoga.
Asana (aa-suh-nuh): physical yoga poses; the Sanskrit translation of asana is ‘seat’
Ajna Chakra (aag-nya-chuhk-ruh): Third eye chakra, this chakra is associated with the color
purple indigo and the area above our eyebrows (forehead), it is associated with wisdom, self-
awareness, imagination, and intuition
Anahata Chakra (a-nA-ha-ta-chuhk-ruh): heart chakra, this chakra is associated with our
heart area and green; it also associated with our relationship to ourselves and others, love,
compassion, and gratitude
Ananda Balasana (ah-Naan-duh bah-LAHS-uh-nuh): happy baby pose
Anjaneyasana (AHN-jah-nay-AHS-uh-nuh): crescent lunge pose
Apraigraha (aa-paree-grah-ha): non-attachment, one of the five yamas of the 8 Limbs
Of Yoga
Asteya (ah-stay-ya): non-stealing, one of the five yamas of the 8 Limbs Of Yoga
Asthanga (ASH-taan-ga): a style of yoga troduced in the West during the 1970's by yogi
Pattabhi Jois. Ashtanga is a rigorous style of yoga with a specific sequence of poses meant to
challenge the mind, body, and soul
Ashta Chandrasana (ah-SHTAH chahn-DRAH-sa-nuh): high lunge
Ardha Chandrasana (ARD-uh chan-DRAHS-uh-nuh): half moon
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Ardha Matsyendrasana (ARD-uh MAHT-see-ehn-DRAHS-uh-nuh): seated spinal twist pose
Ardha Pincha Mayurasana (Are-dah pin-cha ma-yu-ra-AHS-uh-nuh): dolphin pose
Ardha Uttanasana (ARD-uh ooh-tuhn-AHS-uh-nuh): halfway lift pose
B
Baddha Konasana (BAH-duh cone-AHS-uh-nuh): bound angle pose
Balasana (Bah-lahs-anna): child pose
Bandha (bahn-duh): Areas in the body to lock in and control energy in the body. In ancient
Sanskrit, the word 'Bandha' means to tighten or lock
Bhagavad Gita (bhaa-ga-vaad-gee-ta): an influential ancient Hindu text; this 700 verse
story is about Krishna guiding Prince Arjuna into a battle and includes spiritual teachings
consciousness, inner struggle and connection to a higher power; in Sanskrit it translates to
‘The Song of God’
Bhakti yoga (bhak-tee): a style of yoga that focuses on devotion
Bhujangasana (boo-jung-GAHS-uh-nuh): cobra pose
Bitilasana (beeh-til-AHS-uh-nuh): cow pose
Brahmacharya (brah-muh-char-yuh): right use of energy, one of the five yamas of the 8
Limbs Of Yoga.
C
Chakra (chuhk-ruh): chakras are thought to be invisible energy centers in the body that play
a role in our spiritual, emotional, and physical health; the word chakra comes from the
Sanskrit word "wheel" or "circle"
Chaturanga Dandasana (chah-tuur-ANGH-uh dahn-DAHS-uh-nuh): chaturanga pose
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D
Dandayamna Bharmanasana (Don-DA-yaa-Mon-Braah-ma-AHS-uh-nuh): balancing table
pose
Dhanurasana (DAAH-noor-AHS-uh-nuh): bow pose
Dharana (dh-aa-r-uh-n-aa): concentration; dharana is one of the 8 Limbs Of Yoga
Dhyana (dai-ya-nuh): meditation; dhyana is one of the 8 Limbs Of Yoga
E
Eka Pada Adho Mukha Svanasana (Ek-PAda-ah-doo-Moo-kah-Shwan-nah-sun-uh): three
legged dog or downward dog split pose
G
Garudasana (gahr-ood-AHS-uh-nuh): eagle pose
Gomukhasana (go-mookh-AHS-uh-nuh): cow face pose
Halasana (hah-LAHS-uh-nuh): plow pose
Hasta Bandha (HA-staa- bahn-duh): hasta bandha is believed to draw energy up from the
palms of the hands to energize and support the arms and shoulders in weight bearing poses
Hatha Yoga (Haa-thaa): hatha yoga encompasses many general styles of yoga, with a
broad definition derived from the ancient yogic texts
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I
Ishvara Pranidhana (Ish-va-ra-pra-nid-hah-na): to surrender to a higher power; one of
the five niyamas of the 8 Limbs of Yoga
Inversion: an inversion is any yoga pose where the head is below the heart
Iyengar Yoga (Eye-ING-aar): Iyengar Yoga was founded by B.K.S. Iyengar, one of the key
influential figures of yoga during the 20th century, Iyengar Yoga classes focus on proper
alignment and the precise use of teaching cues and language to achieve alignment
Jalandhara Bandha (jah-lon-DAR-ah bAHn-dah): jalandhara bandha is believed to draw in
and stimulate energy in the throat and chest area.
Jathara Parivartanasana (JUT-ah-are-uh par-ree-VAart-tuh-nuh-suh-nuh): supine spinal
twist
Karma yoga (kaar-maa): yoga philosophy and practice that focuses on service to others
Kundalini (KOON-duh-LEE-nee): kundalini yoga is rooted in Hatha Yoga and is commonly
recognized for its spiritual benefits; kundalini presents the imagery of a snake coiled at the
base of the spine which represents raw untapped energy in our bodies.
Manipura Chakra (maa-ni-pur-a-chuhk-ruh): solar plexus chakra; associated with the
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color yellow and our stomach area; this chakra is associated with feelings of confidence, inner
strength, and power
Marjaryasana (mar-jar-ee-AHS-anna): cat pose
Mula Bandha (moo-la bahn-duh): mula bandha is believed to draw energy upwards in the
body from our pelvic areas.
Muladhara Chakra (moo-laa-dhA-ra-chuhk-ruh): root chakra, associated with the color
red; this chakra is located at the base of our spine; it is associated with feelings of
support, groundedness, and safety
N
Namaste (Nah-mah-stay): common gesture of hello or respect in India; the Sanskrit
translation of Namaste is roughly “I bow to you” or “the light in me sees the light in you”
Natarajasana (Naat-ah-raj-AHS-uh-nuh): dancer pose
Nadi Shodhana (naa-dee-shood-haa-na praa-nuh-yaa-muh): alternate nostril breathing; a
form of pranayama practice that involves alternating breaths through the right and left
nostrils
Niyama (Knee-yaa-ma): the Niyamas are apart of the 8 Limbs Of Yoga and are a set of
five ethical standards to live our lives
Pada Bandha (paa-duh- bahn-duh): pada bandha is believed to draw energy up from the
soles of the feet to energize and support the legs in standing pose
Paripurna Navasana (par-ee-POOR-nah nah-VAHS-anna): boat pose
Patanjali – Indian sage who composed the The Yoga Sutras and 8 Limbs Of Yoga
Parsvottanasana (PARshov-oh-tahn-AHS-uh-nuh): pyramid pose
Paschimottanasana (PAH-shee-moh-ton-AHS-uh-nuh): seated forward fold pose
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Prana (praa-naa): energy that is believed to reside within us and every single being and
object in the universe; the Sanskrit translation for prana is ‘life force energy’
Pranayama (praa-nuh-yaa-muh): breath practice
Prasarita Padottanasana (Prah-suh-REE-tuh-pah-doh-tanh-AHS-UH-nun): wide legged
forward fold pose
R
Rajakapotasana (RAH-ja-KA-poh-TAHS-uh-nuh): pigeon pose
Sahasrara (sa-ha-srA-ra-chuhk-ruh): crown chakra, this chakra is associated with the colors
white and violet and is located at the crown of the head; it is associated with inner peace,
guidance, intuition, and faith
Salabhasana (sha-la-BAHS-uh-nuh): locust pose
Samadhi (saa-Mah-dee): a blissful state of oneness with all; one of the 8 Limbs of Yoga;
samadhi translates in Sankrit to “together” or “complete”
Santosha (san-Tho-shah): contentment, one of the five niyamas of the 8 Limbs of Yoga
Satya (SAHT-yah): truthfulness, one of the five yamas of the 8 Limbs of Yoga
Saucha (Sow-chah): purity; one of the five niyamas of the 8 Limbs of Yoga
Savasana (shah-VAHS-uh-nuh): savasana or corpse pose
Setu Bandha Sarvangasana (set-uu bahn-daah sar-vahn-gAHS-uh-nuh): bridge pose
Sukhasana (Sue-kahs-uh-nuh): easy pose
Sutras (sue-tra): a set of ethical guidelines that help an individual come to the state of
Samadhi
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Surya Namaskar (sir-yah-namah-skar): traditional classic series from Hatha yoga tradition
also called sun salutations; surya namaskar is a series of 12 asanas done in a single flow, with
each pose movement coordinated with the breath
Svadhyaya (swaad-ya-ya): self-study. One of the five niyamas of the 8 Limbs of Yoga
Swadisthana Chakra (swaad-hish-tana-chuhk-ruh): sacral chakra; associated with the
color orange; this chakra is associated with our pelvic area and our feelings of weight,
creativity, and pleasure
T
Tadasana (tah-DAHS-uh-nuh): mountain pose
Tapas (taa-paas): self-discipline, one of the five niyamas of the 8 Limbs of Yoga
Trikonasana (trick-koh-NAH-suh-nuh): triangle pose
U
Uddiyana Bandha (oo-di-yana bahn-duh ): refers to engaging the abdominal muscles for
breath retention and drawing energy upward in the body from the core
Upavistha Konasana (oo-pah-VEESH-tha-cone-AHS-uh-nuh): seated straddle pose
Urdhva Dhanurasana (OORD-vaa-DAHN-yoor-AHS-uh-nuh): wheel pose
Urdhva Mukha Svanasana (urd-va-Moo-kah-shwan-AHS-uh-nuh): upward facing dog
Ustrasana (oosh-STRAHS-uh-nuh): camel pose
Utkatasana (Oot-kah-tahs-uh-nuh): chair pose
Utkata Konasana (ot-kah-tah cone-AHS-uh-nuh): goddess pose
Utthita Parsvakonasana (oo-TEE-tah parsharv-cone-AHS-uh-nuh): extended side angle
pose
Utthan Pristhasana (oot-ten prees-thahs-uh-nuh): lizard pose
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Uttanasana (oot-tan-AHS-uh-nuh): standing forward fold pose
Ujjayi Pranayama (ooh-JAI-yee praa-nuh-yaa-muh): ocean breath or yogi breath; a
technique of pranayama practice for deep breathing
V
Vasisthasana (vah-sis-Tosh-uh-nuh): side plank pose
Vinyasa (VIN-yaa-saa): Vinyasa classes also include breathing techniques that focus on the
transition of the flow between poses. In Vinyasa, the synchronization of the breath and
movement is an important part of the practice
Vishudda Chakra (vi-shu-duh chukh-ruh): throat chakra, this chakra is associated with the
color blue and our throat area; it is associated with speaking our truth, listening,
communication, and self-expression
Viparita Virabhadrasana (va-par-ee-tah veer-ah-bah-DRAHS-uh-nuh): reverse warrior pose
Virabhadrasana (Veer-ah-bha-dras-uh-nuh): warrior pose
Vrksasana (vrik-SHAW-SA-nah): tree pose
Y
Yama (yaa-maa): the yamas are a set of five ethical principles on how we treat others;
the yamas are apart of the 8 Limbs Of Yoga
Yin Yoga (yii-n): Yin Yga was founded by Paulie Zink, who came from a background of
martial arts and Taoist yoga. In the 1970's, Zink introduced his students of martial arts into Yin
Yoga, as he believed the flexibility drawn from it had suitable applications in the martial arts
field. It was further popularized by Paul Grilley who incorporated his knowledge of anatomy
into the practice, and later by Sarah Powers who helped to bring today’s version of Yin Yoga
mainstream.
Yoga (yo-gah): the Sanskrit term for yoga is “union”, yoga is the union of the mind,
body, and soul
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