Yoga Vocab 101: yoga related terms you might hear during your customized yoga practice session. If you have any questions regarding these terms or terms not listed here, please address them to me via email.
Ananda - bliss, happiness, joy
Yoga - union
Hatha - physical exercise
Namaste - i salute you
Asana - posture, seat of awareness
- Adho Mukha Svanasana - downward facing dog
- Alanasana - crescent lunge
- Apanasana - wind-relieving
- Ardha Chandrasana - half moon
- Balasana - child’s
- Bharadvajasana - simple seated twist
- Bitilasana - cow
- Bhujangasana - cobra
- Chaturanga Dandasana - four-limbed staff
- Dandasana - staff
- Dhanurasana - bow
- Eka Pada Rajakapotasana - one legged pigeon
- Garudasana - eagle
- Gomukhasana - cow-face
- Halasana - plough
- Janu Sirsasana - head-to-knee forward fold
- Malasana - garland
- Marichyasana - seated spinal twist
- Marjariasana - cat
- Matsyasana - fish
- Natarajasana - dancer
- Parighasana - gate
- Parivrtta Janu Sirsasana - revolved head-to-knee forward fold
- Parsvottanasana - intense side stretch
- Paschimottanasana - seated foward fold
- Prasarita Padottanasana - standing wide legged forward fold
- Salabhasana - locust
- Savasana - corpse
- Setu Banda Sarvangasana - bridge
- Tadasana - Mountain
- Upavistha Konasana - seated wide legged forward fold
- Urdhva Hastasana - upward salute
- Urdhva Mukha Svanasana - upward facing dog
- Ustrasana - camel
- Uttanasana - standing forward fold
- Utkatasana - chair
- Utthita Hasta Padangusthasana - standing extended hand-to-big toe
- Vajrasana - thunderbolt
- Viparita Karani - legs up the wall
- Virabhadrasana - warrior
- Virasana - hero
- Vrkasana - tree
Bandha - body locks or constrictions
- Mula Bandha - pelvic lock
- Uddiyana Bandha - abdominal lock
- Jalandhara Bandha - chin lock
Mudra - seal or gesture
- Gyan Mudra - thumb to index finger (knowledge)
- Shuni Mudra - thumb to middle finger (patience)
- Katakamukha Mudra - thumb to index and middle fingers (strength)
- Prithvi Mudra - thumb to ring finger (balance)
- Apaan Mudra - thumb to middle finder and ring fingers (cleanse)
- Buddhi - thumb to pinky finger (clarity)
- Prana Mudra - thumb to ring and pinky fingers (energize)
- Mukula Mudra - thumb and fingers pressed together (rejuvenate)
- Anjali Mudra - palms of both hands together, fingers pointed (reverence)
- Bhairava(i) Mudra - one hand resting on the other, palms facing up (harmonize)
- Dhyana Mudra - fingers on top the others, thumbs touching (concentration)
- Ganesha Mudra - fingertips clasped, palms outward (invigorate)
- Uttarabodhi Mudra - hands clasped, index fingers pointed (enlightenment)
Pranayama - extension of breath / force of life
- Kumbhaka - breath retention
- Antara Kumbhaka - holding breath upon inhale
- Bahya Kumbhaka - holding breath upon exhale
- Ujjayi Pranyama - diaphragmatic breathing
- Bhastrika Pranayama - (bellows breathing) forceful inhale and exhale, single or both nostrils
- Kapalbhati Pranayama - rapid and active exhaling (equal in & out both nostrils)
- Agnisar Pranayama - inhale fully hold breath, exhale slowly, hold breath, w/o inhaling, pump ab muscles, then slowly inhale
- Chandrabhedan Pranayama - inhale left nostril exhale right nostril
- Suryabhedan Pranayama - inhale right nostril exhale left nostril
- Nadhi Sodhana / Anuloma Viloma Pranayama - (alternate nostril breathing) inhale right nostril, exhale left nostril, inhale left nostril, exhale right nostril
- Sheetali Pranayama - inhale through open mouth exhale through both nostrils
- Sheetkari Pranayama - inhale and exhale through teeth
- Bhramari Pranayama - thumb in ears, index finger on forehead, other 3 fingers cover eyes, elbows shoulder height, long inhale, hold, slow exhale buzzing like bee