Yoga—A Sanksrit word meaning “to yoke,” yoga is the ancient practice of uniting mind and body through a series of postures (asanas) and breath work (pranayama). Yoga clears the physical and mental blocks that limit your potential and brings you closer to your true self. At its deepest level, the more than 6,000-year-old practice of yoga generates and moves energy (prana) through the chakra system. Regular yoga practice is a powerful therapeutic tool for healing the physical and mental body; it retards the aging process and keeps you open sexually; it creates strength, flexibility and muscle tone; it improves posture; and it can increase your sense of grace and overall well being.

Asana— a yoga posture. Asanas have both Sanskrit and English names and properties of being either steady (stihra) or soft (sukha). There are said to be 840,000 asanas for accessing the full potential of human movement.

Chakra— an energy center that controls the flow of prana through the body. Each energy center —most traditions emphasize seven main charkas— is located between the base of the spine upward through the crown of the head that compose the human energy system.

Namaste— a salute the instructor recites after the yoga practice, which has been translated by Western guru Ram Dass as, “I honor the place inside of you where your spirit resides; I honor that place in you which is of love, of light, of truth and of peace. I honor the place within you and that place within me, and in that moment our spirits are one in the universe.”

OM— pronounced “aum.” The sound, energy and pulse of the universe. Om is the symbol for humanity’s realization that divinity is within. OM is often chanted at the beginning or end of practice to acknowledge ourselves as part of the greater universe.

Prana— the lifeforce that sustains the body and the earth. Within yoga, prana is described as a river that flows through the landscape of the body and all creation. Prana is the breath of the universe; creation and life; the soul.

Pranayama— yogic breathing, which consists of refining the inhalation (puraka), retention (kumbhaka) and exhalation (rechaka) of breath. The breath is essential to engaging your lifeforce, unlocking your body, deepening your practice, opening the gateway to spiritual growth and bringing life to each posture. Pranayama techniques include practices such as kabhalabhakti, nadi shodana, viloma, brahmari, citali, and others.

Savasana— the final relaxation pose after yoga practice when the body lies still and the mind is at peace. Tradition recommends 10 minutes of savasana for every hour of physical asana practice to allow the effects of the practice to integrate into your system.

Sun Salutations—a powerful combination of asanas linked together to form a unique sequence that is 6,000 years old. The sequence moves from forward folds to backbends, revitalizing and toning the entire body. It generates strong internal heat, increasing the body’s suppleness and releasing deep inner tension.

Sources:

The Deeper Dimension of Yoga (Shambhala, 2003) by Georg Feuerstein
Yoga The Iyengar Way (Knopf, 1990) by Silva Mira & Mira Mehta.
The Spirit of Yoga (Thorsons, 2002) by Cat de Rham & Michele Gill.