Understanding yoga

• Yoga (योग) – From the Sanskrit root yuj, meaning “to yoke” or “to unite.” Yoga is both a state of union and the practices that lead to union—of body, mind, breath, and spirit.
   
• Asana (आसन) – Literally “seat.” In modern yoga, it refers to the physical postures designed to prepare the body for meditation.
   
• Pranayama (प्राणायाम) – Breath control. Prana means life force; ayama means to extend or control. These practices regulate the flow of energy through breath.
   
• Dhyana (ध्यान) – Meditation. A state of focused, uninterrupted awareness that leads toward stillness and insight.
   
• Samadhi (समाधि) – The final stage of yoga; complete absorption or spiritual liberation where individual consciousness merges with the universal.

• Raja Yoga – “Royal path.” The classical eight-limbed path outlined by Patanjali in the Yoga Sutras, focused on meditation and mind mastery.
   
• Hatha Yoga – The path of physical discipline. Ha means sun, tha means moon; this practice balances opposing energies through asana, pranayama, and cleansing.
   
• Bhakti Yoga – The yoga of devotion, surrendering the ego through love for the Divine.
   
• Karma Yoga – The yoga of action and selfless service, acting without attachment to outcomes.
   
• Jnana Yoga – The yoga of wisdom and knowledge, involving deep inquiry into the nature of reality and self.
   
• Kundalini Yoga – A spiritual form of yoga aiming to awaken latent energy at the base of the spine through breath, mantra, and movement.
   

Outlined in Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras:

Yama – Moral restraints:
 

• Ahimsa – Non-violence
   
• Satya – Truthfulness
   
• Asteya – Non-stealing
   
• Brahmacharya – Moderation or celibacy
   
• Aparigraha – Non-possessiveness
   

Niyama – Observances:
 

• Shaucha – Purity
   
• Santosha – Contentment
   
• Tapas – Discipline, heat
   
• Svadhyaya – Self-study or scriptural study
   
• Ishvarapranidhana – Surrender to the divine
   

Asana – Physical posture
 

 Pranayama – Breath control
 

Pratyahara – Withdrawal of senses
 

Dharana – Concentration
 

Dhyana – Meditation
 

Samadhi – Enlightenment
 

• Shakti – Divine feminine energy or creative force.
   
• Shiva – The Lord of Yoga, representing stillness, consciousness, and transcendence.
   
• Chakras – Energy centers in the subtle body. Main ones include:
   
  • Muladhara – Root
     
  • Svadhisthana – Sacral
     
  • Manipura – Solar plexus
     
  • Anahata – Heart
     
  • Vishuddha – Throat
     
  • Ajna – Third eye
     
  • Sahasrara – Crown
     
• Nadis – Energy channels in the subtle body. Main nadis:
   
  • Ida – Left, lunar, cooling
     
  • Pingala – Right, solar, heating
     
  • Sushumna – Central channel of awakening
     
• Bandhas – Energetic locks:
   
  • Mula Bandha – Root lock
     
  • Uddiyana Bandha – Abdominal lock
     
  • Jalandhara Bandha – Throat lock
     
• Mudra – Gesture or seal (often using the hands) to direct energy and attention inward.
   

• Namaste – A respectful greeting, meaning “I bow to the divine in you.”
   
• Om (AUM) – Sacred sound symbolizing the vibration of the universe; often chanted in practice.
   
• Drishti – Gaze or focal point during asana or meditation to aid concentration.
   
• Mantra – Sacred sound or phrase repeated to focus the mind and invoke energy.
   
• Sadhana – Daily spiritual practice or discipline.
   
• Seva – Selfless service, often seen as a spiritual practice.
  
• Tadasana – Mountain pose
   
• Adho Mukha Svanasana – Downward-Facing Dog
   
• Balasana – Child’s Pose
   
• Bhujangasana – Cobra Pose
   
• Utkatasana – Chair Pose
   
• Virabhadrasana I, II, III – Warrior Poses
   
• Savasana – Corpse Pose (final rest)
   

Each name is often a combination of Sanskrit roots that describe the posture’s shape, animal, myth, or quality. 

• Maya – Illusion; the deceptive appearance of separateness in the material world.
   
• Karma – Action and its consequences; cause and effect.
   
• Dharma – Duty, virtue, or the path aligned with one’s purpose and truth.
   
• Atman – The true Self; pure consciousness beyond ego.
   
• Brahman – Universal spirit or absolute reality.
   
• Moksha – Liberation or freedom from the cycle of birth and rebirth (samsara).
   
• Samsara – The cycle of suffering, birth, and rebirth.