Heart of Yoga Flashcards
abhiniveśa
the source of fear, attachment to life, one of the kleśas
abhyantara kumbhaka
holding the breath after inhaling
abhyāsa
practice
ācārya
teacher
adhomukha śvānāsana
downward-facing dog pose
advaita
nondualism
agni
fire, one of the bhūtas
agni sāra
a cleansing process using the “fire” of the human body to remove impurities
ahamkāra
the sense of “I”
ahiṁsā
noninjury, consideration, love; one of the yamas
ākāśa
space; one of the bhūtas
ānanda
a state of bliss
ananta
without end
aṅga
a “limb,” or aspect, of yoga
antara
within, internal
antaraṅga sādhana
internal practice in reference to Patañjali’s path of concentration (dhāraṇā), meditation (dhyāna), and integration (samādhi)
antarāya
obstacle to a clear and stable mind
anuloma ujjāyī prāṇāyāma
prāṇāyāma where one inhales with a sound in the throat (ujjāyī ) and exhales in a regulated way through alternate nostrils
ap
water; one of the bhūtas
apāna
dirt; the center in which bodily waste collects
apāna-vāyu
the aspect of prāṇa responsible for excretion
apānāsana
wind-relieving pose
aparigraha
to receive exactly what is appropriate and no more; one of the yamas
ardha padma paścimatānāsana
forward bending half-lotus pose
ardha utkaṭāsana
half-squat pose
artha
meaning, purpose
āsana
posture
asmitā
sense of ego; one of the kleśas
asmitā samādhi
the merging of the mind with the object of meditation
aṣṭāṅga
eight limbs. Aṣṭāṅga yoga is the eight limbs of yoga as explained by Patañjali in the second chapter of the Yoga Sūtra.
asteya
not coveting what belongs to others; one of the yamas
ātman
the self
avidyā
misapprehension, incorrect knowledge, false understanding, the most important of the kleśas
bahiraṅga
external limb
bahiraṅga sādhana
external practice that includes the first four limbs of aṣṭāṅga yoga
bāhya kumbhaka
holding the breath after exalation
bandha
to bind or lock
Bhagavad Gītā
a part of the epic Mahābhārata where Kṛṣṇa teaches yoga to Arjuna
bhakti
devotion
bhakti yoga
yoga in which devotion to God is prominent
bhastrika
bellows
bhastrika prāṇyāma
bellows breathing through alternate nostrils
bhujaṅgāsana
cobra pose
bhūtas
elements of space, air, light, water, and earth
brahmacarya
one of the yamas. Moving toward the highest modification of the senses, it is the state of life where the young student studies the sacred texts.
bṛmhaṇa
to expand
buddhi
intellect
cakras
energy centers along the spinal column
cakravākāsana
cat pose
cit
consciousness
citta
mind
citta vṛtti nirodha
mental state devoid of agitation
dana
to give away
darśana
one of the six classical points of view of Indian thought
deśa
place
dhanurāsana
bow pose
dhāraṇā
the state of mind in which the mind is oriented toward one point
dharma
duty, ethical value
dhyāna
meditation
dhyāna mudrā
gesture indicating meditation practice
dhyāta
one who is in the state of dhyāna
draṣṭṛ
the seer, that which sees
dṛśya
that which is seen
duḥkha
feeling of discomfort, pain
dveṣa
dislike, hatred; one of the kleśas
dvipāda pītham
table pose
eka pāda uttānāsana
a standing posture where the torso bends forward and one leg is lifted behind
ekāgratā
single direction, single mindedness
guṇas
qualities of the mind; qualities of the universe
halāsana
plow pose
hasta mudrā
hand symbol
haṭha yoga
yoga in which the aim is to unify the two energies of the ha (the left) and ṭha (the right) and merge them into suṣumṇā in the center of the spine; the merging of prāṇa and apāna into the center of the body, at the heart
Haṭha Yoga Pradīpikā
a classical text on haṭha yoga
iḍā
a nādī that terminates at the left nostril
indriyas
senses
Īśvara
God or Lord
īśvarapraṇidhānā
to surrender and offer all actions to God, without attachment to the fruits of our action; one of the niyamas and a component of kriyā yoga
jālandhara bandha
chin lock
japa
repetition of mantra
jñāna yoga
yoga in which the emphasis is on inquiry
kaivalya
ultimate state of yoga, freedom
kapālabhātī prāṇāyāma
bellows breathing
kāraṇa
cause
karma yoga
yoga in which action is done as duty, without concern for success or failure
kleśa
afflication
kriyā
action
kriyā yoga
yoga of purifying action as taught by Patañjali
kṣipta
agitated mind
kumbhaka prāṇāyāma
breathing exercise in which emphasis is on the retention of the breath
kuṇḍalinī
the obstacle located in the center of the spine that obstructs the movement of prāṇa into suṣumṇā
laṅghana
to reduce
laya
to merge
līlā
the divine play
mahāmudrā
a classic sitting pose
mahat
the great principle
manas
the power behind the senses
mantra
a sacred sound, often used as the object of focus during meditation
matsyendāsana
half spinal twist
mṛgi mudrā
finger position to control the nostrils during prāṇāyāma
mūdha
dull state of mind
mudrā
symbol
mūla bandha
base-of-trunk lock
nāda
sound
nāḍī
subtle passage in the body through which prāṇa moves
nāḍī śodhana prāṇāyāma
alternate nostril breathing, bringing purification of the nāḍīs
nidrā
dreamless sleep
nimitta kāraṇa
intelligent cause, catalyst
nirodha
restraint, state in which the mind focuses totally on one thing
niyama
personal discipline
om
a representation of Īśvara
padmāsana
lotus pose
pariṇāmaduḥkha
duḥkha arising from change
pariṇāmavāda
the recognition that all we perceive is subject to change
parivṛtti
redirection, reorientation
pārśva uttānāsana
a standing pose with one leg forward and the trunk folded on it
paścimatānāsana
seated forward bend
piṅgalā
nāḍī that terminates at the right nostril
pradhāna
original source
prajñā
clear understanding in the spiritual field
prakṛti
matter
pramāṇa
right perception
prāṇā
life-force energy
prāṇa vāyu
one of the five main life energies
prāṇava
mystic syllable that represents Īśvara
prāṇāyāma
regulated breathing technique
prasarita pada uttānāsana
standing posture with the torso bent forward between the legs
pratikriyāsana
counterpose
pratyāhāra
withdrawal of the senses
pūraka prāṇāyāma
breathing exercise in which the emphasis is on the inhalation
pūruśa
source of consciousness, perceiver
rāga
attachment or desire; one of the kleśas
rajas
the quality of prakṛti responsible for activity
rāja yoga
yoga in which union with the highest power is the goal; the yoga of Patañjali
recaka prāṇāyāma
breathing exercise in which the emphasis is on the exhalation
ṝta prajñā
perception of a spiritual truth
sādhana
practice
śakti
power
śalabhāsana
locust pose
samādhi
state of meditation in which only the object of meditation is apparent
samāna-vāyu
prāṇa of the central region of the body, responsible for digestion
samavṛtti prāṇāyāma
breathing technique in which different components of breathing are equal
saṃskāra
habitual movement of the mind; habit, conditioning
saṃskāra-duḥkha
duḥkha caused by habits
saṃtoṣa
contentment; one of the niyamas
saṃyama
total continuous concentration on one object
saṃyoga
entanglement or confused identification
sannyāsin
one who has given up everything except God
sarvajña
all-knower, omniscient
sarvāngāsana
shoulderstand
sattva
one of the three qualities of prakṛti responsible for clarity and lightness
satvāda
the concept that everything we see, experience, and feel is not illusion, but is true and real
satya
truth, truthfulness; one of the yamas
śauca
cleanliness, purity; one of the niyamas
śavāsana
corpse pose
siddhi
gift; power that is given
śirṣāsana
headstand
śītalī prāṇāyāma
breathing exercise in which one inhales through the mouth, shaping the tongue in a particular way
smṛti
memory
śodhana
purification
sthira
steadiness and alertness
sukha
lightness and comfort; happiness
sukhāsana
simple cross-legged pose
sūrya namaskar
sequence of āsana collectively called the salute to the sun
suṣumṇā
central nāḍī running through the center of the spine, from the base to the top of the head
svadharma
your own position
svādhyāya
self-inquiry; any study that helps you understand yourself; the study of sacred texts; one of the niyamas and a component of kriyā yoga
tadāsana
mountain pose
tamas
one of the three qualities of prakṛti, responsible for heaviness and stability
tanmātras
the characteristics of sound, touch, form, taste, and smell
tantra
technique
tantra yoga
yoga in which the focus is the elimination of obstacles that block the free movement of prāṇa in suṣumṇā
tanu
mild, feeble
tāpa-duḥkha
pain caused by craving
tapas
process of removing impurities; elimination, purification; one of the niyamas and a component of kriyā yoga
trāṭaka
gazing at a static object to invite meditation
trikonāsana
triangle pose
udāna-vāyu
the aspect of prāṇa responsible for speech and upward movement
uddīyāna bandha
abdominal lock
ujjāyī
breathing technique in which one inhales with a sound in the throat
urdhvamukha śvānāsana
upward-facing dog pose
uṭrāsana
camel pose
utkaṭāsana
squatting pose
uttānāsana
standing forward bend
vairāgya
detachment, letting go
vajrāsana
thunderbolt pose
vāyu
air, breath, wind; one of the bhūtas
Vedas
Hindu scriptures that are the basis for all yoga
vicāra
reflection on a subtle object
vidyā
clear understanding, high level of knowledge
vikalpa
imagination
vikṣipta
state in which the mind is moving without any consistent purpose or direction
viloma krama prāṇāyāma
breathing exercise in which one inhales in a regulated way through alternate nostrils and exhales through both nostrils with a sound in the throat
viloma ujjāyī prāṇāyāma
breathing exercise using nostril control for inhalation and exhalation
viṅyāsa krama
a correctly organized course of āsanas progressing appropriately toward a desired goal
viparyaya
false perception
vīrabhadrāsana
warrior pose
vīrāsana
hero pose
viṣamavṛtti prāṇāyāma
breathing technique in which the different components of the breathing are not equal
viśeṣa puruṣa
Īśvara
Viṣṇu
God, one of the Trinity
vitarka
reflecting on a gross object
viveka
discrimination
vyāna-vāyu
prāṇa responsible for distribution of energy throughout the whole body
yama
discipline concerning our dealings with society and the world
yoga sādhana
yoga practice
Yoga Sūtra
Patañjali’s classic text on yoga
yogi
someone adept at yoga
