Yoga Terms & Poses

Yoga teachers typically use the traditional language of yoga, Sanskrit, throughout class. Sanskrit predates Greek and Latin and first appeared in written form around 1,500 B.C. In the yogic tradition, Sanskrit is used to describe yoga terms.

The Eight-Limb Path

The Yoga Sutra, written by the Indian sage Patanjali, describes yoga as having eight limbs or steps. The first two limbs are yama and niyama, which translates to mean ethical disciplines and rules of conduct including honesty, non-violence, non-stealing, purity and dedication. Asana, the next limb, is used to describe the yoga exercises and posses. Next is pranayama or breath control. Pratyahara refers to withdrawal of attachments to external objects. The next limbs, dharana and dhyana, describe the mental concentration and meditation necessary to reach the final limb, samadhi. Samadhi, which means union with the divine, is the ultimate spiritual destination for a yoga practitioner.

Poses

In a yoga class, your instructor guides you through a series of positions called asana. These poses all have a name in Sanskrit that ends with the root of "asana." For example, the downward-facing dog pose is called adho mukha svanasana in Sanskrit. Other common pose names include trikonasana for triangle pose and vrkasana for tree pose. Often yoga teachers will use both the Sanskrit and English names to described poses.

Breath Work

Another common focus of yoga classes is breath work or pranayama. Breathing exercises quiet the mind in preparation for both asana and meditation. Dirgha breath, also called three-part breath, is a deep breath used at the beginning of class for centering and focus. Ujjayi breath is a loud, deep breath used throughout class to help guide movements and transitions from one pose to the next.

Mantras

At the beginning and end of yoga class, teachers typically chant a mantra such as "om," considered to be the sound of the universe. Chanting a mantra is another way to prepare the mind for meditation. Yoga teachers often close class with "namaste," which means "the light in me greets the light in you."