yoga
vocabulary
vocabulary
A
Ahimsa
non violence in thought and deed Ajapa japa
spontaneous repetition of a mantra Ajna
the chakra or psychic centre that is in the seat of intuition, also known as the “third eye” Ajna’s tube
psychic passageway running from the eyebrow centre through ajna chakra to the back of the head Akasha
ether; the ether of inner space as in chidakasha; the ether of outer space is in mahakasha Alpha waves
brain wave pattern emitted during milder states of meditation Amrit
psychic nectar that drops from lalana chakra to vishuddi chakra, causing a feeling of blissful intoxication Amrit
psychic nectar that drops from lalana chakra to vishuddi chakra, causing a feeling of blissful intoxication Anahada
sound without boundaries; non-tone Anahata
unstruck sound Anahata chakra
heart chakra; root of all emotions; associated with the psychic sounds experienced in meditation Anandamaya kosha
the third dimension of consciousness; the ‘bliss body’ Antar kumbhaka
retention of breath inside the body Apana vayu
vital energy in the lower part of the body, below the navel Aparigraha
non-possesiveness; the attitude of non-attachment to material possessions Asana
a comfortable and steady position of the body Asteya
the ideal of complete honesty and non-theft Astral body
the subtle psychic body; finer than the physical body B
Bahiranga kumbhaka
retention of breath outside the body Bandhas
locks designed to hold prana, or psychic energy, within certain areas of the body so that its pressurized force can be directed and utilized Beta waves
brainwave patterns predominantly emitted during daily waking life Bhakta
one who practices bhakti yoga Bhakti yoga
the yoga of devotions Bhastrikta
bellows; type of pranayama Bhrumadhya
the eyebrow centre; the trigger point for ajna chakra Bija
literally ‘seed’ Bindu
the chakra, or psychic centre, associated with the moon and psychic sounds. Very important in the practices of kundalini yoga Brahma
Hindu god; creator of the universe; presides over mooladhara chakra Brahmacharya
sexual control; the redirection of sexual energy towards spiritual or meditational practice; one who lives in higher consciousness Bhramari
a bee; type of pranayama C
Cervix
mouth of womb where it joins the vagina Chakra
major centre in the psychic or subtle body Chidakasha
the psychic space behind the forehead where all psychic events are viewed D
Delta waves
brainwave patterns closely linked with deep dreamless sleep Dharana
state of concentration Dharma
one’s duty Dhyana
state of meditation Drashta bhava
the attitude of a witness E
Ego
the centre of individual physical, emotional and mental functioning F
Frontal passage
physical passageway visualized as extending up the front of the body from the navel to the troat G
Glottis
the opening between the pharynx and windpipe Guru
guide; dispeller of darkness; spiritually awakened one who opens his disciplines’ eyes to the infinite truth H
Hatha yoga
the yoga path primarily concerned with bodily purification practices which tranquilize the mind and discipline the body Hridayakasha
the psychic heart space visualized in the centre of the chest I
Ida nadi
important psychic passageway in the subtle body J
Japa
to rotate; repetition of a mantra; type of meditation practice Jnana yoga
yoga of higher intuitional knoledge K
Kapalbhati
a type of pranayama; method of purifying the frontal portion of the brain Karma yoga
the yoga path of selfless action Kleshas
Sanskrit name for the causes of human suffering Kriyas
the practices of kundalini yoga; literally an action Kumbhaka
breath retention Kundalini shakti
manifested power of consciousness in the individual L
Lalana
one of the minor chakras, or psychic centre; responsible for the secretion of amrit M
Mala
bead rosary for counting Manipura
the chakra or psychical centre associated with vitality and energy Mantras
mystical combination of sound that were realized by sages and rishis during stages of deepest meditation Mooladhara
the chakra, or psychical centre which is the seat of the sexual and spiritual energy in man Mouna
silence Mudras
physical and mental attitudes which play an important role in yoga in bringing about controlled psychic state and occurrences N
Nada yoga
the yoga of subtle sound Nadi
passageway fro the flow of energy in the psychic body Nauli
the practice of control of the abdominal muscles Neti
methods of nasal cleaning Nirvana
enlightenment; samadhi; harmony between the individual consciousness and universal consciousness Niyamas
the five observances, or rule of persoanal discipline, laid down by Patanjali to help render the mind tranquil in preparation for meditation O
P
Patanjali
ancient yoga who codified the techniques for attaining states of meditation; his system is known as ‘raja yoga’ Perineum
the area between the genitals and the anus Pingala nadi
psychic passageway traveling from mooladhara chakra to ajna chakra Pooraka
inhalation during pranayama Prana
vital energy in the body; bioenergy Prana vayu
vital energy in the region of the body between the larynx and heart Prana vidya
technique of energy control and healing Pranayama
the control of vital and psychical and energy in the body Pranic body
the energy body that is finer than the physical body Pratyahara
withdraw of the sense; elimination of sense impression communicated to the brain Q
R
Raga
musical notes; classical music of India Raja yoga
a systematic method of attaining states of mediation as codified by the ancient yoga Patanjali Rechaka
exhalation in pranayama Rudra
Hindu god; the destroyer of the universe; presides over manipura chakra Rudraksha mala
rosary of rudraksha beads used for japa S
Sadhaka
spiritual seeker Sadhana
spiritual practice that aims at eventually experiencing self-realization of divine knowledge Sahasrara
the highest chakra, or psychic centre, which symbolizes the threshold between the psychic and spiritual realms Samadhi
the climax of meditation; state of unity with the object of meditation and the universal consciousness Samkhya
philosophy associated with yoga; based on the division of existence into purusha and prakriti Samskaras
past mental impressions Sankalpa
resolve; short sentence of moral significance Sanskrit
ancient language of India, in which most of the yogic texts are written Santosha
contentment; attitude of acceptance of events that leads to inner contentment Satya
truth; the ideal of absolute truthfulness Septum
that region of the brain which releases tensions and creates relaxation in body and mind Shakti
primal energy; manifested consciousness Shaucha
purity of mind and body Shivalingam
symbol of consciousness Sumeru
terminal bead in a mala Sushumna nadi
the most important psychical passageway in the subtle body Swadhishtana
the second chakra, or psychic centre, associated with the unconscious mind Swadhyaya
self-study; awareness of one’s action and reaction to further self-knowledge Sympathetic nervous system
part of involuntary nervous system; maintains physical activity; responsible for the build up of the tension of the body T
Tapas
austerity; the practice of small austerities to strengthen willpower Theta waves
brainwave patterns emitted during sleep Third eye
the psychic centre of intuition; another name for ajna chakra Trataka
method od developing the powers of concentration Tulsi mala
type of mala used for japa U
Unknown point
physical trigger point for one of the psychic centres; located in the centre of the head between the ears Upanishads
yogic texts; commentaries on the oldest known religious texts, the Vedas V
Vairgya
non-attachment; state where one is calm and tranquil in the midst of the tumultuous events of the outside world Vasanas
the desires that are driving force behind every thought and action in life Vedas
the oldest known religious texts; written about 5000 BC Vishnu
Hindu god; preserver if the universe; presides over swadhisthana chakra Vishuddhi
the throat chakra; the psychic centre of purification W
X
Y
Yamas
the five self-restraints, or rules of conduct, designed to remove emotional disorder in preparation for higher yoga practices Yoga nidra
psychic sleep; type of meditation practice Yoga Sutras
text written by Patanjali setting down the system of raja yoga Z
