10 Yoga Terms Every Yogi Should Know
by Hannah Moran, Yoga Teacher / Director of Marketing and Operations
If you’re newer to the practice of Yoga, there might be some words thrown around during class that sound like the teacher is speaking a different language… That’s because they are :)
The ancient language of Yoga is called Sanskrit. We still use many of the Sanskrit terms in yoga classes today: Asana, Pranayama, Drishti, etc… Sound familiar?
This blog breaks down 10 common Sanskrit terms so you can focus less on trying to understand what the teacher is saying during class, and more on your moving meditation.
1) Asana
The word asana has several translations, including “posture,” “pose,” or “comfortable seat.” We use it most often to describe the physical position of our bodies. Examples of asanas are Warrior 1 - Virabhadrasana I, Chair Pose - Utkatasana, and Mountain Pose - Tadasana. Note that the second half of the Sanskrit name of any yoga pose is always “asana.”
2) Vinyasa
This word essentially means “linking breath with movement.” Another way to understand it is the transition between poses. In modern flow yoga classes, you will also commonly hear this term referring to the sequence of poses that takes you back to Downward Facing Dog after finishing a standing sequence: High Plank to Low Plank -> Upward Facing Dog -> Downward Facing Dog = a vinyasa.
3) Drishti
Drishti comes from a Sanskrit word meaning “gaze” or “view.” In other words, it is the position and placement of your eyes during an asana practice. For example, in Warrior 2, the drishti is straight forward, over the front fingertips. In Chair Pose, the drishti can be straight forward or slightly upwards.
4) Pranayama
Let’s break this one down into its two parts: “Prana” means life force, or breath; and “Ayama” means to restrain, control, extend, or draw out. Put that together, and you have a word that essentially translates to breath control. Think of the standing deep breathing exercise at the beginning of the Original Hot series, and Kapalbhati breath at the end – both examples of Pranayama exercises.
5) Savasana
Savasana is the name of the pose in which we typically end most yoga classes. It translates to “Corpse Pose” and involves laying on your back in total stillness. Don’t be fooled by its simplicity – Savasana can be one of the most difficult parts of practice! Never skip Savasana, if you can help it. It’s an incredible feeling to bask in Savasana and embody your post-yoga glow :)
6) Namaste
This word roughly translates to “I bow to you.” You’ll often hear it recited by the teacher at the end of class, then repeated back by the students. While it has its roots in Hindu culture, it is used today as a friendly greeting in both secular and non-secular yogic settings, usually spoken with a slight bow and hands pressed together at heart center.
7) Surya Namaskar
This phrase means “Sun Salutation,” a common part of modern flow yoga classes. A basic Sun Salutation consists of a set of 12 or more poses, moving from a standing position into Downward and Upward Dog poses and then back to the standing position. Within that framework, many variations are possible.
8) Bandha
Bandhas are “energy locks” and are used to tighten, bind, or lock the energy in. There are many Bandhas in our bodies, but the three most common Bandhas are Mula (means “root” aka pelvic floor – blocks the downward movement of energy and pulls it back up towards the navel region); Uddiyana (means “fly” or “rise up” aka the diaphragm – moves energy further upward) and Jalandhara (means “throat lock” – the locking of the energy flow through the nerves and vessels of the neck area). When all three of these Bandhas are practiced together, the result is called the Maha Bandha, or “ultimate lock.”
9) Sankalpa
This word translates to “intention” or “resolve.” This powerful practice of setting a positive intention can help to create change and transformation in your yoga practice. Many teachers will invite you set an intention, or Sankalpa, at the beginning of class, but you can do this on your own at any time with a brief meditation and a few deep, focused breaths.
10) Mantra
This Sanskrit word literally means “a tool for the mind” and was designed to help practitioners access a higher power and their true natures. It is essentially a word or sound repeated either silently or out loud to aid concentration in meditation. One example is the word “Aum” or “Om” when repeated as a chant.
