Some Sanskrit words used in Yoga

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Some Sanskrit words used in Yoga and their English meaning. 


Adho Mukha Svanasana - Downward Facing Dog pose

Ahimsa - Non-violence

Ajna - Third Eye Chakra

Akasha - Ether or space

Anahata - Heart Chakra

Ananda - Bliss or joy

Anjali - Salutation or offering

Anjaneyasana - Low Lunge pose

Ardha - Half

Ardha Chandrasana - Half Moon pose

Ardha Matsyendrasana - Half Lord of the Fishes pose

Asana - Pose or posture

Ashwini Mudra - Horse Gesture or contraction

Ashtanga - Eight-limbed yoga system

Asteya - Non-stealing

AUM or OM - Sacred sound or syllable


Baddha - Bound or locked

Bakasana - Crow pose

Bandha - Energy lock or muscular contraction

Bhagavad Gita - Ancient scripture on yoga philosophy

Bhakti - Devotion or love

Bhujangasana - Cobra pose

Bidalasana - Cat-Cow pose

Brahmacharya - Celibacy or moderation


Chakra - Energy center in the body

Chandra - Moon

Chaturanga Dandasana - Four-Limbed Staff pose


Dandasana - Staff pose

Dhanurasana - Bow pose

Dharmic - Ethical or righteous

Dhyana - Meditation

Drishti - Gaze or point of focus

Durga - A goddess, symbolizing strength and courage


Garudasana - Eagle pose

Gheranda Samhita - Classical text on Hatha Yoga

Gomukhasana - Cow Face pose

Gorakshasana - Yogi Goraknath's pose

Guru - Teacher or spiritual guide


Hamsa - Swan or goose

Hatha - Yoga style that focuses on physical postures and breath control

Hridaya - Heart


Indra - King of gods in Hindu mythology

Ishvara pranidhana - Surrender to a higher power or devotion


Jala - Water

Jalandhara Bandha - Chin Lock or Energy Lock

Janu Sirsasana - Head-to-Knee Forward Bend pose

Japa - Repetition of a mantra or sacred word

Jnana - Knowledge or wisdom


Kapha - One of the three doshas or body humors in Ayurveda

Karuna - Compassion

Kirtan - Chanting or devotional singing

Kriya - Purification practice or technique

Kriya Yoga - Yoga of purification

Kundalini - Dormant spiritual energy located at the base of the spine

Kurmasana - Turtle pose

Kriya - Action or effort


Lila - Divine play or cosmic dance


Maha - Great or big

Mahamudra - Great gesture or seal

Mahasiddha - Great sage or realized being

Mahatma - Great soul or saint

Manas - Mind

Mantra - Sacred syllable

Matsya - Fish

Matsyasana - Fish pose

Mula Bandha - Root Lock or Energy Lock

Muladhara - Root Chakra


Nadi - Energy channel or meridian

Natarajasana - Lord of the Dance pose

Navasana - Boat pose

Niyama - Ethical observance or discipline


Omkara - Om sound or syllable


Padangusthasana - Big Toe pose

Padmasana - Lotus pose

Parivrtta - Revolved or twisted

Parivrtta Trikonasana - Revolved Triangle pose

Paschimottanasana - Seated Forward Bend pose

Prakriti - Nature or constitution

Prana - Life force or vital energy

Pranayama - Breath control or regulation

Pratyahara - Withdrawal of senses

Purusha - Universal spirit or consciousness


Raja - Royal or king

Rajas - One of the three gunas or qualities in Hindu philosophy

Rajakapotasana - King Pigeon pose


Samadhi - State of deep meditation or absorption

Samasthiti - Equal Standing pose or Tadasana

Samkhya - One of the six orthodox schools of Hindu philosophy

Samsara - Cycle of birth and death

Samyama - Dharana, Dhyana, and Samadhi combined

Savasana - Corpse pose or relaxation pose

Setu Bandhasana - Bridge pose

Shakti - Divine feminine energy or power

Shanti - Peace

Shavasana - Corpse pose or relaxation pose

Shirshasana - Headstand pose

Siddhasana - Accomplished pose or Perfect pose

Surya Namaskar - Sun Salutation

Svadhyaya - Self-study or self-inquiry


Tadasana - Mountain pose

Tapas - Disciplined practice or austerity

Tiryaka - Sideways or horizontally

Tolasana - Scale pose

Trikonasana - Triangle pose


Uddiyana Bandha - Abdominal Lock or Energy Lock

Ujjayi Pranayama - Victorious Breath or Ocean Breath

Upavistha - Seated or sitting

Upavistha Konasana - Wide-Angle Seated Forward Bend pose

Urdhva - Upward or elevated

Urdhva Dhanurasana - Upward Bow or Wheel pose

Urdhva Mukha Svanasana - Upward Facing Dog pose

Ustrasana - Camel pose


Vajrasana - Thunderbolt pose or Diamond pose

Vinyasa - Flow or sequence of poses coordinated with breath

Virabhadrasana - Warrior pose

Vrkasana - Tree pose

Vritti - Fluctuations or modifications of the mind

Vrksasana - Tree pose


Yama - Ethical restraint or moral code

Yogi - One who practices yoga

Yoni - Womb or female reproductive system

Yoga - Union or integration of body, mind, and spirit

Yoga Nidra - Yogic sleep or conscious relaxation

Yogi Bhajan - Prominent yoga teacher and spiritual leader

Yuj - To join, unite or connect

Yujir - One who practices yoga

Yujyate - To be yoked or united

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