Yoga

Translated from Sanskrit, the language of Yoga, it means to bind or union. It is a practice that joins the body, mind, and spirit, offers a sense of balance, alignment,and restoration.

WORDS WORTH KNOWING

Asana

physical postures, literally translated from Sanskrit means “seat”

Bhandas

lock or constriction; create an energy container on the subtle body level between the pelvic floor and throat center that helps stimulate the awakening of kundalini energy . 3 primary bandhas in the body:

Mulabandha located at the base of the spine, the root lock, stops the downward flow of apana, activated by lifting up in the anal sphincter and pelvic floor, helps create an energetic lift through the core of the body

Uddiyana bhandha located in the low abdomen, the flying upward gate, activated by drawing the low abdomen in and up while lifting the diaphragm, helps keep an upward flow of prana along the sushumna (the center energy channel that runs along the spinal column)

Jalandhara bhandha located at the top of the throat, the throat lock, prevents energy from leaving the torso by flowing upward into the head and from flowing down from the head into the torso, activated by lifting up in the heart center and bringing the chin down to meet the chest, sealing of the throat center.

Chakra

wheel or disk. Energy centers throughout the subtle body that line up along the central energy column that runs along the spinal column (sushumna). Through asana and pranayama, they are stimulated and the flow of life-force energy flow (kundalini) is increased. There are 7 main ones:

Sahasrara at the crown of the head, color: violet, associated with self-realization, knowledge, wisdom, spiritual connection, and bliss

Ajna at the eyebrow center, color: indigo, associated with intuition, seeing more clearly literally and figuratively

Visudha at the throat, color: blue, associated with communication and analytical thought

Anahata at the center of the chest, color: green, associated with love, compassion, and devotion

Manipura at the navel, color: yellow, associated with energy, non-dominating power, the empowered self

Svadistana below the navel, color: orange, associated with emotions, desires, sexual fulfillment, and creativity

Muladhara at the base of the spine, color: red, associated with health, security, and prosperity

Drishti

a gaze, point of focus; directs concentration in asana practice by focusing on a physical object or part of the body. Helps bring inner focus.

Hatha Yoga

ha = sun/ tha = moon; an ancient Indian philosophy that combines one's body (with postures or asanas), energy (life-force cultivation through breathing practices or pranayama) and mind (concentration and meditation or dharana and dhyana). The harmonizing of these components makes the yoga experience unique and profound while improving flexibility, range of motion, balance, concentration, and breath awareness.

Kapalabati

breath of fire, quick exhalations through the nose, a cleansing breath that focuses on forcing the exhale out the nose, sending the belly button in and up into the spine, the inhale is passive

Mudra

a gesture, literally translated from Sanskrit it means “seal”. It is a physical gesture which brings about a higher state of consciousness. (Cin Mudra – thumb and index finger come together; the consciousness seal.)

Nadi Shodam

alternate nostril breathing, opening up the left nostril and the right nostril to open up 2 main energy channels in the body, ida (accessed through the left nostril, the feminine, creative, right brain) and pingala (accessed through the right nostril, the masculine, logical, left brain). The goal is to awaken both nostrils evenly to balance the body, calm the nervous system, and quiet the mind to prepare for meditation.

Namaste

the light in me recognizes the light in you

Om

the first sound, amen, shalom, ala. All words come from this sound. The vibration of energy is called OM. It is the eternal name of absolute consciousness and the seed and essence of all existence. According to the ancient scriptures, the aim of Hatha Yoga practice is to hear the sound of OM internally.

Pranayama

life force cultivation. Prana, the life force, rides the breath and breathing exercises are practiced to increase our capacity for it.

Shushumna

center energy channel in the body that runs along the spine. Literally translated from Sanskrit it means Joyous mind. When Shushumna flows, the body is in the proper state for meditation.

Ujai Breath

victorious breath. An inhale and exhale through the nose with an audible "Ha" sound in the back of the throat on the exhale (as if fogging up a mirror). Use this breath during the practice to keep heat in the body and to keep attention on the breath.

Vinyasa

flow of asanas

Yoga Sutras

most influential text on yoga philosophy collated and organized by the ancient sage Patanjali around 250 BC. According to Patanjali, there are 8 limbs (ashtanga) to attain self-realization or enlightenment:

Yama universal moral commandments (5 in all: ahimsa (non-violence); satya (truth); asteya (non-stealing); brahmarcharya (self-restraint or abstinence); and aparigraha (non-coveting, take what you need – need what you take)

Niyama Self discipline (5 in total: saucha (purity); santosha (contentment); tapas (self-discipline); svadhyaya (self study); isvara pranidhana (dedication to the divine/universal)

Asana postures

Pranayama rhythmic control of the breath

Pratyahara withdrawal of the mind from the domination of the senses and exterior objects

Dharana concentration

Dhyana meditation

Samadhi a state of enlightenment brought about as a result of steps 1-7, the human spirit becomes one with the universal spirit

Steps 1-3 are outward quests and keep the body, passions, and emotions in harmony with nature. Steps 4 and 5 are inner quests and help regulate the breath and control the vacillations of the mind. The final 3 steps are a quest for one’s universal spirit; the student begins to realize that the universal is within. By following this path, the knower, the knowledge, and the known become one. The yoga student stands in her own nature and recognizes the universal/divine within her.

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