abhinivesa: the source of fear, attachment to life; one of the klesas
abhyantara kumbhaka: holding the breath after inhaling
abhyasa: practice
acarya: teacher
advaita: non-dualism
agni: fire, one of the bhutas
agni sara: a cleansing process using the "fire" of the human body to remove impurities
ahamkara: the sense of "I"
ahimsa: non-injury, consideration, love; one of the yamas
akasa: space; one of the bhutas
ananda: a state of bliss
ananta: without end
anga: a "limb", or aspect, of yoga
antara: within, internal
antaranga sadhana: internal practice in reference to Patanjali's path of concentration (dharana), meditation (dhyana), and integration (samadhi)
antaraya: obstacle to a clear and stable mind
anuloma ujjayi pranayama: pranayama where one inhales with a sound in the throat (ujjayi) and exhales in a regulated way through alternate nostrils
ap: water; one of the bhutas
apana: dirt; the center in which bodily waste collects
apana-vayu: the aspect of prana responsible for excretion
aparigraha: to receive exactly what is appropriate and no more; one of the yamas
artha: meaning, purpose
asana: posture
asmita: sense of ego; one of the klesas
asmita samadhi: the merging of the mind with the object of meditation
astanga: eight limbs. Astanga yoga is the eight limbs of yoga as explained by Patanjali in the second chapter of the Yoga Sutra
asteya: not coveting what belongs to others; one of the yamas
atman: the self
avidya: misapprehension, incorrect knowledge, false understanding; the most important of the klesas
bahiranga: external limb
bahiranga sadhana: external practice that includes the first four limbs of astanga yoga
bahya kumbhaka: holding the breath after exhalation
bandha: to bind or lock
Bhagavad Gita: a part of the epic Mahabharata where Krsna teaches yoga to Arjuna
bhakti: devotion
bhakti yoga: yoga in which devotion to God is prominent
bhastrika: bellows
bhastrika pranayama: bellows breathing through alternate nostrils
bhutas: elements of space, air, light, water, and earth
brahmacarya: one of the yamas. Moving toward the highest modification of the senses, it is the stage of life where the young student studies the sacred texts
brmhana: to expand
buddhi: intellect
cakras: energy centers along the spinal column
cit: consciousness
citta: mind
citta vrtti nirodha: mental state devoid of agitation
dana: to give away
darsana: one of the six classical points of view of Indian thought
desa: place
dharana: the state of mind in which the mind is oriented toward one point; concentration
dharma: duty, ethical value
dhyana: meditation
drastr: the seer, that which sees
drsya: that which is seen
duhkha: feeling of discomfort, pain
dvesa: dislike, hatred; one of the klesas
ekagrata: single direction, single mindedness
gunas: qualities of the mind; qualities of the universe
hasta mudra: hand symbol
Hatha Yoga Pradipika: a classical text on hatha yoga
hatha yoga: yoga in which the aim is to unify the two energies of ha (the left) and tha (the right), and merge them into susumna in the center of the spine; the merging of prana and apana into the center of the body, at heart
ida: a nadi that terminates at the left nostril
indriyas: senses
Isvara: God or Lord
isvarapranidhana: to surrender and offer all actions to God, without attachment to the fruits of our action; one of the niyamas and a component of kriya yoga
jalandhara bandha: chin lock
japa: repetition of mantra
jnana yoga: yoga in which the emphasis is on inquiry
kaivalya: ultimate state of yoga, freedom
kapalabhati pranayama: bellows breathing
karana: cause
karma yoga: yoga in which action is done as duty, without concern for success or failure
klesa: affliction
kriya: action
kriya yoga: yoga of purifying action as taught by Patanjali
ksipta: agitated mind
kumbhaka pranayama: breathing exercise in which emphasis is on the retention of the breath
kundalini: the obstacle located in the center of the spine that obstructs the movement of prana into susumna
langhana: to reduce
laya: to merge
lila: the divine play
mahat: the great principle
manas: the power behind the senses
mantra: a sacred sound, often used as the object of focus during meditation
mrgi mudra: finger position to control the nostrils during pranayama
mudha: dull state of mind
mudra: symbol
mula bandha: base-of-trunk lock
nada: sound
nadi: subtle passage in the body through which prana moves
nadi sodhana pranayama: alternate nostril breathing, bringing purification of the nadis
nidra: dreamless sleep
nimitta karana: intelligent cause, catalyst
nirodha: restraint, state in which the mind focuses totally on one thing
niyama: personal discipline
om: a representation of Isvara (God)
parinamaduhkha: duhkha arising from change
parinamavada: the recognition that all we perceive is subject to change
parivrtti: redirection, reorientation
pingala: nadi that terminates at the right nostril
pradhana: original source
prajna: clear understanding in the spiritual field
prakrti: matter
pramana: right perception
prana: life-force energy
prana-vayu: one of the five main life energies
pranava: mystical syllable that represents Isvara (God)
pranayama: regulated breathing technique
pratyahara: withdrawal of the senses
puraka pranayama: breathing exercise in which the emphasis is on the inhalation
purusa: source of consciousness, perceiver
raga: attachment or desire; one of the klesas
rajas: the quality of prakrti responsible for activity
raja yoga: yoga in which union with the highest power is the goal; the yoga of Patanjali
recaka pranayama: breathing exercise in which the emphasis is on the exhalation
rta prajna: perception of a spiritual truth
sadhana: practice
sakti: power
samadhi: state of meditation in which only the object of meditation is apparent
samana-vayu: prana of the central region of the body, responsible for digestion
samavritti pranayama: breathing technique in which different components of breathing are equal
samskara: habitual movement of the mind; habit, conditioning
samskara-duhkha: duhkha caused by habits
samtosa: contentment; one of the niyamas
samyama: total continuous concentration on one object
samyoga: entanglement or confused identification
sannyasin: one who has given up everything except God
sarvajna: all-knower, omniscient
sattva: one of the three qualities of prakrti responsible for clarity and lightness
satvada: the concept that everything we see, experience, and feel is not illusion, but is true and real
satya: truth, truthfulness; one of the yamas
sauca: cleanliness, purity; one of the niyamas
siddhi: gift; power that is given
sitali pranayama: breathing exercise in which one inhales through the mouth, shaping the tongue in a particular way
smrti: memory
sodhana: purification
sthira: steadiness and alertness
sukha: lightness and comfort; happiness
surya namaskar: sequence of asanas collectively called the salute to the sun
susumna: central nadi running through the center of the spine, from the base to the top of the head
svadhyaya: self-inquiry; any study that helps you understand yourself; the study of sacred texts; one of the niyamas and a component of kriya yoga
tamas: one of the three qualities of prakrti, responsible for heaviness and stability
tanmatras: the characteristics of sound, touch, form, taste, and smell
tantra: technique
tantra yoga: yoga in which the focus is the elimination of obstacles that block the free movement of prana in susumna
tanu: mild, feeble
tapa-duhkha: pain caused by craving
tapas: process of removing impurities; elimination, purification; one of the niyamas and a component of kriya yoga
trataka: gazing at a static object to invite meditation
udana-vayu: the aspect of prana responsible for speech and upward movement
uddayina bandha: abdominal lock
ujjayi: breathing technique in which one inhales with a sound in the throat
vairagya: detachment, letting go
vayu: air, breath, wind; one of the bhutas
Vedas: Hindu scriptures that are the basis for all yoga
vicara: reflection on a subtle object
vidya: clear understanding, high level of knowledge
vikalpa: imagination
viksipta: state in which the mind is moving without any consistent purpose or direction
viloma krama pranayama: breathing exercise in which one inhales in a regulated way through alternate nostrils and exhales through both nostrils with a sound in the throat
viloma ujjayi pranayama: breathing exercise using nostril control for inhalation and exhalation
vinyasa krama: a correctly organized course of asanas progressing appropriately toward a desired goal
viparyaya: false perception
visamavrtti pranayama: breathing technique in which the different components of the breathing are not equal
visesa purusa: Isvara (God)
Visnu: God, one of the Trinity
vitarka: reflecting on a gross object
viveka: discrimination
vyana-vayu: prana responsible for distribution of energy throughout the whole body
yama: discipline concerning our dealings with society and the world
yoga sadhana: yoga practice
Yoga Sutra: Patanjali's classic text on yoga
yogi: someone adept at yoga (male)
yogini: someone adept at yoga (female)
