Heart Of Yoga Glossary Terms

Front 1

samavṛtti prāṇāyāma

Back 1

pranayama practice where inhale, exhale, and retention are equal in length

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viṣamavṛtti prāṇāyāma

Back 2

pranayama practice where the phases of the breath are of different length

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saṃyama

Back 3

total continuous concentration on one object, a state achieved in dhāraṇā, dhyāna, samādhi

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saṃyoga

Back 4

entanglement or confused identification

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agni

Back 5

fire, one of the bhūtas.

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ācārya

Back 6

teacher

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abhyāsa

Back 7

practice

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ākāśa

Back 8

space, one of the bhūtas

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ānanda

Back 9

a state of bliss

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anuloma ujjāyī prāṇāyāma

Back 10

Prāṇāyāma where one inhales through both nostrils with a sound in the throat and exhales in a regulated way through one of the nostrils. Compare to viloma ujjāyī prāṇāyāma.

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viloma ujjāyī prāṇāyāma

Back 11

Prāṇāyāma where one inhales in a regulated way through one of the nostrils and exhales through both nostrils with a sound in the throat. Compare to anuloma ujjāyī prāṇāyāma.

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viveka

Back 12

discrimination.

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ap

Back 13

water, one of the bhūtas

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apānāsana

Back 14

wind-relieving pose

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ātman

Back 15

the self

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bandha

Back 16

to bind or lock

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Bhagavad Gītā

Back 17

a part of the epic Mahābhārata where Kṛṣna teaches yoga to Arjuna

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bhakti

Back 18

devotion

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bhūtas

Back 19

elements of space, air, light, water, earth

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bṛmhaṇa

Back 20

To expand. Used to describe an energizing practice focused on the inhale. Compare to laṅghana.

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laṅghana

Back 21

To reduce. Used to describe a relaxing practice focused on the exhale. Compare to bṛmhaṇa.

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buddhi

Back 22

intellect

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cit

Back 23

consciousness

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citta

Back 24

mind

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citta vṛtti nirodha:

Back 25

mental state devoid of agitation

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darśana

Back 26

One of the six classical points of view in Indian thought. Yoga Darśana and Sāṅkhya Darśana form the foundations or Yoga philosophy.

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dharma

Back 27

duty, ethical value

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cakras

Back 28

energy centers along the spinal column
मूलाधार: Mūlādhāra
स्वाधिष्ठन: Svādhiṣṭhana
मनिपूरक\Maṇipūraka
अनाहत: Anāhata
विश्द्धि: Viśuddhi
आज्ञ: Ājña
सहस्रार: Sahasrāra

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aṣṭāṅga

Back 29

Eight limbs. Aṣṭāṅga yoga is the eight limbs of yoga as explained by Patanjali in the Yoga Sutra.
yamas
niyamas
āsana
prāṇāyāma
pratyāhāra
dhāraṇā
dhyāna
samādhi

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antarāya

Back 30

Obstacle to a clear and stable mind. The Yoga Sutra lists nine:
vyādhi
styāna
saṃśāya
pramāda
ālasya
bhrāntidarśana
avirati
alabdhabhūmikatva
anavasthitatvāni

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draṣṭṛ

Back 31

the seer, that which sees

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dṛśya

Back 32

that which is seen

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duḥkha

Back 33

Feeling of discomfort, pain. Compare to sukha.

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sukha

Back 34

Lightness and comfort, happiness. Compare to duḥkha. See sthira sukha.

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sthira sukha

Back 35

Two important qualities of the asana, according to Patanjali. The asana should be steady (sthira) and comfortable (sukha).

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ekāgrāta

Back 36

single direction, single mindedness

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guṇas

Back 37

Qualities of the mind and of the universe.
rajas
tamas
sattva

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rajas

Back 38

The quality of prakṛti responsible for activity. One of the guṇas.

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tamas

Back 39

The quality of prakṛti responsible for heaviness and stability.One of the guṇas.

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sattva

Back 40

The quality of prakṛti responsible for clarity and lightness. One of the guṇas.

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Haṭha Yoga

Back 41

Yoga in which the aim is to unify the two energies of ha (the left) and tha (the right) and merge them into the suṣumnā in the center of the spine. The merging of prāna and apāna into the center of the body, at the heart.

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iḍā

Back 42

a nādī that terminates at the left nostril

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indriyas

Back 43

senses

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Īśvara

Back 44

God or Lord

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suṣumnā

Back 45

central nādī running through the center of the spine, from the base to the top of the head

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piṅgalā

Back 46

a nādī that terminates at the right nostril

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jālandhara bandha

Back 47

chin lock

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japa

Back 48

repetition of mantra

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kaivalya

Back 49

Ultimate state of yoga, freedom. Subject of the fourth chapter of the Yoga Sutras.

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kriyā

Back 50

action

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kriyā yoga

Back 51

yoga of purifying action as taught by Patanjali

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kuṇḍalinī

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the obstacle located in the center of the spine that obstructs the movement of prāṇa into the suṣumnā

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mantra

Back 53

a sacred sound, often used as the object of focus during meditation

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mudrā

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symbol

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mūla bandha

Back 55

base-of-trunk lock

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nāḍī

Back 56

subtle passage in the body through which prana moves

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nidrā

Back 57

dreamless sleep

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nirodha

Back 58

restraint, state in which the mind focuses totally on one thing

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ओं
om

Back 59

a representation of Īśvara

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prajñā

Back 60

clear understanding of the spiritual field

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prakṛti

Back 61

Matter. In Sāṅkhya philosophy, one of the two principles that constitutes reality. See pūrusa.

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pūrusa

Back 62

Source of consciousness, perceiver, spirit. In Sāṅkhya philosophy, one of the two principles that constitute reality. See prakṛti.

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rāja yoga

Back 63

yoga in which union with the highest power is the goal; the yoga of Patañjali

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sādhana

Back 64

practice, subject of the second chapter of the Yoga Sutras

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śakti

Back 65

power

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saṃskāra

Back 66

habitual movement of the mind, habit, conditioning

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satvāda

Back 67

the concept that everything we see, experience, and feel is not illusory, but is true and real

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siddhi

Back 68

gift, power that is given

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smṛti

Back 69

memory

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svadharma

Back 70

your own position

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tantra yoga

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yoga in which the focus is the elimination of obstacles that block the free movment of prāṇa in suṣūmṇā

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uddīyāna bandha

Back 72

abdominal lock

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vairāgya

Back 73

detachment, letting go

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vāyu

Back 74

air, breath, wind one of the bhūtas

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Vedas

Back 75

Hindu scriptures that are the basis for all yoga

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vicāra

Back 76

reflection on a subtle object

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vidyā

Back 77

clear understanding, high level of knowledge

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vikalpa

Back 78

imagination

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viṅyāsa krama

Back 79

a correctly organized course of āsanas progressing appropriately toward a desired goal

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viparyaya

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false perception

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viśeṣa puruṣa

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Īśvara

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vitarka

Back 82

reflecting on a gross object

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viveka

Back 83

discrimination

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yoga sādhana

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yoga practice

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Yoga Sūtra

Back 85

Patañjali’s classic text on yoga

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yogi

Back 86

someone adept at yoga