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Yoga Glossary: Sanskrit and English Terms in Plain Language
Plain-language meanings of common yoga and Sanskrit terms, from asana and pranayama to chakra and nadi, with notes on where each idea comes from.
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Back to YogaYoga words can be confusing, partly because they come from Sanskrit and partly because the same word can mean different things in a classical text and in a modern gym class. This glossary gives short, plain meanings and says where each term comes from. Where a word names a traditional idea, such as a channel for subtle energy, it is described as a traditional framework and not as measured biology.
NCCIH describes yoga as rooted in Indian philosophy and says it began as a spiritual practice.[1] Yoga Alliance says the word comes from the Sanskrit root yuj, meaning "to unite" or join.[2] This page uses common English spellings and adds the Sanskrit spelling with marks where a source we read gave one, such as ujjāyī.[3]
The eight limbs: a classical framework
The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali list eight limbs of yoga. The Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy gives them as yamas (abstentions), niyamas (observances), asana (posture), pranayama (breath control), pratyahara (disengagement of the senses), dharana (concentration), dhyana (meditation) and samadhi (absorption).[4] The word "sutra" literally means a thread and refers to a short, pithy statement written to be memorized.[4] The same source points out that asana is only the third limb, and that in the Sutras posture is a way to sit firmly and comfortably for meditation.[4] The full story is on The Eight Limbs of Yoga and The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali.
| Term | Plain meaning |
|---|---|
| Yama | Restraints or abstentions. The list is non-violence (ahimsa), truthfulness, not stealing, celibacy and giving up unnecessary possessions.[4] |
| Niyama | Observances: cleanliness, contentment, austerity, study of scripture and devotion to God.[4] |
| Pratyahara | Withdrawal from sense objects.[4] |
| Dharana | Concentration: fixing the mind on one place or object.[4] |
| Dhyana | Meditation: a continuous flow of attention on one object.[4] |
| Samadhi | Absorption, described as the final limb.[4] |
| Ashtanga | From the Sanskrit for "eight" and "limb".[5] In many classes the word names a style created by Pattabhi Jois in 1948.[6] |
Practice terms
| Term | Plain meaning | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Asana | A body posture. It began as a general word for a sitting meditation pose and was later extended to standing, reclining, inverted, twisting and balancing poses.[5] | The word literally means "seat".[4] |
| Pranayama | The yogic practice of controlling the breath. Later hatha texts developed it into a range of breath-control practices, including breath retention.[7] | Modern pranayama in yoga classes often differs from the hatha tradition.[7] See Breath Practices in Yoga and Pranayama. |
| Ujjayi | "Victorious" breath, a breathing technique practiced during poses in modern yoga.[3] | The source notes that the classical practice was marginal to the most widely cited sources.[3] |
| Hatha | A branch of yoga that uses physical techniques. The Sanskrit word haṭha literally means "force".[8] | See Hatha Yoga. |
| Vinyasa | A smooth transition between asanas in flowing styles, especially when movement is paired with the breath.[6] | See Vinyasa Flow Yoga. |
| Savasana | "Corpse pose": a relaxation pose often used at the end of a session. It is named from the Sanskrit for "corpse" and "posture" or "seat".[9] | |
| Namaste | A customary Hindu greeting that respectfully honors a person or group. It is also used by people of Buddhist and Jain traditions.[10] | Usually spoken with a slight bow and palms together.[10] |
| Mantra | A sacred utterance: a sound, syllable, word or group of words that practitioners believe to have religious or spiritual powers.[11] | Japa is the meditative repetition of a mantra.[11] |
| Om | A symbol representing a sacred sound, seed syllable and mantra in Buddhism, Hinduism, Jainism and Sikhism.[12] | See Mantra, Om and Chanting in Yoga. |
| Mudra | A symbolic or ritual gesture or pose in Hinduism, Jainism and Buddhism. Most are made with the hands and fingers.[13] | |
| Bandha | Literally "bond" or "fetter". In hatha yoga it is a kind of "body lock" traditionally said to lock prana into the body.[14] |
For yoga nidra, see Yoga Nidra, which belongs to the meditation library.
Traditional frameworks, not established biology
These four words describe ideas inside religious and philosophical systems. The evidence label for each is traditional use only: the sources we read describe them as concepts within traditions, and none presented them as measured anatomy.
| Term | What the tradition says |
|---|---|
| Prana | The Sanskrit word for breath, "life force" or "vital principle".[15] |
| Chakra | Literally "wheel" or "circle": a meditation aid in the form of an energy center in the subtle body, as visualized in Hindu and Buddhist tantric practice.[16] The number varies by source: medieval Buddhist texts mention four or five, while Hindu sources give various numbers.[16] |
| Nadi | Channels through which, in traditional Indian medicine and spiritual theory, energies such as prana are said to flow.[17] |
| Kundalini | Literally "coiled snake": a form of divine feminine energy believed to be located at the base of the spine in Shaiva Tantra.[18] |
What research has and has not tested is covered on Chakras, Nadis and the Subtle Body in Yoga and Kundalini Awakening: Traditional Ideas, Claims and Cautions. For how to talk about these terms with care, see Cultural Respect in Yoga.
Frequently asked questions
What does the word yoga mean?
Yoga Alliance says it comes from the Sanskrit root yuj, meaning "to unite" or join.[2] NCCIH adds that yoga as practiced in the United States typically emphasizes postures (asanas), breathing techniques (pranayama) and meditation (dhyana).[1]
Is asana the same thing as yoga?
No. The Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy says posture is only the third of the eight limbs, not an end in itself, and that the Yoga Sutras give it very little space.[4]
What is the difference between hatha and vinyasa?
Hatha names a branch of yoga that uses physical techniques, from a Sanskrit word meaning "force".[8] Vinyasa names a smooth, breath-linked transition between poses in flowing styles.[6] In a class, the teacher's description tells you more than the label does. See Yoga Styles.
Are chakras and nadis proven parts of the body?
We did not find them presented as measured anatomy in the sources read for this glossary. They are described as meditation aids and channels in traditional theory.[16][17] Treat them as traditional frameworks.
Why do some classes chant Om?
Om is a sacred sound in several Indian religions.[12] If chanting is not for you, you can ask a teacher what a class includes before you join.
References
- NCCIH, Yoga: Effectiveness and Safety. Read 2026-10-22.
- Yoga Alliance, What is Yoga. Read 2026-10-22.
- Wikipedia, Ujjayi breath (general reference; edited by volunteers). Read 2026-10-22.
- Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy, Yoga Sutras of Patanjali. Read 2026-10-22.
- Wikipedia, Asana (general reference; edited by volunteers). Read 2026-10-22.
- Wikipedia, Vinyasa (general reference; edited by volunteers). Read 2026-10-22.
- Wikipedia, Pranayama (general reference; edited by volunteers). Read 2026-10-22.
- Wikipedia, Hatha yoga (general reference; edited by volunteers). Read 2026-10-22.
- Wikipedia, Shavasana (general reference; edited by volunteers). Read 2026-10-22.
- Wikipedia, Namaste (general reference; edited by volunteers). Read 2026-10-22.
- Wikipedia, Mantra (general reference; edited by volunteers). Read 2026-10-22.
- Wikipedia, Om (general reference; edited by volunteers). Read 2026-10-22.
- Wikipedia, Mudra (general reference; edited by volunteers). Read 2026-10-22.
- Wikipedia, Bandha (yoga) (general reference; edited by volunteers)). Read 2026-10-22.
- Wikipedia, Prana (general reference; edited by volunteers). Read 2026-10-22.
- Wikipedia, Chakra (general reference; edited by volunteers). Read 2026-10-22.
- Wikipedia, Nadi (yoga) (general reference; edited by volunteers)). Read 2026-10-22.
- Wikipedia, Kundalini (general reference; edited by volunteers). Read 2026-10-22.