Aasha...hope
Abhinivesa...fear of death/change
Adho Mukha Svanasana ...Downward Facing Dog Pose
Ahamkara...ego
Ahimsa...non-violence
Ajna...command wheel; sixth or third eye chakra
Alasya...laziness
Anahata...wheel of the unstruck sound; fourth or heart chakra
Ananta-samapatti...connecting to the infinite
Anitya bhavana...passage describing all things as transitory
Anjali mudra...Prayer Seal
Aparigraha...non-attachment
Ardha Chandrasana...Half Moon Pose
Ardha Matsyendrasana ...Partial Seated Twist
Ardha Padamasana...Half Lotus Pose
Asana...physical posture or pose in yoga
Ashvini mudra...Horse Seal in which the sphincter muscles are contracted
Ashwa Sanchalanasana...Lunge Pose
Asmita...egoism
Asteya...non-stealing
Avidya...spiritual ignorance
Ayurveda...an ancient Indian system of holistic medicine
Balasana...Child’s Pose
Bandhas...physical locks of energy in the body
Bhagavad Gita...foundational spiritual text of yoga
Bhava...attitude or state of mind
Bhavana...emotional transformation
Bhaya...fear
Bhujangasana ...Cobra Pose
Brahman...unified energetic field
Bramacharya...moderation
Cakrasana ...Wheel Pose
Cakrasana III...Backbend
Chakras...energy centers
Chandra Namaskara...Moon Salutations
Chin mudra...gesture of consciousness, palms
face up
Chinta...worry
Citta...consciousness
Daya...kindness
Desha...single focus
Dhairya...courage
Dhanurvakrasana ...Bow Pose
Dharana...concentration
Dharma...duty
Dhyana...meditation
Dukha...sadness, suffering
Dvesa...aversion
Eka Pada Kapotasana...Pigeon Pose
Ekapadasana...One Foot Pose
Garudasana ...Eagle Pose
Gomukhasana ...Cow Pose
Guna...quality of existence
Guru...teacher
Halasana ...Plough Pose
Hastapadangustasana ...Toe-Finger Pose
Hastapadasana ...Standing Forward Bend
Hatha Yoga...path of yoga by which self-realization occurs via the body
Hatha Yoga Pradipika...ancient Hindu yoga pose practice book
Ida...the left energetic channel
Ishvara aisvarya...mastery
Ishvara pranidhana...surrender
Jalandhara bandha...Throat Lock
Janu-Sirshasana ...Head to Knee
Jihva bandha...Tongue Lock
Jnana...knowledge
Jnana mudra...gesture of knowledge, palms face down
Kapha...earth
Karma...action or notion that every action brings about a reaction
Karma Yoga...path of yoga by which self-realization occurs through work/selfless service
Klesa...affliction or hindrance of the mind
Konasana I...Angle Pose
Konasana III...Windmill Pose
Kosha...sheath or layer
Krodha...anger
Kumbhaka...breath retention
Kundalini...serpent power or latent force at the base of the spine
Maha bandha...Great Lock
Makarasana ...Crocodile Pose
Mandukasana...Frog Pose
Manipura...wheel of the jeweled city; third or solar plexus chakra
Marjariasana...Cat Pose
Marmasthanani...sixteen concentration points in the body
Matsyasana...Fish
Matsyendrasana...Supine Twist
Mauna...silence
Maya...external world
Mayurasana...Peacock Pose
Mudra...physical seal created by the body to enhance energy flow
Mula bandha...Root Lock
Muladhara...root prop wheel; first or root chakra
Nadi...energy channel
Nadi shodhanam...channel purification
Natarajasana ...Great Dancer Pose
Navasana ...Boat Pose
Niyama...observance
Om...primordial sound of the universe; universal creation
Pada Prasar Paschimottanasana...Seated Straddle Forward Bend Pose
Padahastasana...Standing Forward Bend Pose
Padmasana ...Lotus Pose
Parsvottanasana...Reverse Prayer Pose
Parvatasana...Seated Mountain Pose
Pascimottanasana...Seated Forward Bend Pose
Pingala...the right energetic channel
Pitta...fire
Poorna Titali Asana...Butterfly Pose
Prajna...wisdom, realized knowledge
Prakriti...Nature, the physical world
Prana...bio-energy or life force
Pranayama...breath control
Pratipaksa bhavana...practice the opposite intention
Pratyahara...sensory mastery
Puraka...prolonged inhale
Purusha...Consciousness; transcendental Self
Purvaja...archetype
Raga...attachment
Rajas...active, energetic, hyper, obsessive
Recaka...prolonged exhale
Sadhana...remembrance, daily practice
Sahasrara...thousand-spoked wheel; seventh or crown chakra
Samadhi...union, enlightenment
Samkalpa...intention
Santolanasana...Plank Pose
Santosha...contentment
Sarvangasana...Shoulder Stand Pose
Sattva...balanced, pure, calm, clear, focused
Satya...truthfulness
Saucha...purity
Shakti...creative energy
Shalabasana...Locust Pose
Shavasana ...Corpse Pose
Shishya...disciple
Siddhi...superhuman feat
Simhasana...Lion Pose
Sirshasana...Headstand Pose
Sraddha...faith
Sthitaprarthanasana ...Standing Prayer Pose
Stthita Parsvakonasana...Extended Side Angle
Sukha...joy
Sukhasana...Easy Pose
Sunyaka...breath suspension
Supta Matsyendrasana...Supine Twist
Surya Namaskara...Sun Salutation
Sushumna...the central energetic channel
Svadhyaya...study of self or scripture
Svadisthana...own base center; second or sacral chakra
Svarodaya...the science of breath
Taittiriya Upanishad...from food to joy
Talasana III ...Palm Tree Pose
Tamas...inactive, dull, depressed
Tapas...discipline
Trataka...eye exercises
Trikonasana ...Triangle Pose
Uddiyana bandha...Abdominal Lock
Ujjayi...victorious breath, partial closure of the glottis while breathing
Urdhva Muhka Svanasana...Upward Dog Pose
Ustrasana...Camel Pose
Utkatasana...Chair Pose
Utthanasana...Squat Pose
Vata...air
Viaragya...non-attachment
Vinyasa...flow
Viparita karani mudra...Inverted Action Seal (a modified form of Shoulder Stand)
Virabhadrasana I...Warrior I Pose
Virabhadrasana II...Warrior II Pose
Virabhadrasana III ...Warrior III Pose or Line Pose
Vishada...despair
Vishuddha...pure wheel; fifth or throat chakra
Vrikshasana...Tree Pose
Yama...restraint
Yastikasana...Stick Pose
Yoga mudra...Symbol of Yoga Pose; union with Supreme consciousness
Yoganga...independent branch of yoga requiring subtle awareness
Yoni mudra...Womb Seal, five fingertips placed symbolically over senses