Whilst you may observe yoga to enhance your energy, stability and adaptability, it’s additionally a deeply non secular observe with historic historical past. The phrase yoga itself means to yoke, be a part of or bind, and yoga is commonly regarded as a union of breath, physique, thoughts and spirit, fairly than simply bodily train.
But on the subject of feeling a way of concord and being totally current throughout your observe, one of many quickest issues to derail your circulation is listening to the following steps out of your teacher and considering, what on earth did they simply say?!
However don’t fear, listening to phrases you don’t recognise throughout a yoga class is quite common, because the language of yoga is Sanskrit – a classical historic language of South Asia that’s the root of many Indian languages.
We’ve compiled a number of the most typical yoga phrases and Sanskrit phrases in alphabetical order to make it simpler to start your yoga observe, and simpler to remain in your circulation.
Pronounced “ah-sah-nah”, this phrase interprets to ‘seat’ however in yoga this phrase merely refers back to the bodily postures or poses, similar to downward-facing canine or baby’s pose. In Sanskrit, the phrase for every yoga pose is adopted by ‘asana’, for instance, downward-facing canine is named Adho Mukha Shvanasana.
This refers to your inside muscle tissues that help the lifting of various areas of your physique when they’re engaged. The three key bandhas are your pelvic ground muscle tissues (Mula Bandha), your belly muscle tissues as much as your diaphragm (Uddiyana Bandha) and your throat (Jalandhara Bandha).
Generally generally known as “scorching yoga”, Bikram is a method of yoga practiced in a heated room. Bear in mind to have a towel and drink bottle on the prepared!
There are seven essential chakras or power centres within the physique, situated between the highest of the pinnacle and the bottom of the backbone. Chakra means ‘wheel’ and they’re regarded as like spinning discs that want to remain open or in stability.
Every chakra can also be related to a distinct color, space of the physique, emotion and parts, and you might hear them in each English and Sanskrit. Listed here are the principle seven chakras, from the pinnacle down:
Pronounced “cha-ter-unga”, this refers to a four-limbed workers pose or low plank. Start in a excessive plank, then bend your elbows again, maintaining them glued to your sides, as you decrease your self down till you’re hovering above the bottom. You’ll really feel this transfer in your arms, shoulders and core! It’s typically a part of a transferring sequence of poses.
Probably the most generally identified yoga poses, that is the place you make an inverted ‘V’ form together with your palms and toes on the mat and your hips excessive within the air. It’s a terrific pose for constructing flexibility and higher physique energy, and you need to really feel a pleasant stretch in areas similar to your arms, again and calves.
Drishti means a centered gaze, and also you may hear your yoga teacher use this phrase to remind you the place to look. This will help with focus, stability, self-awareness and intent.
Hatha is a method of yoga with a slower tempo and means that you can concentrate on holding one pose at a time.
This phrase refers back to the centre of your chest. Particularly on the finish of observe, it’s widespread to listen to your teacher let you know to carry your palms collectively at your coronary heart centre.
Mantras aren’t all the time a part of yoga, however they consult with a sound or a phrase that you just repeat to extend your focus and are generally used for meditation and calming the thoughts. A mantra can both be spoken out loud or repeated in your thoughts.
You’ll often hear namaste being mentioned by each the trainer and individuals on the finish of a yoga class, with palms pressed collectively in entrance of the guts centre and head bowed. It is a lovely and respectful approach to finish a category and half methods together with your teacher, because it means “I bow to you.” Some folks additionally take into account it a approach to say, “the divine in me acknowledges the divine in you.”
It is a widespread mantra you might hear in your yoga class. It’s also known as the unique sound or vibration of the universe.
Pronounced “prah-nah”, this time period is commonly outlined as life power, life power or non secular power that runs by way of the physique.
With prana that means “life power” and yama that means “to regulate”, pranayama is about controlling your respiration to permit your life power to circulation freely.
It is a triangle-shaped bone in your decrease again.
Pronounced “sha-vah-sah-nah”, this refers to Corpse pose the place you lie in your physique in your mat together with your palms dealing with upwards by your sides. This pose sometimes occurs on the finish of your yoga circulation or class and is a soothing, restorative pose.
Shanti means peace. You might hear this spoken as a part of a mantra or chant throughout yoga.
It is a widespread sequence of asanas or poses that heat up the physique, with every pose typically linked to inhalation or exhalation. You start in a standing place, then circulation by way of to a excessive plank, upward-facing canine, downward-facing canine, then return to plank and standing.
Pronounced “ooh-jai-yee,” this refers to the kind of respiration the place you inhale and exhale by way of your nostril.
Vinyasa is a method of yoga the place a flowing sequence of poses are linked together with your respiration. For instance, one motion could be linked to your inhalation, and the following is linked to your exhalation. Your teacher will often let you know when to inhale or exhale.
It is a type of guided rest or meditation often known as “yogic sleep”, typically described because the relaxed however conscious state between being awake and asleep. It’s often practiced mendacity down and your instructor will typically information you thru respiration strategies, or what to concentrate on. This is usually a nice observe for many who wrestle to chill out, sleep or let go.
The place vinyasa is a circulation of linked poses, yin yoga is a method of yoga the place you maintain ground poses for longer durations of time to focus on your deep connective tissues and discover rest.
Hopefully that’s made it simpler to remain in your circulation throughout your subsequent yoga session! Are there some other yoga phrases which have had you feeling a bit misplaced in the course of class? Tell us within the feedback!
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