by Darren Main
Buddha, Gautama– The founder of Buddhism who lived around 500 BCE.
Catharsis- A complete mental and emotional breaking down that gives way to a new and more evolved way of thinking and a release on a mental, emotional and energetic level.
C.E.- Common Era- A.D. (Year of our Lord) used to be the standard way of dating events that happened after the birth of Jesus about 2000 years ago. Because the calendar is shared by both Christians and non-Christians, the dates traditionally ending in A.D. have been changed to C.E. See also B.C.E.
Centering Prayer- A form of Christian meditation.
Central Nervous System (CNS)- The system in the body that controls body functions on both a conscious and an unconscious level.
Chakras- A spinning energy vortex in the subtle body. Although the human body has many of these energy centers, there are seven major ones that are located along the spine. Each one is responsible for various physical, emotional and mental aspects of life.
Choudhury, Bikram- The founder of Bikram Yoga and Bikram’s Yoga College of India.
Christina Trinity- In Christian theology, God is one being in three forms. The Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit (Holy Ghost).
Collective Unconscious- The part of the unconscious mind that we all share. Because all minds are connected, a change in one mind affects the collective unconscious and is shared by all.
Concentration- See dharana.
Conscious Mind- The part of the mind of which we are consciously aware.
Contentment- See samtosha.
Craving- One of the two ways the ego keeps the mind in a state of outward projection. See also aversion.
Darshan- Wisdom given from guru to disciple, usually in the form of a talk or discourse.
Death- See mahasamadhi.
Dharana- The practice of concentration. The sixth limb outlined by Patanjali in his Yoga Sutra.
Dhyana- the practice of meditation or witnessing. The seventh limb outlined by Patanjali in his Yoga Sutra.
Durga Pranayama- ‘The complete breath’. A breathing technique in which the lungs are used at their capacity in an effort to draw in large amount of prana.
Ecstasy- See samadhi.
Ego- The small self. The part of the mind that believes it is separate, finite, limited and defined by external things, rather than simply being.
Energy- See prana.
Energy Pathways- See nadis.
Enlightenment- A state in which all or most samskaras have been neutralized, and a person exists in a state of pure joy and bliss. See also samadhi.
Evolution- The natural course by which the universe discovers itself. The speed of this process can be greatly accelerated through mystical practices such as yoga.
Fight or Flight- See sympathetic nervous system.
Focus Point- An object on which to focus the mind during the practice of dharana. Oftentimes the breath, a mantra or a phrase from a sacred text.
Gandhi, Mohandas K.– One of the great modern spiritual and political leaders to come out of India. By promoting non-violence, he was able to free India from the British Empire. He was assassinated in 1948.
God- A generic term used to describe Spirit in its many forms.
Gospel- One of the four books in the New Testament that chronicle the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth (Matthew, Mark, Luke and John). There are other books such as the Gospel of Thomas which offer a similar account, but are not included in the traditional Christian Bible.
Greedlessness- See aparigraha.
Guru- Usually translated as teacher, though the literal meaning is ‘from darkness to light’. A guru, therefore, is one who helps lead a spiritual seeker from the darkness of the ego to the Light of Atman.
Gyatri Mantra- One of the oldest and most famous mantras in India.
Hatha Yoga- Any style of yoga that is focused primarily on the poses (asana) and breathing (pranayama). Most of the styles of yoga taught in the West are forms of hatha yoga.
Hatha Yoga Pradipika- A sacred text written by the sage Svatmarama. Although it is fairly new compared to other texts (about 1400 CE), it is considered the basic text on the practice of hatha yoga.
Hinduism- The largest religion of India. Although yoga and Hinduism are different, they share some of the same historical roots, as well as several sacred texts.
Hindu Trinity- In Hindu theology, God is thought to have three basic forms in this world; Brahma (the creator), Vishnu (the sustainer) and Shiva (the transformer).
Ida- One of the two main energy pathways that wrap around the central energy column that runs through the spine (sushumna). See also pingala.
Illusion- See Maya.
Intoxicants- Things that intoxicate, such as alcohol, recreational drugs, and nicotine.
Integral Yoga- A devotional style of hatha yoga developed by Swami Satchidananda.
Ishvara- One of the Hindu gods, often referred to as “the Lord of Yoga.”
Ishvara Pranidhana- The practice of surrender to a higher power. One of the five niyamas outlined by Patanjali in his Yoga Sutra.
Iyengar Yoga- A style of hatha yoga which focuses on proper alignment and frequently uses props.
Iyengar, B.K.S- The founder of Iyengar Yoga.
Jesus- The central figure in Christian theology. Believed by many Christians to be the Son of God, and believed by many yogis to be a great teacher and skilled yogi.
Jois, Sri K. Pattabhi- The founder of Ashtanga Vinyasa yoga. See also Ashtanga Vinyasa.
Kabala- A form of Jewish mysticism.
Kapalabhati Pranayama- A form of breathing that involves pumping the diaphragm and expelling the air forcefully. Sometimes called ‘Breath of Fire’ or ‘Skull Polishing Breath’.
Karma- The universal law of cause and effect.
Karma Yoga- The practice of serving others while seeking to relinquish the ego judgments projected by one’s own ego.
Kirtan- A traditional style of Indian chanting which starts off slowly and increases in tempo. Often accompanied by dancing and celebration.
Kripalvanandj, Swami shri- One of the great modern yogis, and the person for whom the Kripalu style of yoga was named.
Kripalu- A style of yoga which focuses on body awareness. This style of yoga is often taught in three stages. Stage one is a willful physical practice used to open the body up and prepare the energy pathways (nadis). Stage two is a practice of will and surrender in which poses are held for longer periods of time, and stage three is a practice of total surrender into a free flow that is guided by the movement of one’s life force (prana). Sometimes called ‘Meditation in Motion’.
Kripalu Center- The largest yoga Ashram in the United States. While the focus at this center is Kripalu Yoga, it has become an eclectic center which offers many styles of yoga and meditation.
Krishna- A great teacher from Ancient India, and one of the central figures in the Bhagavad Gita.
Kumbhaka- Breath retention. Holding the breath in or out.
Kundalini- See kundalini-shakti.
Kundalini-Shakti- The coil of energy that, when in a dormant state, lies at the base of the spine and climbs up the spinal column (sushumna) during a kundalini experience or during sexual arousal. This energy will become active naturally from time to time, but can be stimulated through various yoga practices or through shaktipat. See also shaktipat.
Loincloth- A white cloth wrapped around the waist. The traditional attire for yogis who had renounced the world and given up worldly possessions.
Mahasamadhi- A conscious exit from the body at physical death.
Manipura- The third major chakra, located just above the navel in the front of the body and in the upper part of the low back. The seat of personal identity, will, and individuality.
Mantra- A word or phrase that is repeated over and over as part of a spiritual practice.
Maya- The collective illusion that all beings share before they achieve Self-realization. The illusion that the physical universe is real and exists within
time and space.
Meditation- The practice of quieting the mind and listening to the voice of Spirit (the Sadguru). See also dhyana.
Mind- The cause of all experience on the physical, emotional and mental levels. The mind is usually seen as having different levels, which include the conscious, unconscious and semi-conscious. From a yogic point of view all minds originate from one source (Brahman).
Moral Restraints, The- See yamas.
Mudra- The literal translation is ‘seal’. Mudras are gestures or movements within the yoga practice, such as dhyana mudra, which is the act of resting the hands in the lap, right hand in the left, with thumbs touching.
Muktananda, Swami- The founder of Siddha Yoga.
Muladhara- The first major chakra, located at base of the spine. The seat of physical survival and tribal (cultural) consciousness.
Mystic- One who seeks a direct experience of the divine through various forms of meditation.
Nadi Shuddhi- A cleansing or purification of the energy pathways in the body (nadis).
Nadis- The energy pathways that carry prana (life force) throughout the body. They are often referred to as ‘subtle nerves’ and there are said to be at least 72,000 of them in the human body.
Native American Spirituality- A general term used to describe the earth-based spiritual practices of the tribal people who originally inhabited North, Central and South America. Practices and beliefs vary from tribe to tribe.
Namaste’- A Sanskrit salutation that is often offered between yogis. It means, “The Light in me acknowledges the Light in you.”
Niyamas- The second limb of yoga outlined by Patanjali in the Yoga Sutra. This second limb is made up of five observances that are designed to cultivate a lifestyle and attitude that is conducive to spiritual practice.
Nonstealing- See asteya.
Nonviolence- See ahimsa.
Observances- See niyama
Om- Sound of creation. The seed sound and vibration from which all matter springs forth. Often chanted as part of a yoga or meditation practice.
Original Sin- A belief that each soul is born into this world with imperfection (sin) as its basic nature, and that spiritual salvation is needed in order for it to enter the Kingdom of Heaven in the afterlife. Although this belief is shared by most Christian denominations, the concept does not appear in the Bible and only surfaced in Christian doctrine around 500 CE. This concept is completely reversed in yogic thinking where the soul is seen as innately perfect and good, and only a mistaken identity (ego) creates suffering. Therefore, a yogi seeks a realization of his or her true nature rather than spiritual salvation.
Parasympathetic Nervous System (PNS)- The part of the Autonomic Nervous System that regulates such functions as digestion, elimination and immune functioning. Often called ‘rest and digest’.
Patanjali- An Indian sage who lived around 1,000 CE and who is believed to be the author of the Yoga Sutras.
Perception- The result of taking sensory information and filtering it through the ego, resulting in a distorted understanding of Truth.
Pingala- One of the two main energy pathways that wrap around the central energy column which runs through the spine (sushumna). See also ida.
Prana- The life force that exists within all living things. This force is dynamic and flowing. When this flow is blocked or slowed down, disease and dysfunction occur.
Pranayama- The practice of regulating the breath to affect a change in the body and mind. The fourth limb outlined by Patanjali in his Yoga Sutra.
Pratyahara- The practice of withdrawing the senses. The fifth limb outlined by Patanjali in his Yoga Sutra.
Puja- The daily devotions or worship offered to God.
Purity- See shauca.
Rest and Digest- See sympathetic nervous system.
Restorative Yoga- A gentle style of yoga which uses props and longer holdings to help the body find a natural state of healing and balance.
Sacred Texts- Books from any religion or culture that seem to live and grow with a spiritual seeker. Yoga draws largely from the Yoga Sutras, The Upanishads and the Baghavad Gita.
Sadguru- The universal teacher who exists within all beings. The voice of guidance.
Sahasrara- The seventh major chakra, located at the crown of the head. The seat of spiritual pursuits and a person’s connection to a higher power.
Samadhi- The experience of ecstasy. The eighth limb outlined by Patanjali in his Yoga Sutra.
Samskaras- The seeds of karma which exist in the nadis and chakras. From a Western psychological model, they are the positive and negative judgments which create and support the illusion of Maya and an individual ego.
Samtosha- The practice of contentment. One of the five niyamas outlined by Patanjali in his Yoga Sutra.
Sanskrit- The language of yoga and the root of many Eastern languages. Although still spoken, it is primarily used for science and ritual.
Satchidananda, Swami- The founder of Intregral Yoga and the Yogaville Ashram.
Satya- The practice of truthfulness. One of the five yamas outlined by Patanjali in his Yoga Sutra.
Self, The- see Atman.
Self-Realization- see enlightenment.
Self-Study- See svadhyaya.
Semi-conscious Mind- The aspect of the mind of which we are only partially aware, such as in daydreams, and the dreams experienced during REM sleep.
Sexual Moderation- See brahmacarya.
Shakti- Consort of Shiva. Also, Spirit taking form in matter. Often associated with
kundalini-shakti at the base of the spine.
Shaktipat- The process by which a guru or more evolved teacher wakes the kundalini energy in his or her student or devotee. This can be done through touch, chanting, a look, or distantly, through a prayer-like gesture.
Shauca- The practice of cultivating purity in the mind, diet and life. One of the five niyamas outlined by Patanjali in his Yoga Sutra.
Shishya- A guru’s student or disciple.
Shiva- Part of the Hindu Trinity. God in the role of destroyer and transformer. See also Brahma and Vishnu.
Siddha Yoga- A devotional style of yoga that is known for its use of chanting.
Sit- See asana.
Source- See God and Brahman.
Spark of the Divine- See Atman.
Spirit- See Sadguru.
Subtle Bodies- The energy body made up of nadis and chakras. The subtle body would also include energetic systems from other traditions such as acupuncture meridians and auras.
Suffering- The end result of living in delusion (Maya) and the perceptions of the ego.
Surrender- See ishvara pranidhana.
Sushumna- The primary nadi (energy pathway) in the human body that runs through the spine. It is from the sushumna that all other nadis originate.
Svadhisthana- The second major chakra, located just below the navel and in the low back region. The seat of sexuality, creativity, and procreation.
Svadhyaya- The practice of study, both self-exploration and the study of sacred texts. One of the five niyamas outlined by Patanjali in his Yoga Sutra.
Swami- A term of respect meaning “one with Self.” It also refers to an ancient monastic order.
Sympathetic Nervous System (SNS)- The part of the Autonomic Nervous System (ANS) that governs emergency situations on an unconscious level. Things like blood pressure, adrenaline and heart rate are all controlled by this aspect of the ANS. Often referred to as ‘fight or flight’.
Tapas- The practice of cultivating a simple and austere life. One of the five niyamas outlined by Patanjali in his Yoga Sutra.
Ten Commandments, The- The basic moral code outlined by Moses in the book of Exodus. The moral foundation for most Christian and Jews.
Torah- The first five books in the Jewish Biblegenerally believed to have been written by Moses.
Truth- When spelled with a upper case ‘T’, the ultimate reality which lies behind all perception. When spelled with a lower case ‘t’, a stat
ement that is accurate and based on fact.
Truthfulness- See satya.
Ujjayi Pranayama- A basic breathing technique which focuses the breath and creates an ocean like sound in the throat.
Unconscious Mind- The deepest part of the mind of which most people are unaware. For most, this unexplored part of the mind is the largest part of the psyche.
Unified Field- In the field of physics, the source point. See also God.