asanas
Meditative body positions
Asanas are the physical postures of yoga practice.
The word comes from Sanskrit meaning "seat" or "sitting down," reflecting yoga's meditative origins, but modern usage encompasses standing, balancing, and inverted poses as well.
A typical yoga class moves through a sequence of asanas: We held each asana for five breaths.
The singular asana appears in compound names for specific poses: tree asana, cobra asana.
Body position, alignment
- alignmentCorrect relative positioning
- warriorOne skilled in combat
- triangleThree-sided plane figure
- cobraHooded venomous serpent
tree · lotus · savasana · pigeon · crow · bridge · child · camel
Focused attention practice
- awarenessState of perceiving reality
- presenceState of being somewhere
- focusConcentrated attention point
- concentrationSustained single-minded attention
stillness · relaxation · tranquility · serenity · mind-body · clarity · introspection · equanimity
Mind-body exercise discipline
- SanskritAncient Indo-Aryan language
- chakrasBody's spiritual focal points
- pranaVital breath energy
- kundaliniDormant spinal life force
samadhi · sutras · moksha · ahimsa · satya · tapas · union · consciousness
Capacity to bend easily
- limbernessBodily flexibility
- mobilityCapacity for movement
- stretchPull to extend
- extensionAdded part or duration
lengthening · opening · backbends · twists · hamstrings · shoulders · spine · passive
Yogic breath control technique
- inhaleDraw air in
- exhaleExpel breath outward
- diaphragmaticOf the breathing muscle
- rhythmicHaving regular tempo
deep-breathing · retention · flow · vinyasa · prana · oxygenation
State of balance
- stabilityResistance to displacement
- steadinessState of being constant
- poiseGraceful, unshakable calm
- centeringPositioning at midpoint
grounding · alignment · coordination · foundation · anchoring · one-legged · handstand · focus
posture
Body position, alignment
cobra · tree · lotus · savasana · pigeon · crow · bridge · child · camel · eagle
meditation
Focused attention practice
- awarenessState of perceiving reality
- presenceState of being somewhere
- focusConcentrated attention point
concentration · stillness · relaxation · tranquility · serenity · mind-body · clarity · introspection · equanimity · acceptance
yoga
Mind-body exercise discipline
kundalini · samadhi · sutras · moksha · ahimsa · satya · tapas · union · consciousness · self-realization
suppleness
Capacity to bend easily
- limbernessBodily flexibility
- mobilityCapacity for movement
- stretchPull to extend
extension · lengthening · opening · backbends · twists · hamstrings · shoulders · spine · passive · restorative
pranayama
Yogic breath control technique
- inhaleDraw air in
- exhaleExpel breath outward
- diaphragmaticOf the breathing muscle
rhythmic · deep-breathing · retention · flow · vinyasa · prana · oxygenation
equilibrium
State of balance
- stabilityResistance to displacement
- steadinessState of being constant
- poiseGraceful, unshakable calm
centering · grounding · alignment · coordination · foundation · anchoring · one-legged · handstand · focus · proprioception
hatha
Physical yoga discipline
- vinyasaBreath-synchronized yoga movements
- ashtangaEight-limbed yoga system
- kundaliniDormant spinal life force
yin · restorative · power · flow · gentle · prenatal · aerial · rocket · therapeutic · dynamic
- yogapranayama, yoga class, yoga pose, poses, postures
- yoga posesdownward dog, tree pose, child's pose, warrior pose, cobra pose
- therapeutic yogayoga therapy, restorative yoga, prenatal yoga, chair yoga, hatha yoga
- mystic powerspsychic powers, psychic abilities, clairvoyance, third eye, telepathy
- Ayurvedaayurveda, dosha, doshas, pitta, agni