An explanation of the Sanskrit words used on this site

Asana - "seat ". Denotes the surface on which the yoga practitioner is seated or the position in which they sit. The most common application of the term asana today is "posture".

Ashram - Traditional communal centres in single locations often separate from ordinary life, set up as retreats within which spiritual practice is pursued under the direction of a teacher. Also denotes the stages of life in the Hindu tradition.

Atma Vichara - " self enquiry". Is the direct practice which turns our attention and identification away from the conditioned hopes and fears of the ego and towards the witness itself by posing the question " Who am I ?" and merging into the state that remains.

Bhajan - Traditional celebratory singing .

Hatha Yoga - " forceful yoga ". Common meaning of the term means the practice of yoga through asana, pranayama, mudra and bandha .

Hridayam - The spiritual heart, the ocean of peace, the perpetual source . The centre from which all has arisen

Jnana Yoga -" Yoga of wisdom " . One of the four main branches of yoga .
Ancient tradition of self knowledge stretching back to the Vedas.

Karma Yoga - Action and work ,self-less service.

Mantra - Thought or intention expressed as sound .The word mantra denotes "prayer " or "hymn" . Commonly the repetition of sacred sounds.

Mouna - The practice of silence.

Mudra -" Seal " . Denotes certain attitudes and gestures used in hatha yoga practice.

Pranayama - The extension of prana. This can be best described as yoga breathing .

Puja -" Worship" . An offering or worship.

Sadhana - " means of realization" - The spiritual path / personal yoga practice.

Sangha - yoga " community".

Sanskrit - Sacred language of Hinduism .

Satsang - The company of the " wise" . It means coming together with the teacher for the purpose of sharing and learning.

Sutra- " Thread ". A short succinct phrase which captures complexity within a simple written or spoken form .

Upanishad - " sitting down near / sitting down to listen " . Refers to the yoga tradition of receiving live teaching from the teacher .

Veda -" Knowledge" . Refers to the earliest set of teachings and writings which outline the philosophy underpinning the yoga tradition .

Yoga Nidra -" Yoga sleep ". A deep relaxation practice unique to the yoga tradition.