Beginners

Speak No Sanskrit?
No Worries

All those foreign-sounding yoga terms can be intimidating. So you’re not lost in translation, here’s a dime-sized yoga dictionary that’ll have you fluent—or at least faking it convincingly.

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We know: All those foreign-sounding yoga terms can be scary, especially if, like most of us, you don’t know squat when it comes to Sanskrit (that would be the Indic language used in many yoga books and studios). This can be a real obstacle; you wouldn’t jump at the chance to take a kickboxing class in Swahili, would you? So you’re not lost in translation, here’s a dime-sized yoga dictionary that’ll have you fluent—or at least faking it convincingly—in class.


ASANA (AH-sah-nah)
It literally means “[easy] seat,” but it’s any yoga posture. A series of asanas makes up a vinyasa, or flow.


CHAKRAS (SHA-kruhz)
The Sanskrit term chakra literally means “wheel” or “disc,” referring to the shape of these whirling energy centers that control the body’s vital organs. They correspond to nerve plexes, ganglia, and glands. When one’s organs are malfunctioning, it is because they lack sufficient life energy (hence, “My chakras are out of balance”). The seven principal chakras are situated along the spinal cord, from the base to the cranium and relate to reason, cognition, memory, will power, divine love, divine sight, and illumination. Seven others exist below the spine and relate to fear, anger, envy, selfishness, and other unenlightened traits. Those who can see chakras describe them as colorful and resembling a lotus flower.

Comments

Wanda Adams
11 Mar 2008, 21:33
Thank God someone put in a pronunciation key alongside the word!!!! I love your website and plan to implement your advice into my daily routine. I can see why people love doing Yoga so much because once in a blue moon I would do it and love it. But somewhere down the line I would lose my motivation to finish what I started. How about some tips to heal that!? Lol. Happy Easter! Wanda

iYogaLife Staff
12 Mar 2008, 09:54
Wanda,
Thanks for your great comment! We're so glad we can help you and other readers who are just as confused by Yoga-speak as we were when we started. Our tip for you, when you're not motivated, is to think of how amazing you feel after a class. Hopefully that'll get you back on the mat!

KIm
15 Oct 2008, 10:10
it would be nice if there was also a link to hear the work spoken.

Aleesha
17 Dec 2008, 17:58
I'm a teenager, a little on the heavy side and I'm really not too flexible. Should I try yoga?

Dan
18 Dec 2008, 15:55
Aleesha of course you should give yoga a try, it does not matter what your body type is or your limitations aside from injuries, you will learn how to move into poses, yoga is the journey to these poses as much as the pose itself.
I would suggest you go to about 10 classes before casting judgement. I think you will enjoy it.

Jan
06 Jan 2009, 14:03
Like Aleesha my daughter is on the heavy side. But unlike Aleesha my daughter is not a teenager.

I have gone to many big named workout women's only gyms and hospital nutritionists, None of them were willing to help my daughter even though she cries for the help. They refuse because she is under the age of 13.

What I want to know does Yoga age descriminate like gym's do? Would Yoga be a good start for my daughter, who desperately does not want to be heavy anymore?

Dan
06 Jan 2009, 15:51
Jan, Check with your local YMCA and YWCA, they ofthen offer classes for youths also your local municipal recreation depts offer classes for youths and adults, You may also want to check into some dance workout classes like Zumba which mix cardio and dance together, You are never to young or to old to begin

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