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.

KUNDALINI  (kun-duh-LEE-ni)
Literally, “coiled up.” Kundalini energy is the life force that lies dormant in our bodies. It is often depicted as a coiled up serpent at the base of the spine; practicing the correct spiritual discipline can cause the serpent to spring awake. Kundalini yoga focuses on the centers in the body (chakras) that can release kundalini energy.


NAMASTE (NAH-MAH-STAY)
Means “May the divine light in me greet the divine light in you.” You know it’s coming at the end of class when your teacher puts her hands in prayer position and bows her head. Students say it back to convey, “Thank you for class.”


OM (OH-MMMM)
A long and loud sigh or hum chanted at the beginning and end of a yoga session. This is supposed to warm up the lungs and relax and quiet the mind. The om sound is supposed to be “the sound of all things,” all the noise and music in the universe combined.


PRANA (PRAH-nah)
The life energy that keeps us alive and thriving. The ancient Greeks called it “pneuma,” and the ancient Hebrews, “ruah.” The three major sources of prana are air, sun, and ground.


SAVASANA (SHA-vass-ah-nah)
Translating as “corpse pose,” this is when you lie on your back, completely still with eyes closed, and concentrate on relaxing every part of your body—from toes to jaw muscles. Wrapping yourself in a blanket is optional. Usually the last asana in class.

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