Ashtanga Yoga Terminology Yoga is a ancient system of physical and mental training. Traditionally, yoga was developed as a way of life to prepare the mind and body for enlightenment. Today, we practice yoga to build strength and fexibility, to learn to control our breathing, and to enhance our ability to concentrate. There are a number of popular schools of yoga practice, one of which is Ashtanga yoga. As you study Ashtanga yoga, you will encounter a great many strange words derived from Sanskrit, the ancient classical language of India. Below you will find the derivation for many of the words you will hear as you learn Ashtanga yoga. In particular, you will be able to understand the meaning behind the names of the various poses. General Terminology Opening Chant Numbers Warm-Up Poses Standing Poses Seated Poses Finishing Poses Rest GENERAL TERMINOLOGY Ashtanga yoga: The classical yoga writings, the Yoga Sutras, were compiled in the second century B.C. by Patanjali, who described yoga as having eight major parts, sometimes referred to as the eight limbs of yoga. The word Ashtanga comes from the words ashta (eight) and anga (limbs). Asana: An asana is a pose or posture. The names of almost all yoga poses end in "asasa". Vinyasa: Vinyasa refers to a series of connected movements, performed in sequence. The sequence of warm up postures, Surya Namaskara A and B, are examples of vinyasa, as are the short sequences of movements used to connect one pose to another. Ujjayi breath: Ujjayi breath is a type of pranayama (controlled breathing) in which you breathe in a constant, even rhythm through both nostrils, holding your glottis partially closed. (When you do this right, it sounds a bit like Darth Vador.) You should practice Ujjayi breath throughout the entire Ashtanga yoga series. The word ujjayi means victory. OPENING CHANT At the beginning of every Ashtanga yoga class, the teacher will take a moment to lead the students in chanting a few lines of Sanskrit. As you chant, you close your eyes and focus your attention inward to prepare yourself for the rigors of the class. Literally, the chant refers to the tradition of honoring the wisdom of the teachers who passed down the ancient yoga traditions. In a practical sense, the chant helps you mark a division between your everyday activities and the Ahstanga class that is about to begin. The chant is as follows: vande gurunam charanaravinde sandarsita svatmasukhava bodhe nihsreyase jangalikayamane samsara halahala mohasantyai abahu purusakaram sankhacakrasi dharinam sahasra sirasam svetam pranamami patanjalim om (Translation into English) I bow to the lotus feet of the guru who awakens insight into the happiness of pure Being, who is the final refuge, the jungle physician, who eliminates the delusion caused by the poisonous herb of samsara [conditioned existence]. I prostrate before the sage Patanjali who has thousands of radiant, white heads [in his form as the divine serpent, Ananta] and who has, as far as his arms, assumed the form of a man holding a conch shell [divine sound], a wheel [discus of light, representing infinite time] and a sword [discrimination]. om NUMBERS During the class, many teachers will establish a rhythm by counting the various movements of the vinyasas. Some teachers, the more traditional ones, will count in Sanskrit. Here are the numbers you may hear along with their meanings: ekam dve trini catvari panca sat sapta astau nava dasa ekadasa dvadasa trayodasa caturdasa pancadasa sodasa saptadasa When the teacher says samasthiti (same state) it means return to the basic standing position. WARM-UP POSES Surya Namaskara A: Surya Namaskara B: surya    sun namaskara    salutation STANDING POSES Padangusthasana: padangustha    big toe asana    pose Padahastasana: pada    foot, leg hasta    hand asana    pose Uttihita Trikonasana: uttihita    extended, stretched tri    three kona    angle asana    pose Parivrtta Trikonasana: parivrtta    revolved, turned round tri    three kona    angle asana    pose Uttihita Parsvakonasana: uttihita    extended, stretched parsva    side, flank kona    angle asana    pose Parivrtta Parsvakonasana: parivrtta    revolved, turned round parsva    side, flank kona    angle asana    pose Prasarita Padottanasana A: Prasarita Padottanasana B: Prasarita Padottanasana C: Prasarita Padottanasana D: prasarita    expanded, spread out, extended pada    foot, leg tan    stretch asana    pose Parsvottanasana: parsva    side, flank tan    stretch asana    pose Utthita Hasta Padangustasana uttihita    extended, stretched hasta    hand padangusta    big toe asana    pose Ardha Baddha Padmottanasana: ardha    half baddha    bound, restrained padma    lotus ut    intense tan    stretch asana    pose Utkatasana: utkata    powerful, fierce asana    pose Virabhadrasasana I: Virabhadrasasana II: Virabhadra    the name of a hero who led Siva's army asana    pose SEATED POSES Dandasasana: danda    a staff, a rod asana    pose Paschimottanasana A: Paschimottanasana B: Paschimottanasana C: paschima    west   [refers to the back of the body] ut    intense tan    stretch asana    pose Purvottanasana: purva    east   [refers to the front of the body] ut    intense tan    stretch asana    pose Ardha Baddha Padma Paschimottanasana: ardha    half baddha    bound, restrained padma    lotus paschima    west   [refers to the back of the body] ut    intense tan    stretch asana    pose Triang Mukhaikapada Paschimottanasana: tri    three anga    body, limb, part of the body mukha    face eka    one pada    foot, leg paschima    west   [refers to the back of the body] ut    intense tan    stretch asana    pose Janu Sirsasana A: Janu Sirsasana B: Janu Sirsasana C: janu    knee sirsa    head asana    pose Marichyasana A: Marichyasana B: Marichyasana C: Marichyasana D: Marichi    the name of a sage, the son of Brahma (the creator) asana    pose Navasana: nava    boat asana    pose Bhujapidasana A: Bhujapidasana B: bhuja    arm, shoulder pida    pain, discomfort, pressure asana    pose Kurmasana: kurma    tortoise asana    pose Supta Kurmasana: supta    sleeping, lying down kurma    tortoise asana    pose Garbaha Pindasana: garbha    womb pinda    embryo asana    pose Kukkutasana: kukkuta    cock, rooster asana    pose Baddha Konasana: baddha    bound, restrained kona    angle asana    pose Upavistha Konasana A: Upavistha Konasana B: upavistha    seated kona    angle asana    pose Supta Konasana: supta    sleeping, lying down kona    angle asana    pose Supta Padagusthasana: supta    sleeping, lying down padangusta    big toe asana    pose Ubhaya Padagusthasana: ubhaya    both padangusta    big toe asana    pose Urdhva Mukha Paschimottanasana: urdhva    upwards mukha    face paschima    west   [refers to the back of the body] ut    intense tan    stretch asana    pose Setu Bandhasana: setu    bridge bandha    bondage asana    pose FINISHING POSES Urdhva Dhanurasana: urdhva    upwards dhanu    a bow asana    pose Paschimottanasana: paschima    west   [refers to the back of the body] ut    intense tan    stretch asana    pose Sarvangasana: sarva    all, whole, entire, complete anga    limb, body asana    pose Halasana: hala    a plow asana    pose Karnapidasana: karna    ear pida    pain, discomfort, pressure asana    pose Urdhva Padmasana: urdhva    upwards padma    lotus asana    pose Pindasana: pinda    embryo asana    pose Matsyasana: matsya    fish asana    pose Uttana Padasana: ut    intense tan    stretch pada    foot, leg asana    pose Sirsasana: sirsa    head asana    pose Baddha Padmasana: baddha    bound, restrained padma    lotus asana    pose Yoga Mudra: yoga    union, communion mudra    a fastener, a seal Padmasana: padma    lotus asana    pose Utplatih: utplatih    uprooting REST Savasana: sava    a corpse asana    pose

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