Weird Words You'll Hear In A Yoga Class

No one really enjoys being new and uninformed in anything. It creates insecurities and may make you feel self conscious. Yoga is supposed to be the opposite of that!

To help you prepare for one of my classes, another public class, a YouTube video, or that DVD that's been collecting dust, I want to give you a few terms or words you may hear in a yoga class. These words are often in Sanskrit, an ancient language from India. Most of the time a teacher will use them with their English counter parts, but not always, so a basic knowledge of their meanings is helpful (though not necessary!) when beginning a practice.

It's also important to be reminded that everyone is new at some point and that yoga is NEVER a competition. It's an exploration of self. Every class you attend it about you, not your mat neighbor or instructor. Don't compare how you meditate, think, or move to anyone else. Relax, drop in, and enjoy!

1. Pranayama - and some varieties

Broken down, prana is energy or life force, and yama means control or restraint in Sanskrit. Real talk, this translates to breath work in a class or practice. Focusing on, and using/utilizing, the power of the breath is a major component of yoga. Air is the most important food to a yogi (or any living thing)! My favorite way I have heard this described is- If you do not eat, you will survive for weeks, do not drink and you will survive for days. But, if you do not breath you will only survive for mere moments. By controlling our breathing (Or, should I say- freeing our breathing) we can gain many benefits, such as- Calming the body and mind, reducing stress and anxiety, heating or cooling the body, lowering blood pressure, and aiding in rest and relaxation.......... to name a few.

Pranayama can be a variety of breath controls (freedoms) that are used during meditation, relaxation, and asanas (see #2). Some of these include Nadi Shodhana (alternate nostril), Kapalabhati (skull shining), and Ujjayi (also known as ocean breath). These are all relatively simple to learn and use and are the types of pranayama you are most likely to hear about in a class.

2. Asana - and a few common ones

Asana means posture or pose. You will notice it at the end of Sanskrit pose names. This can be a pose used for meditation or poses that flow together in a sequence. When most people think of yoga they think of the Asana side of yoga, the movement, the postures. In reality, this is just one small part of what yoga truly is, but it is often the open door that draws people in. Some common pose names you will hear in classes-

Tadasana- Mountain Pose

Savasana- Corpse Pose

Virabhadrasana I, II, III- These are the three warrior poses

Chaturanga Dandasana - This is a serious of poses that flow together in many sequences, including Sun Salutations

Paschimottanasana- Seated Forward Fold

3. Drishti

Drishti means gaze. Drishti is most often mentioned in meditation and balancing postures but can be used in any posture. When you set a Drishti point it draws your attention away from the external, helping you set your concentration. This is helpful in reigning in a wondering mind and for focusing in a balancing posture. It also may help you modify a pose to make it more accessible or more difficult - where your gaze goes, your attention follows.

4. Bandhas

Bandhas are muscular locks. There are 3 that you will be most likely to hear- Mula Bandha (Root Lock), Uddiyana Bandha (Upward Abdominal Lock), and Jalandhara Bandha (Chin Lock). These have many awesome benefits on and off the mat. Bandhas can play a key role in helping you grow your yoga practice. A great beginner guide to the Bandhas can be found here.

5. Namaste

Namaste translates to- I bow to you or salutations to you. It is a traditional greeting now used in our Western culture as a respectful greeting, to show honor. You will no doubt hear this at the end of most yoga classes, and maybe even the beginning. There are many other traditional meanings and uses of the word in other cultures. However, for most yogis you can expect it to be used as a form of respect, as if saying "thank you for being you and accepting me."

Now you know a few fun terms, one less thing to worry about. Go find your yoga!