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Glossary - Yoga Related Terms
Adi Mantra: Primal or original mantra. It refers to the mantra
used to tune-in before beginning a Kundalini Yoga practice. "Ong Namo Guru Dev
Namo" (I bow to the Creative Consciousness, I bow to the Divine wisdom within)
Affirmation: A positive statement that is either spoken aloud or mentally repeated.
Apana: The cleansing breath of life; the outgoing eliminative energy.
Arcline: That area of the body's energy field that extends out
from the hairline. (Halo)
Aura: The field of energy that surrounds and penetrates the entire body. Also known as the 8th chakra.
Bandha: Body lock. Pulling and tightening specific muscles inside the body.
Bij: Seed. Sat Nam is called the Bij mantra or seed mantra.
Brosa: The element of trust
Chakra: Literally, circle or wheel. These are energy centers of consciousness in the body. There are eight centers including the Aura.
Electromagnetic energy field: The field of energy surrounding and moving through all living beings.
Gian Mudra: Hand position with the index finger touching the thumb. The position of wisdom
Hatha: A yogic path primarily using postures.
Higher Triangle: The heart, throat, third-eye point and crown chakras.
Ida: The left nerve channel which relates to the left nostril and negative pole energy.
Jalandhara Bandha: The neck lock
Japa: To repeat a sound vibration as meditation
Kirtan: Spirital or sacred music
Kriya: A completed action. A particular yoga posture or series of postures linked to breath and mantra that produces a specific effect.
Kundalini: "Curled hair of the beloved" It refers to the
coiled energy at the base of the spine that holds the creative potential of individuals.
Laya Yoga: A form of meditation that uses rhythmic patterns of mantra and locks to produce a specific effect.
Lower Triangle: The first three chakras; rectum, sexual organs and navel center.
Maha Bandha: The great lock. Pulling all the body locks together.
Mala: A string of beads used as an aid to repeating a mantra
Maya: The illusion of the reality of sensory experience of the world around us.
Mantra: Literally, mind projection. This is the sound current that is repeated aloud or mentally.
Mul Bandha: Root lock. Squeezing of the muscles of the rectum, sex organ and navel.
Nabhi: The navel center. The source of power.
Pingala: The right nerve channel associated with the right nostril. The positive pole of energy.
Prana: The subtle life force that is inhaled.
Pranayam: The yogic system of breath exercises.
Rock Pose: Sitting on the heels with straight spine.
Sadhana: Literally, personal discipline. The daily yoga practice.
Samadhi: The state of consciousness in which the mind is merged in the blissful absorption of the Infinite.
Sat Nam: I am Truth or Truth Manifested.
Sanskrit: An ancient and sacred language
Shabd: The sacred word and the sound current it generates.
Shushmana: The central spinal nerve channel
Sitali breath: The cooling breath formed with a curled tongue
Third-eye point: The point of concentration midway between the eyebrows that relates to the pituitary gland and intuition. Also known as the sixth chakra and brow point.
Uddiyana Bhanda: Pulling up on the muscles of the diaphragm. Diaphragm lock.
Venus Lock: The hand position of interlaced fingers
White Tantric Yoga: The yogic science of consciousness utilizing the union of opposites.
Yoga: Literally, union. The union of the body, mind and spirit.
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