| If you have recently started yoga, you may have | | | | Guru - A teacher |
| come across words or practices which are unfamiliar | | | | Mantra - A sacred syllable, word or phrase used in |
| to you. | | | | meditation. |
| The following terms are some of the more popular | | | | Mudra - Symbolic hand gestures or posture to control |
| words you may hear your yoga teacher use in your | | | | prana. |
| yoga class. | | | | Namaste - A sacred greeting to remember and |
| Asana - this is the term for a yoga posture or yoga | | | | honour the sacred, the spirit within yourself and others. |
| pose. It literally means "steady pose." | | | | Om - is also sometimes spelled Aum. Many yoga |
| Being Present - A state of being where you are totally | | | | classes begin and end with the class sitting |
| engaged and focused on the person or activity you | | | | cross-legged, eyes closed chanting Om 3 times. Om is |
| are involved in at that moment. | | | | regarded as the original sound of creation. When you |
| Chakra - The word chakra means "wheel". In yoga | | | | repeat it, you are in effect aligning yourself with the |
| philosophy, the body consists of a number of minor | | | | spirit of creation. |
| and major energy centres or wheels of energy. Your | | | | Pranayama - Control of the breath, a breathing |
| energy flows through these energy centres. There are | | | | exercise |
| seven main Chakras - The root chakra, the sacral | | | | Shanti - Peace |
| chakra, the solar plexus chakra, the heart chakra, the | | | | Spiritual - Of the spirit or the soul |
| throat chakra, the third eye/brow chakra and crown | | | | Surya Namaskar - The Sun Salutation |
| chakra. | | | | Yoga - Union, to yoke |
| Chant - A repetition of sacred words and sounds that | | | | Yogi, one who practices yoga |
| vibrate within and around the energy centres. | | | | I hope you find these terms useful in deepening your |
| Chin Mudra - a hand mudra, linking the thumb and index | | | | understanding of yoga. |
| finger | | | | Namaste. |