Below is a list of 10 essential terms for you to memorize. Some of them you may have heard before. Say them out loud as you go along:
- Asana – translates to ‘seat’. During class, each posture or pose is called an asana.
- Chakra – translates to ‘wheel’. These are the energy centers in the body between the top of your head and the base of your spine.
- Chaturanga – An asana (pose). Also called the low plank. This posture requires shoulder, arm and core strength (similar to a push-up, but you hold the position).
- Adho Mukha Svanasana (also known as Downward Facing Dog) – Probably one of the more widely known yoga poses. It looks like an inverted ‘V’.
- Mantra – This could be a word, phrase or sound that can be chanted in the mind or out loud to improve concentration during meditation.
- Mudra – A gesture or hand position that increases concentration and connection during meditation and yoga practice.
- Namaste – Roughly translates to ‘the light within me honours the light within you’. Usually said at the end of a yoga class, with the head bowed and the palms pressed together in the center of the chest.
- Om – This word has many meanings, but is often translated as the ‘universal sound of consciousness’.
- Shanti – Translates to ‘peace’.
- Savasana – Translates to ‘corpse’. This is a relaxed pose, usually performed at the end of class.
Now that you’ve familiarized yourself with some of the lingo, you’re probably itching to sign up for a yoga class or guided meditation with a yoga teacher. However, if you still have doubts about starting your yoga journey, pay a visit to The Chopra Meditation Centre, where you’ll have access to several free guided meditations by trained yoga teachers with the click of a button.
For a more hands-on experience, contact Janet Haughton Quarshie of Atha Jiva today to book your first guided meditation class.
