Glossary from Heart of Yoga

the source of fear, attachment to life; one of the kleśas

holding the breath after inhaling

practice

teacher

downward-facing dog pose

nondualism

fire, one of the bhūtas

a cleansing process using the "fire" of the human body to remove impurities

the sense of "I"

noninjury, consideration, love; one of the yamas

space; one of the bhūtas

a state of bliss

without end

a "limb," or aspect, of yoga

within, internal

internal practices in reference to Patañjali's path of concentration (dhāraṇā), meditation (dhyāana), and integration (samādhi)

obstacle to a clear and stable mind

prāñāyāma where one inhales with a sound in the throat (ujjāyi) and eshales in a regulated way through alternate nostrils

water

dirt; the center in which bodily waste collects

the aspect of prāṇa responsible for excretion

wind-relieving pose

to receive exactly what is appropriate and no more; one of the yamas

forward bending half lotus pose

half-squat pose

meaning, purpose

posture

sense of ego; one of the kleśas

the merging of the mind with the object of meditation

eight limbs. Astanga yoga is the eight limbs of yoga as explained by Patanjali (Yoga Sutra, chap 2)

not coveting what belongs to others; one of the yamas

the self

misapprehension, incorrect knowledge, false understanding; the most important of the klesas

external limb

external practice that includes the first four limbs of astanga yoga

holding the breath after exhaling

to bind or lock

part of the epic Mahabharata where Krsna teaches yoga to Arjuna

devotion

yoga in which devotion to God is prominent

bellows

bellows breathing through alternate nostrils

cobra pose

elements of space, air, light, water, and earth

one of the yamas. Moving toward the highest modification of the senses, it is the stage of life where the young student studies the sacred texts

to expand

intellect

energy centers along the spinal column

cat pose

consciousness

mind

mental state devoid of agitation

to give away

one of the sic classical points of view of Indian thought

place

bow pose

the state of mind in which the mind is oriented toward one point

duty, ethical value

meditation

gesture indicating meditation practice

one who is in a state of dhyana

the seer, that which sees

that which is seen

feeling of discomfort, pain

dislike, hatred; one of the klesas

table pose

a standing posture where the torso bends forward and one leg is lifted behind

single direction, single-mindedness

qualities of the mind; qualities of the univers

plow pose

hand symbol

a classical text on hatha yoga

yoga in which the aim is the unify the two energies of ha (left) and tha (right), and merge them into susumna in the center of the spine; the merging of prana and apana into the center of the body, at the heart

a nadi that terminates at the left nostril

senses

God or Lord