Written by Joseph Berridge, Founder of Joga Yoga
Yoga terms are the words teachers use in class, most of them Sanskrit. The ones you will hear most are asana (pose), namaste (a closing greeting), savasana (final rest), vinyasa (movement linked to breath) and pranayama (breathing practice). This glossary groups the common terms by where you will meet them.
Yoga terms you will hear in almost every class
These are the words most teachers use in a typical Hatha or Vinyasa class. Learn these first and most classes will make sense.
| Term | What it means |
|---|---|
| Asana | A yoga pose. The word means “seat” in Sanskrit. See what asana yoga is. |
| Namaste | A respectful greeting, often said at the end of class with hands pressed together. It roughly means “I bow to you.” |
| Om | A sacred syllable often chanted at the start or end of class. |
| Savasana | Corpse Pose. The rest lying on your back at the end of class. |
| Vinyasa | Movement linked to breath. A teacher saying “take a vinyasa” usually means plank, Chaturanga, Upward Dog, then Downward Dog. |
| Chaturanga | Short for Chaturanga Dandasana, a low plank with bent elbows, like the bottom of a push-up. |
| Downward Dog | Adho Mukha Svanasana. An inverted V shape with hands and feet on the mat, used as a resting point in many flows. |
| Surya Namaskar | Sun salutation, a set sequence of poses repeated to warm up. Our sun salutation guide breaks it down. |
| Pranayama | Breathing practice, from prana (life force) and ayama (extension). |
| Ujjayi | “Victorious” breath. You breathe through the nose with a slight narrowing at the back of the throat, which makes a soft ocean sound. |
| Drishti | A fixed gaze point that helps focus and balance. |
| Sadhana | Your regular, committed practice. |
Teacher cues and body terms
Not every yoga term is Sanskrit. Teachers also use plain-English cues and anatomy words that can confuse a first-timer.
| Cue or term | What the teacher means |
|---|---|
| Sit bones | The two bony points at the base of your pelvis that you sit on. |
| Tailbone | The small bone at the bottom of your spine. “Lengthen your tailbone” usually means draw it gently down toward the floor. |
| Sacrum | The flat, triangular bone at the back of the pelvis, just above the tailbone. |
| Sternum | Your breastbone. “Lift your sternum” means lift your chest. |
| Heart centre | The middle of the chest. Often used in cues like “hands to heart centre.” |
| Core | The muscles around your trunk, including the abdominals and back. |
| Engage | Gently switch on a muscle so it supports the pose. |
| Micro-bend | A very slight bend in the knee or elbow so the joint is not locked. |
| Square the hips | Turn both hip bones to face the same direction, often the front of the mat. |
| Bind | Hands clasping each other or a body part to hold a pose. |
| Props | Equipment such as a block, strap or bolster used to make a pose easier or more supported. |
Yoga styles you will see on a class timetable
| Style | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Hatha | Hatha yoga is a broad term for physical yoga. Classes labelled Hatha are usually slower, with poses held for several breaths. |
| Vinyasa | Flowing classes where you move from pose to pose with the breath. |
| Ashtanga | A set series of poses practised in the same order every time. The word also means “eight limbs.” |
| Yin | Mostly floor-based poses held passively for several minutes. |
| Restorative | Very gentle poses supported by props and held for a long time. |
| Iyengar | A style developed by B.K.S. Iyengar that focuses on precise alignment and props. |
| Kundalini | A style combining breathwork, movement, chanting and meditation. |
| Bikram or hot yoga | Yoga practised in a heated room. Bikram is a set sequence of 26 poses. |
| Yoga Nidra | “Yogic sleep.” A guided relaxation practice done lying down. |
For more detail on each, see our overview of types of yoga.
Breath, energy and body lock terms
| Term | What it means |
|---|---|
| Prana | Life force or vital energy, closely linked to the breath. |
| Nadi | An energy channel in yogic anatomy. Nadi Shodhana is alternate nostril breathing, which aims to clear them. |
| Chakra | “Wheel.” An energy centre along the spine. Most modern teaching describes seven main chakras. |
| Bandha | An energy lock created by gently engaging a muscle group. |
| Mula Bandha | The root lock, a gentle lift of the pelvic floor. |
| Uddiyana Bandha | The abdominal lock, drawing the belly in and up. |
| Jalandhara Bandha | The throat lock, drawing the chin toward the chest. |
| Mudra | A hand gesture or seal used in breathing and meditation. |
| Mantra | A word or phrase repeated in chanting or meditation. |
| Kriya | A cleansing practice, or more broadly an action. |
Our pranayama guide covers the main breathing techniques in more depth.
Yoga philosophy terms
These come mostly from Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras, which describe the eight limbs of yoga. You will hear them more in teacher training or in classes with a talk at the start.
| Term | What it means |
|---|---|
| Patanjali | The sage credited with compiling the Yoga Sutras. |
| Yama | The first limb. Ethical guidelines for how you treat others. |
| Niyama | The second limb. Personal practices for how you treat yourself. |
| Ahimsa | Non-harming, the first yama. |
| Satya | Truthfulness. |
| Aparigraha | Non-grasping, or letting go of what you do not need. |
| Tapas | Discipline or inner fire. |
| Svadhyaya | Self-study. |
| Ishvara Pranidhana | Surrender or devotion to something greater than yourself. |
| Pratyahara | Withdrawing attention from the senses. |
| Dharana | Concentration. |
| Dhyana | Meditation. |
| Samadhi | Absorption, the final limb. |
| Sankalpa | An intention, often set at the start of class or in Yoga Nidra. |
| Shanti | Peace, often chanted three times at the end of class. |
The yamas and niyamas are explained in full in our guide to the yamas and niyamas, and the wider system in our yoga philosophy guide.
How to learn yoga terms faster
You do not need to memorise a glossary before your first class. Most people pick up the words by hearing them repeated alongside the movement.
Start with the first table on this page, since those words come up in nearly every class. When you are ready for the Sanskrit names of poses and how to say them, our guide to yoga Sanskrit terms and pronunciation is the next step. If you are new to practice, our beginner yoga guide covers the basics.
Frequently asked questions
What are the most common yoga terms?
The words you will hear most are asana (pose), namaste (a closing greeting), om (a chanted syllable), savasana (the final rest), vinyasa (movement linked to breath), chaturanga (a low plank) and pranayama (breathing practice).
What language are yoga terms in?
Most traditional yoga terms are Sanskrit, the classical language of ancient India. Teachers also use plain-English cues, such as “sit bones” or “micro-bend,” alongside them.
What does namaste mean?
Namaste is a respectful greeting that roughly means “I bow to you.” In yoga classes it is usually said at the end, with the hands pressed together at the chest.
What is a yogi?
A yogi is someone who practises yoga. Yogini is sometimes used for a female practitioner.
Learn the language of yoga in Bali
Joga Yoga’s 200-hour teacher training in Canggu includes daily practice and study of philosophy, so you learn what these terms mean and how to use them when you teach.
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