Yoga literally means ‘union’. It is about the suppression of ego and ‘union’ or connection between us and everything around us. Yoga teaches that true harmony can only be reached when our soul, body and mind are aligned amongst themselves, with nature and wider universe. This is helped through a system of physical and mental exercises. Whilst benefits of yoga are many, the multitude of yoga terms often adopted from Sanskrit can discourage some from exploring this ancient discipline.

To demystify yoga, we introduce 10 most common yoga terms and their meaning:

1. Namaste

Perhaps the best-known of yoga terms. Nowadays, Namaste is used as a general greeting. In the ancient Vedas (oldest Indian texts), Namaste is used as a deeper greeting. Literally, it translates as “the divine in me bows to the same divine in you”. Namaste is often accompanied by connecting both hands in front of the heart chakra and bow of the head.

2. Asana

In modern yoga, Asana is used as a physical yoga practice comprising of different positions. Original meaning of Asana is, however, a sitting meditation position, where all our aspects are consciously focused on the present moment. The goal of Asana in this sense is to clear body and mind and prepare it for long deep meditations.

3. Sun Salutation

Surya Namaskar, or Sun Salutation, has many forms. The most common is a series of 12 Asanas performed consecutively in various modifications, usually at the beginning of Hatha and Vinyasa practice. The goal is to warm up, get energy flowing, but also to calm one’s mind, detach oneself from the outside world and focus on the here and now.

4. Mantra

Mantra are repeated sounds, syllables, words or phrases that help us slow down the mind and focus on the present moment. In translation, Man means ‘man’ and Tra means ‘vehicle’. Mantra transports us to deeper levels of meditative consciousness.

5. Om

Om is considered to be the greatest of all Mantras. It is said to be the primordial sound of creation, and the original vibration of the universe. Most yoga sessions begin and end with chanting of the Mantra Om, helping us reach our higher selves an connect with the universe.

6. Meditation

A technique often associated with breath work. During meditation, by concentrating attention and awareness on a single point, thought or movement, we calm the agitated mind and achieve emotional peace and stability. Here, in a deeper state of consciousness, we non-judgmentally observe our thoughts and feelings and try to better understand them.

7. Chakra

There are 7 main energy centres, or chakras, in the body. Each chakra has its symbol, meaning, location, colour and sound, or mantra. Chakras run along the spine. The root chakra is located at the base of the spine, and the last crown chakra is at the top of the head.

8. Pranayama

A breathing technique that aims to remove physical and emotional obstacles in our body and thus release and increase the flow of prana – life energy. Breath, according to yogic practice, is the flow of life energy, and Yama means control over this flow.

9. Savasana

Savasana is the final resting pose in yoga practice. Performed lying on the back, Savasana is a position of total relaxation, where we accept the effects of the practiced asanas and prepare ourselves to return back to ‘normal’.  Savasana is used during the practice of yoga nidra meditation, and is an important pose in Restorative Yoga.

10. Mudra

Position of the body, but mostly of the hands and fingers, which according to some teachings influences the flow of energy and can affect one’s mood and enhance the effects of yoga and meditation. Common Mudra is the connected thumb and index finger during meditation in the lotus position.