Glossary
ĀSANA = this Sanskrit term means both “pose” and “posture”. The āsana is the core of Hatha Yoga and is the most known yoga practice nowadays. The Yoga Pose âsana is attained in specific conditions such as: stillness and relaxation. All the while the subject focuses on coordinating their mind and breath as they engage the muscles essentials to maintain the pose. Patanjali writes in the Yogasūtras: “the asana is steady and comfortable" sthira-sukham āsanam; without this quality there is not āsana but a simple pose.
BANDHA = this Sanskrit term means “lockage” and consists of a series of techniques used in Hatha Yoga associated to a pose âsana, or a breathing technique, prānāyāma. The bandha is a specific muscle contraction stimulating nerves and directing the subtle energy towards a specific area of the body.
PATANJALI = was an Indian sage and the author of the Yogasûtras masterpiece in the mid 2nd century BCE. He encoded the ancient tradition of yoga practices in his verses. Little is known about the life of this scholar and remains a subject of debate..
PRĀNĀYĀMA = this Sanskrit term indicates a variety of techniques to control the breath.
ĀYĀMA means “control”, PRĀNA “energy”, “breath”.
These techniques can have a variety of purposes such as: to promote relaxation; to induce purification of the lungs and the energetic channels; to stimulate energy and vitality; to balance the two principal subtle energy’s channels and the nadis activity. Each practice has specific contra-indications and benefits.
PRĀSADA = this Sanskrit term has several meanings.
The word "prāsada" is composed of the prefix pra = "before, in front" and the root of the versos sad = "to sit, to stay, to dwell or to abide".
The most common meanings are:
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“serenity”, “calm”, “quiet”, it is a particular state of peacefulness of mind based on compassion and equanimity towards others.
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“offer”, “donation”, in the hindū practice it is part of the offer donated to the gods in the temple, whom after the ceremony goes back to the faithful as symbol of the Gods’ grace.
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In the buddhist
Serene acceptance