Yoga Sanskrit Terms: A Glossary of Yoga Words

The Sanskrit words you hear in class and read in the old texts, one guide per word. Each one breaks the word down, says where it comes from and how teachers use it today.

All 32 guides, A to Z

Namaste Meaning: What It Means and How to Say It

Namaste (Sanskrit and Hindi: नमस्ते) is a respectful greeting that means "I bow to you." You say it with your palms pressed together in front of the chest and a small bow of the head. In India and Nepal it is an everyday way to say hello, and many people use it for goodbye too. In...

Posted on 16 Jan 2026

Yoga Sanskrit terms

Mula Bandha (Root Lock): What It Is and How to Practice It

Mula Bandha (Root Lock) is a yoga technique in which you gently draw the pelvic floor in and up, at the point between the pubic bone and the tailbone. Mula means root and bandha means lock or bind. It is used in pranayama, in seated meditation and, in styles like Ashtanga, as a light engagement...

Posted on 20 Dec 2022

Yoga Sanskrit terms

Brahmacharya: Meaning, Rules and How to Practise It

Brahmacharya (Sanskrit: ब्रह्मचर्य) is the fourth of the five yamas, the ethical restraints in Patanjali's Yoga Sutras. The word means "conduct that leads toward Brahman". In the older tradition it means celibacy, especially for a student of the Veda. Most modern yoga...

Posted on 16 Dec 2022

Yoga Sanskrit terms

Asteya (Non-Stealing): Meaning, Examples and How to Practise It

Asteya (Sanskrit: अस्तेय) means "non-stealing": not taking what has not been given to you. It is the third of the five yamas, the ethical restraints that open Patanjali's eight-limbed path in the Yoga Sutras. The classical commentary adds a second layer: asteya also means letting go...

Posted on 16 Dec 2022

Yoga Sanskrit terms

Satya (Truthfulness): Meaning, Yoga Sutra 2.36 and How to Practise It

Satya (Sanskrit: सत्य) means "truth" or "truthfulness". In yoga it is the second of the five yamas, the ethical restraints that open Patanjali's eight-limbed path: let your words and your thoughts match what is so. The classical commentary adds a condition that surprises many students....

Posted on 16 Dec 2022

Yoga Sanskrit terms