Yoga Midterm Exam Review: Philosophy, Aṣṭāṅga, Chakras, and Practices

Comprehensive vocabulary flashcards covering classical definitions of Yoga, the Aṣṭāṅga eight-limbed tree, Patañjali's Yoga Sūtras, the seven-chakra system, and key practices including prāṇāyāma, mudrās, and mantras.

Yuj

The Sanskrit root word meaning to bind, harness, connect, concentrate, unite, or join, from which the word 'Yoga' is derived.

Vedas

The oldest scriptures of India (1500–1000 BCE) where Yoga was first mentioned, prior to later appearances in the Upanishads.

Yogaś Citta Vṛtti Nirodhaḥ (Yoga Sutra 1.2)

"The restraint of the modifications of the mind-stuff is Yoga." It defines the core goal of Yoga as calming the ripples/thought-waves (vṛttis) within the mind field (citta) through cessation/restraint (nirodhaḥ).

Ātmeśvarasaṃyogo Yogaḥ (Pancarthabhasya 2.1.43)

A classical definition of Yoga found in the commentary on Pāśupatasūtra 1.1, translating to "Yoga is the union of the self and the Lord."

Yogaḥ Karmasu Kauśalam (Bhagavad-Gita 2.50)

A classical definition of Yoga from the Bhagavad Gita translating to "Yoga is skill in action."

Atha Tattvadarśanābhyupāyo Yogaḥ

A classical definition quoted in Śaṅkarācārya's Brahmasūtrabhāṣya translating to "Yoga is the direct means to perceive reality."

Samsara

Reincarnation; one of the key philosophical concepts described by Lord Krishna in the Bhagavad Gita.

Karma

Action; one of the core yogic philosophy concepts articulated in the Bhagavad Gita.

Dharma

Moral duty; a fundamental philosophical concept taught in the Bhagavad Gita.

Moksha

Liberation; the state of spiritual freedom and transcendence from the cycle of worldly existence.

Maya

Illusion; a yogic philosophical concept describing the deceptive nature of external material reality.

Atman

The true self or soul in yogic philosophy.

Brahman

The ultimate reality according to the Upanishads and Yogic philosophy.

Four Types of Yoga in the Bhagavad Gita

The four main spiritual paths taught by Lord Krishna to Arjuna: Karma Yoga, Bhakti Yoga, Jnana Yoga, and Raja Yoga.

Aṣṭāṅga (Sutra 2.29)

The eight-limbed system of Yoga from asta (eight) and anga (limbs, body/part, means, or aids), where each limb is symbolized as a part of the 'yoga tree.'

Yamas

The first limb of Aṣṭāṅga Yoga representing social ethics and restraints regarding how one behaves toward other beings and the outside world; depicted as the roots of the yoga tree.

Ahiṃsā

Non-harming; the first of the five Yamas (social restraints).

Satya

Truthfulness; the second of the five Yamas.

Asteya

Non-stealing; the third of the five Yamas.

Brahmacharya

Celibacy or non-excess; the fourth of the five Yamas.

Aparigraha

Renunciation of possessions; the fifth of the five Yamas.

Niyamas

The second limb of Aṣṭāṅga Yoga representing personal ethics and observances within the self; depicted as the trunk of the yoga tree.

Śauca

Cleanliness; the first of the five Niyamas (personal observances).

Santoṣa

Contentment; the second of the five Niyamas.

Tapas

Discipline, dedication, and inner-fire; the third of the five Niyamas.

Svādhyāya

Self-study and mantra-japa; the fourth of the five Niyamas.

Īśvarapraṇidhāna

Devotion to the Lord; the fifth of the five Niyamas.

Āsana

The third limb of Aṣṭāṅga Yoga meaning 'seat' or 'posture' (from the root meaning to sit, lay down, rest, or abide); originally a stable seated meditation posture for breath work, depicted as the branches of the yoga tree.

Sthira Sukhamāsanam (Sutra 2.46)

Patañjali's definition of āsana: 'Āsana is a steady, comfortable posture,' requiring both physical firmness (sthira) and ease (sukham).

Prayatna Śaithilyānanta Samāpattibhyām (Sutra 2.47)

Patañjali's method for mastering posture through lessening the natural tendency for restlessness (relaxing effort) and meditating on the infinite.

Tato Dvandvānabhighātaḥ (Sutra 2.48)

The result or fruit of mastering āsana: 'Thereafter, one is not disturbed by the dualities' (such as heat and cold, pleasure and pain, praise and censure).

Haṭhābhyāsapaddhati

An 18th–19th century text recognized as the first systematic text on postural yoga, describing 15 āsanas (8 of which are non-seated).

Hatha Yoga

A body-centered approach to yoga originating from Ha (sun) + Tha (moon) = Union, detailed in the 15th-century Hatha Yoga Pradipika, which treats āsana as the first auxiliary for health and longevity.

Prāṇāyāma

The fourth limb of Aṣṭāṅga Yoga consisting of breath-control exercises (from prāṇa = life force, and yama = control/technique/observance); serves as the bridge between the physical and spiritual, symbolized as the leaves of the yoga tree.

Pratyāhāra

The fifth limb of Aṣṭāṅga Yoga representing restraint or withdrawal of the senses; symbolized as the bark of the yoga tree.

Dhāraṇā

The sixth limb of Aṣṭāṅga Yoga meaning focused concentration or binding the mind to one place, object, or idea (dha = holding/maintaining, ana = other); symbolized as the sap of the yoga tree.

Dhyāna

The seventh limb of Aṣṭāṅga Yoga representing meditation; symbolized as the flower of the yoga tree.

Samādhi

The eighth limb of Aṣṭāṅga Yoga representing absorption or bliss; symbolized as the fruit of the yoga tree.

Sutra 2.16

"Suffering that has yet to arrive is to be avoided," teaching that one should not let suffering take hold and can sometimes choose not to suffer.

Chakras

Seven spinning wheels of energy located along the spine through which prāṇa (vital life force) flows, connecting matter with spirit.

Root Chakra (Mūlādhāra)

The 1st chakra, located at the base of the spine (bladder, colon, adrenal gland); red/brown; governs survival, stability, trust, and grounding with the mantra "I am" and sound Lam.

Sacral Chakra (Svādhiṣṭhāna)

The 2nd chakra, located below the navel in the lower stomach/pelvis (gonads); orange; governs sex, creativity, and abundance with the mantra "I feel" and sound Vam.

Solar Plexus Chakra (Maṇipūra)

The 3rd chakra meaning 'lustrous gem,' located from the navel to the breastbone (pancreas); yellow; source of personal power, vitality, and manifestation with the mantra "I do" and sound Ram.

Heart Chakra (Anāhata)

The 4th chakra acting as the 'Bridge' connecting lower (matter) and upper (spirit) chakras, located at the center of the chest (thymus); green/pink; governs love, healing, and acceptance with the mantra "I love" and sound Yam.

Throat Chakra (Viśuddha)

The 5th chakra, located at the neck, jaw, and throat (thyroid); azure blue; governs expression, communication, and speaking truth with the mantra "I speak" and sound Ham.

Third Eye Chakra (Ājñā)

The 6th chakra, located between the eyebrows / center of the forehead (pineal gland); indigo; governs intuition, awareness, and thought with the mantra "I see" and sound Om.

Crown Chakra (Sahasrāra)

The 7th chakra, located at the top of the head (pituitary gland); white/violet; governs enlightenment and spiritual connection with the mantra "I understand" and the sound of Silence.

Nāḍīs

The energy channels or nerve pathways through which prāṇa moves in the body; 72,000 nāḍīs terminate in the fingertips.

Suṣumṇā

The central nāḍī running along the spine; when Iḍā and Piṅgalā are balanced, prāṇa enters Suṣumṇā, resulting in deep mental stillness, raised awareness, and preparation for Samādhi.

Iḍā and Piṅgalā

The two primary nāḍīs carrying cooling (moon/feminine) and heating (sun/masculine) energies; balancing them harmonizes brain hemispheres and channels prāṇa into the central suṣumṇā.

Mantra

An instrument of the mind (from root √man = mind, tra = instrument) that provides steadiness of mind, deepens the breath, balances emotion, and connects to the sacred; often intended for personal practice.

Kīrtan

Devotional singing or chanting that centers on community practice, distinguishing it from mantras intended primarily for personal use.

Mudrā

A Sanskrit term meaning 'seal'; specific hand positions that lock energy flow, guide brain reflexes, balance the left and right hemispheres, and redirect prāṇa through the finger channels.

Sūrya Mudrā

The 'seal of the sun' or 'seal of life' formed using the ring finger (associated with the sun) to bestow energy, vitality, strength, and good health.