Kosha Defined

You may have never heard the word kosha before, but it is the basis for yoga therapy and addressing imbalance. Yoga philosophy posits physical, subtle, and causal aspects of each person that are encompassed in the 5 koshas (each with their own Sanskrit name): the...

Vayu Defined

Today we’re looking at the Sanskrit word vayu. Literally translated, it is wind. In the sense of the 5 prana vayus, they are the “winds,” or particular movements of energy, Prana. They are: prana vayu (energy of taking in), apana vayu (energy of...

Asana Defined

If you have practiced yoga in a classroom setting, or on YouTube, you have no doubt heard the word asana. It is the plural form of the word asan, which literally means seat. Modern yoga translations are position or posture. While in the west yoga has come to be...

Dosha Defined

Dosha is a Sanskrit word that roughly means your constitution, which Google defines as your physical state with regard to vitality, health, and strength, as well as your mental or psychological makeup. There are 3 dosha outlined in Ayurveda, the traditional science of...

Sadhana Defined

Sadhana was one of the first Sanskrit words I learned, and a perfect word to start off the year. In yogic terms it simply means daily practice. This practice may include movement, breathing, meditation, ritual, etc. Sadhana involves discipline, awareness, and...

Santosha Defined

So far I have introduced to you all the ideas of dinacharya and sangha. Moving into the holiday season, a concept that I have found helpful is santosha. A one word definition is contentment, but as with many translations, this is far from adequate. I learned santosha...