What is pratyahara?
Withdrawal of the senses from external objects and turning your attention inward; drawing attention inward allowing external distractions to fade into the background
prati: against, back, away (pruh-tee)
ahara: intake, food, what we take in (ah-ha-ruh)
[prut-yah-ha-ruh]
What is trataka? What does it help improve?
a classic pratyahara practice that is often the first exercise learned; steady gazing; a cleansing and concentration technique invovling steady gazing at a single point without blinking
improves concentration and focus; calms the mind; strengthens eye health and vision; prepares you for Dharana
tra: to look, gas, or protect (trah)
taka: fixate, concentrate (ta-ka)
[trah-ta-ka]
What is Prana/Vayu Pratyahara? What does it invovle?
Wind Withdrawal; withdrawal of senses through control of prana (life force/breath); using the breath awareness to draw attention inward; invovles fixing awareness on 18 vital points in your body called marma/marmani (marma/marmani: vital point, sensitive point, hidden; mar-muh/mar-mah-nee)
prana: life force, breath, vital energy (pra-nuh)
vayu: air, wind, movement of prana (vaa-you)
[prah-nuh/vaa-you prut-yah-ha-ruh]
What is Sanmukhi Mudra?
Gesture of the Six Gates of the Face; Closing the Six Gates
a yogic hand gesture used to draw the senses inward
the six gates are the 2 eyes, 2 ears, and 2 nostrils
san: six (shun)
mukha: face, mouth (moo-kah)
mudra: seal, gesture (moo-drah)
[shun-moo-khee moo-drah]
What is Sambhavi Mudra?
The Gesture of Shiva
A form of trataka (steady gazing) where the eyes are gently directed toward the space between the eyebrows (i.e., the third eye area)
Sambhavi: belonging to or associated with Lord Shiva (sham-bah-vee)
[sham-bah-vee moo-drah]
What is Laya Yoga?
The Yoga of Absorption or Dissolution
Any technique or practice of meditaion that brings about cessatation of consciousness; yoga that focuses on dissolving the mind (ego, thoughts) into pure consciousness
Common Laya Yoga practices: listening to nada (sounds, vibrations, tones), mantra repetition, pranayama, meditation on chakras
laya: absorption, dissolution, merging (lah-yuh)
[lah-yuh yo-guh]
What is Nada Yoga?
The Yoga of Sound
A way to use external and internal sound to unite mind, body, and consciousness; practiced by listening to external sounds (e.g., Om, singing, kirtan) or internal sounds (e.g., inner vibrations of the body or mind)
nada: sound, vibration, tone (naa-dah)
[naa-dah yo-guh]
What is Japa?
The repetition of a mantra or divine name in the mind or aloud; often used with mala (i.e., garland, string, rosary; mah-luh)
japa: to repeat, recite, mutter (juh-puh)
[juh-puh]
What is Karma Pratyahara?
Withdrawal of the senses and mind from the fruits of action; performing action without attachment to outcomes
karma: action, deed (kar-mah)
[kar-mah prut-yah-ha-ruh]
What is Yoga Nidra?
Yogic Sleep
A guided meditation practice that brings you into a state between waking and sleeping where the body is deeply relaxed but the mind remains aware
Yoga Nidra is always a guided practice; practiced in Savasana (corpse pose) and invovles body scan, breath awareness, and visualization
nirda: sleep (nid-rah)
[yo-guh nid-rah]
