Terminology

Yin

Yin is a slow paced, more meditative style of Yoga that focuses on releasing stress and tension from the deep connective tissue and joints. Yin postures are passive and enable the body to unfold naturally with the force of gravity. These postures can be held for varying periods of time, typically ranging anywhere from 2-10 minutes. As we age flexibility in the joints naturally decreases and Yin Yoga is an excellent way to maintain high levels of flexibility.



Vinyasa

Vinyasa is a style of Yoga that places emphasis on flowing through a series of postures or asanas whilst maintaining a focus on breathing technique or Pranayama. Vinyasa classes offer a variety of postures and no two classes are ever alike. The opposite would be “fixed forms” such as Bikram Yoga, which features the same 26 postures in every class, or Ashtanga which has the same sequence every time. Vinyasa Yoga helps to develop a more balanced body and can be thought of as a breath initiated practice, that connects every action of our life with the intention of moving towards what is sacred, or most important to us. Vinyasa is commonly referred to as "Flow Yoga".



Pranayama

Pranayama are breathing exercises which clear the physical and emotional obstacles in our body to free the breath and so the flow of prana - life energy.



Asana

Asana literally translates as ‘seat’ but the more modern interpretation of the word denotes physical postures or poses.



Namaste

Namaste translates roughly as ‘the light within me bows to the light within you’ and generally said at the end of a yoga class, bowing the head with palms pressed together at the heart.



Prana

Prana translates as 'life energy' or 'life force'.



Mantra

A Mantra is a word, sound or phrase repeated either out loud (chanting) or in the mind - said to increase concentration while meditating.



Drishti

Drishti is a visual referrence or focal point used to develop balance whilst performing Yoga postures.



Om

Om, pronounced 'a-u-m' is a mantra usually chanted at the beginning and end of yoga classes - a tiny word with a multitude of meanings - said to be the origin of all sounds and the seed of creation. Often quoted as the “universal sound of consciousness”.