"It's never too late, it's never too bad and you're never too old or sick
to start from scratch once again." - Bikram Choudhury
quoting his teacher, Bishnu Ghosh

Glossary of Yoga & Massage Terms
0-9 | A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z

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4-Hands Massage - refers to getting a massage from 2 therapists at the same time with both of their hands.

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Ardha - half

Ardha matsyendrasana - half spinal twist yoga pose

Arnica- A daisy-like mountain flower that is used as an ointment to relieve bruises, sprains, soreness and muscle swelling from sport activity. A must have when doing the 60 day challenge!

Aromatherapy is the practice of using pure essential oils from plants therapeutically.

Chamomile and lavender relax the body and mind.
Citrus oils invoke a feelings of happiness.
Peppermint and Eucalyptus are uplifting and stimulating.
There are hundreds of plants oils that are safe to use on the body mixed with a carrier
oil, such as coconut, olive, almond, or apricot.
Wintergreen and Birch are specifically good for injury sites, and after that you can start to get more complicated. Rose Absolute is used therapeutically to invoke feelings of self-love: nurturing and taking care of yourself. Frankincense is used for spiritual protection. Lovage is a heart opener.
Cinnamon is used to get in touch with your inner anger. Once you do that cinnamon no longer feels hot to the body; it feels cool.

Plants are our allies, they are the second sacred medicine, according to Native American tradition. It is said that for every disease on the planet, there is a plant to cure it growing on the earth. Essential oils are derived from a distillation process using pounds and pounds of plants, and as a result they are highly concentrated. You can actually create hydrosols (plant waters) yourself at home using a few simple tools. This way you can derive the essence of the plant without having to grow a field of it in your yard.

Using essential oils in your massage can help you accelerate a spiritual awakening in the body, mind, and spirit. Each plant carries specific energies and information to help you assimilate parts of your life in a complete way. Try some aromatherapy during your massage and discover infinite possibilities in healing yourself.

 

Asana - Sanskrit word for posture/body position in a yoga practice

Ashtanga - means eight limbs in Sanskrit which refers to the eight limbs of yoga laid out in the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali - the eight fold path of yoga as outlined by Patanjali: yama, niyama, asana, pranayama, pratyahara, dharana, dhyana, samadhi

Atman- the individual soul or essence;the essence that is eternal, unchanging, and indistinguishable from the essence of the universe. A good example of this is found in the book "Siddhartha." Siddhartha works toward the goal of of recognizing the relationship between the Atman (self) and Brahman (reality) as he changes roles in life, moving to understand himself and his relationship with reality.

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Deep Tissue Massage - Deep tissue massage is a type of massage therapy that focuses on realigning deeper layers of muscles and connective tissue. It is especially helpful for chronically tense and contracted areas such as stiff necks, low back tightness, and sore shoulders. When there is chronic muscle tension or injury, there are usually adhesions (bands of painful, rigid tissue) in muscles, tendons, and ligaments. Adhesions can block circulation and cause pain, limited movement, and inflammation. Deep tissue massage works by physically breaking down these adhesions to relieve pain and restore normal movement. To do this, the massage therapist often uses direct deep pressure or friction applied across the grain of the muscles. Some of the same strokes are used as classic massage therapy, but the movement is slower and the pressure is deeper and concentrated on areas of tension and pain.

- E -

Electrolytes - When you exercise heavily, such as practicing Bikram Yoga, you lose electrolytes in your sweat, particularly sodium and potassium. These electrolytes must be replaced to keep the electrolyte concentrations of your body fluids constant. Many sports drinks have sodium chloride or potassium chloride added to them to help replenish electrolytes after a hard sweaty work out (Vitamin Water, Emergen-C,
Gatorade, Zico). My favorite beverage to drink to rehydrate is coconut water (ZICO) because it contains the five essential electrolytes your body needs to keep nerves firing, muscles moving and to help manage
stress. One ZICO has more potassium than a banana, which prevents cramping and promotes recovery; low acidity; no fat; no sugar added; and no cholesterol. ZICO is the natural, refreshing way to hydrate
and replenish and it tastes delish!

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Fascia - Fascia is connective tissue which envelopes and isolates the muscles of the body, providing structural support and protection. Fascia has three layers and is thin, very fibrous and strong. On occasion, fascia can create tight knots or connective adhesions that act as trigger points which can cause pain or restrictions. In addition to a regular yoga practice, you may need to look to massage to treat this condition. Yogagroove has a variety of treatments available including Deep Tissue Massage, Myofascial Release, and Trigger Point Therapy.

Focus - exclusive attention to one object- YOUR OWN TWO EYES in the mirror. Synonymous with Concentration; a key element of yoga. Leaning to clear you mind and to concentrate on yourself in the front mirror will help you attain more focus in your practice and in your everyday life.

- G -

Ganesha - An elephant-headed God, son of Shiva who takes away all obstacles and is the God of good fortune

Garurasana - Eagle Pose - Supplies fresh blood to the reproductive organs and kidneys increasing sexual power and control. Yow! Also firms calves, thighs, hips, abdomen, and upper arms. Imporves the flexibility of the hip, knee, and ankle joints and strengthens the latismus dorsi, trapezius, and deltoid muscles.

Granthi - Blockages of energy within the body. Literally, a "knot". In order to experience self-realization, the knots must be released.

Green - you will not find it at Yogagroove. It is a color detested by Bikram but for what reason, no one really knows for sure.

- H -

Hatha Yoga: A branch of Yoga, perhaps the most practiced style of Yoga, emphasizing the physical aspects of the spiritual path, with postures and breath control.
Half Moon Pose-Arda-Chandrasana...Gives quick energy and vitality; improves and strengthens every muscle in the central part of the body, especially in the abdomen; increases the flexibility of the spine; corrects bad posture; promotes proper kidney function; and helps to cure enlargement of the liver and spleen, dyspepsia, and constipation. It increases the flexibility and strength of the rectus abdominus, latissmus dorsi, oblique, deltoid and trapezius muscles.

Head to Knee Pose-Janushirasana..Helps to balance the blood sugar levels. Improves the flixibility of the sciatic nerves, ankles, knees, and hip joints; improves digestion; enhances the proper functioning of the kidneys; and expands the solar plexus.

Heat - The recommended Bikram Yoga temperature is minimum 105F degrees and about 40% humidity. The room is kept at this temperature or more for the following:
- Keeping the body from overheating (contrary to popular misconception)
- Protecting the muscles to allow for deeper stretching
- Detoxing the body (open pores to let toxins out)
- Thinning the blood to clear the circulatory system
- Increasing heart rate for better cardiovascular workout
- Improving strength by putting muscle tissue in optimal state for reorganization
- Reorganize the lipids (fat) in the muscular structure

- I -

Inverted pose – Inverted poses are those postures in which the head is lower than the heart, the reverse of our usual upright orientation. Some examples of inverted poses are: Standing Separate Leg Stretching, Standing Separate Leg Head To Knee, Rabbit, Shoulder Stand and Head Stand. Inverted poses stimulate blood circulation. The blood from the heart usually has to pump up toward the head and down toward the abdomen and the legs. This is reversed during inversions. Because the blood carries in nutrients and carries away waste, strong circulation is a very important part of good health. Being upside-down flips around the internal and digestive organs and is particularly good for digestive problems. Most inversions also stimulate the glandular/hormonal system, bringing vitality and balance.

- J -

Janushirasana – Head to knee pose

Jnana – Knowledge acquired through meditation and study. Also known as Brahmajnana; understanding; wisdom

- K -

Kombucha - a fermented tea consumed for medicinal purposes made by fermenting tea using a visible solid mass of microorganisms called a kombucha culture. Our Kombucha is a unique and very special recipe made and sold by a Yogagroove student in her professional kitchen.

- L -

"Lock the Knee!" - It's the foundation!

- M -

Massage Therapy - also known as bodywork refers to the application of various techniques to the muscular structure and soft tissues of the body that include applying fixed or movable pressure, holding, vibration, rocking, friction, kneading and compression using primarily the hands, although massage therapists do use other areas of the body, such as the forearms, elbows or feet. Massage therapy can relieve bodily tension by stretching and loosening muscle and connective tissue. Massage offers a wide range of therapeutic benefits including increased blood flow, and movement of lymph fluid throughout the entire body. Massage can speed the removal of metabolic waste products, allowing more oxygen and nutrients to reach the cells and tissues. At Yogagroove most bodywork is integrative. This means that your therapist may incorporate various techniques to include Swedish, Shiatsu, Sports therapy, Deep Tissue massage, Myofascial Release, or Trigger Point therapy.

Mat - an essential part of your Bikram Yoga equipment. Rent ours for $1 or bring your own. We sell new mats in lots of fun colors - but, NO GREEN!

Meditation - Technique of inward attention. Psychologist Lawrence LeShan offers a down-to-earth definition: The goal of meditation is "to enable you to get more out of life and to move more completely in whatever directions you choose." Those directions can range from moving toward inner peace and higher spirituality to losing five pounds before Christmas.

Mirror - Where you will find the eyes of your true teacher! Make sure you can see yourself and that you don't block anyone else and then focus on your own two eyes throughout your class.

Myofascial Release - The word "Myo" means "muscle." The word "fascia" addresses the connective tissue that holds the muscle in place, with the approximate tensile strength of a steel belted radial tire surrounding the entire body. Our bodies are supported by our skeletons, and the muscles help us move our bodies around, but the fascia is the signature of the body. It holds your muscles in place so that you even look like yourself without your skin. Myofascial Release addresses the layers of connective tissue that hold us together, and sometimes these layers become stuck, like when you have an old injury that starts hurting when the weather changes, or feels stressed when you use it like you did before the injury. Myofascial release is done without oil, and involves very slow, deep, focused pressure along the connective tissue. This style of work is good for rotator cuff, hip and low back injuries, head injuries, and just about anywhere in the body where something appears to be stuck and requires release. What myofascial release does is give the fascia time to expand, so that the muscles it is holding in place have more room, and the results are fantastic: freedom of movement, freedom from pain, and a general greater range of flexibilty for you to continue your practice.

- N -

Namasté, Namaskar or Namaskaram (Sanskrit: नमस्ते [nʌmʌsˈteː] from internal sandhi between namaḥ and te) is a common spoken greeting or salutation in the Indian subcontinent. Namaskar is considered a slightly more formal version than namasté but both express deep respect. It is commonly used in India and Nepal by Hindus, Jains and Buddhists, and many continue to use this outside the Indian subcontinent. In Indian and Nepali culture, the word is spoken at the beginning of written or verbal communication. However, the same gesture of holding the palms together in front of the bosom is made wordlessly upon departure. In yoga, namasté is said to mean "The light in me honors the light in you," as spoken by both the yoga instructor and yoga students. Taken literally, it means "I bow to you". The word is derived from Sanskrit (namas): to bow, obeisance, reverential salutation, and (te): "to you".

Nurture-foster - help develop, help grow. Yoga and massage assist the body's natural healing, restoring balance to the body and mind and enhancing the quality of life. At Yogagroove we are happy to help you along this path.

- O -

Om......................mind, body, and spirit come together

- P -

Prana - life force, breath. Bring in all that's good with inhalation. Release all that's no longer needed with exhalation.

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Quiet - Quiet and still in mind and body, one of the most difficult things to achieve!

- R -

- S -

Sanskrit is a historical Indo-Aryan language, one of the liturgical languages of Hinduism and Buddhism and one of the 22 official languages of India.

Savasana

Service Industry Discount - the "service industry" is defined as waitstaff, police, fire, military, school
teachers or school counselors.

Seva, or selfless service, is considered an integral part of the greater practice of yoga.

Shiatsu is Japanese body work that addresses specific pressure points along the meridians, the "energy highways" of the body. Your practitioner will touch ten points between each joint on the body, as well as points along the spine, lower back, upper neck and shoulder area, head, the front of the torso, the belly, and the feet. Some stretching is involved, and you will experience pressure and some pain as the energy point is ignited, which dies off as you breathe. Shiatsu was traditionally performed on a mat on the floor and has been modified for table practice as well. By receiving this work, you are inspiring your body to rejuvenate: organ systems are aligned, causing them to communicate in a healthier way, and you will feel energized and have more freedom from pain. Essentially, Shiatsu revives your vital energy, your "chi", which makes you more vital in your daily life and yoga practice.

Student Discount - available to students of an accredited school, college or university with proof of a valid I.D. card

- T -

Tea Tree Oil- Oil from the leaves of the Australian tea tree. Used to cure fungal skin infections like athlete's foot, as well as acne, bee stings, and works great as an antibacterial agent.

Thai Massage - This treatment is more energizing and rigorous than more classic forms of massage. Thai Massage is also called Thai Yoga Massage, because the therapist uses his or her hands, knees, legs, and feet to move you into a series of yoga-like stretches. Muscle compression, joint mobilization, and acupressure are also used during treatment. People describe Thai massage as both relaxing and energizing. Thai massage is done on a padded mat on the floor. No oil is applied, so you are fully dressed. You are usually asked to bring or wear comfortable clothing to the massage.

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- W -

Water - All living creatures must drink this amazing liquid substance to survive, and as a Bikram Yoga student you will need to drink lots of it! It is recommended that you carry a water bottle with you to sip on throughout your day to stay best hydrated. Drink plenty of water before and after class - gulping down water during class is NOT the best way to stay hydrated!

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- Y -

You - To do yoga, all you need is YOU! Of course having a studio space, mats, towels, water, heat, clothes, an instructor and other practitioners around you is nice- but all you really need to do yoga is, YOU! (This is a conceptional idea, and does not mean you can come naked to class).

- Z -

Zico- The name of the brand of delicious coconut water we sell at Yogagroove. It is a tasty way to rehydrate and replenish your body with good for you minerals.

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