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Reference3 min readUpdated 2026-07-18

Asana Glossary Starter

A short glossary page explaining asana as posture, seat, and one part of a broader yoga practice.

Learning purpose

Provide a compact, non-linear starting reference for Asana as posture, seat, and part of a broader practice.

Learning objectives

  • Look up foundational Asana usage without adding fake lesson completion.
  • Return to alignment and Sanskrit lessons for deeper context.

Prerequisites

No published prerequisite is required.

Key topics

  • Alignment
  • Pose families
  • Embodied attention
  • Pranayama
  • Dhyana
  • Sthira
  • Sukha

Also listed in: Foundations

On this page

Asana is commonly translated as posture or seat. In modern yoga classes, the word often refers to physical poses, but in a broader study context it also points toward steadiness, comfort, and embodied attention.

Study Notes

  • Do not use asana as a synonym for all of yoga.
  • In YTT study, connect asana with alignment, breath, anatomy, sequencing, and student care.
  • A posture is not only its shape; it also includes intention, setup, sensation, and context.

Sources and lookup context

  1. Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries — Monier-Williams

    Dictionary orientation for lexical forms; entries do not establish one universal studio translation.

  2. Hatha Yoga Project — Roots of Yoga chapter summaries

    Academic context for the historical variety of yoga terminology and postures.

  3. NCCIH — Yoga: Effectiveness and Safety

    General safety and qualified-instruction boundary for physical practice.

Continue learning

Continue learning

Continue with published lessons, references, editorial reading, or a short exam check chosen for this topic.

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