You don't need to speak Sanskrit to attend a yoga retreat, but a handful of terms come up often enough that knowing them in advance makes sessions easier to follow. Here's a practical glossary, not an exhaustive one.
Practice and postures
Asana — a physical posture or pose; literally "seat." When someone says "take your asana," they mean settle into the position.
Pranayama — breath control practices; "prana" (life force/breath) plus "ayama" (extension or control).
Hatha — broadly, physical yoga practice; also refers to a specific slower-paced style emphasizing held postures.
Vinyasa — a style linking postures together through continuous, breath-coordinated movement.
Shavasana — "corpse pose," the final resting posture at the end of a session, lying flat and still.
Energy and the body
Chakra — literally "wheel"; refers to the body's traditional energy centers, from the base of the spine to the crown of the head.
Kundalini — traditionally, a dormant energy said to rest at the base of the spine, activated through specific practices.
Nadi — subtle energy channels in the body, referenced in practices like Nadi Shodhana (alternate nostril breathing).
Prana — life force or vital energy, closely associated with breath.
Meditation and mind
Dhyana — meditation; sustained, focused attention.
Mantra — a word or phrase repeated during meditation or chanting, used as a point of focus.
Jnana — knowledge; refers to the path of self-inquiry and intellectual discernment.
Bhakti — devotion; refers to the path of surrender and devotional practice.
Karma — action, and the consequences that follow from it; refers to the path of selfless service.
Raja — "royal"; refers to the path of meditation and mental discipline.
Philosophy and states
Moksha — liberation; traditionally described as freedom from the cycle of suffering and limited self-identification.
Samadhi — a state of deep meditative absorption, often described as the culmination of sustained practice.
Ahimsa — non-harm; one of yoga's foundational ethical principles.
Satsang — a gathering for shared spiritual reflection or teaching, literally "being in truth together."
How this helps in practice
You'll most likely hear "asana," "pranayama," "chakra," and "mantra" in everyday retreat conversation — knowing these five alone covers most of what comes up. The rest add depth if a facilitator goes further into philosophy, but nothing here is required knowledge; sessions are explained as they happen, not assumed.
Ready When You Are
Want to see these terms in action? Explore the four paths of yoga or see what a typical retreat day includes.