QUICK FIRE QUESTIONS...

SADHAKA SHANTI YOGA

QUICK FIRE QUESTIONS

1. What does Sadhaka mean?

The word Sadhaka means one who is a spiritual aspirant’ to practice with deep inner focus, intelligence and perception. ‘Sadh’ means “to accomplish”

2. What does Shanti mean?

It means peace! When we chant Om Shanti Shanti Shanti it is an acknowledgement of peace

3. Why do we chant Shanti 3 times?

There are two schools of thought. First, this is to represent “BODY, SPEECH, MIND”.

Second, is bringing peace, calming and removing obstacles in the three main realms: “PHYSICAL, DIVINE, INTERNAL”.

These obstacles are on the Physical external world (people, animals, natural disasters etc). The Divine from the spiritual world. The Internal from your own mind (pain, disease etc)

4. What does Asana mean?

Asana literally translates as “seat” but in yoga classes this word is used for “pose” “posture”

5. What does Om mean?

Ommmmmmmmmmmmm is the sound of the universe.

The written symbol of Om is now the universal sign for yoga and peace. Essentially it means; we are all part of the universe, breathing, changing, impermanent, moving, by chanting Om we tap into the vibration of the universe.

6. What does Namaste mean?

This is a greeting of hello in India. This is said on first meeting and not said again for the rest of the day, even if you leave the person and return back to them. Literally translated as “the divine light within me salutes the divine light within you” so Namaste is a beautiful way to greet friends. The formal hello is “Namaskar”

7. What does HATHA mean?

Hatha literally translates as sun-moon: HA meaning sun and THA meaning moon. This refers to the balance of “IDA” feminine, receptive, cool, moon and “PINGALA” masculine, active, hot, sun. Hatha Yoga is a journey to create balance and uniting opposites.

8. What does ASHTANGA mean?

Ashtanga translates as eight limbs; ASHTA eight ANGA limb. From the Yoga sutra of Patanjali. These include: YAMA (abstinence/restraints) NIYAMA (observances) ASANA (poses/postures) PRANAYAMA (breath control) PRATYAHARA (withdrawal of the senses) DHARANA (concentration) DHYANA (meditation) SAMADHI (contemplation/absorption)

9. What does VINYASA mean?

Vinyasa literally translates as movement position (of limbs) it is the movements between poses in Yoga with regulated breathing, in modern yoga this is a flowing sequence in coordination of the breath