Yoga Literally, to hitch up; to put to active and purposeful use; to yoke, join, connect, or concentrate. Four sample interpretations of Patanjali’s definition of yoga from the Yoga Sutras: Book I, 2:
Yogas cita vrtti nirodhah.
“Yoga is the neutralization of the vortices of feeling.” Paramahansa Yogananda
“The restraint of the modifications of the mind-stuff is Yoga.”
Swami Satchidananda
“Yoga is the modification of the mind-stuff.”
Swami Vivikenanda
“Yoga is the clearing of limitation in the field of consciousness.”
Kripalu Yoga
Namaste A traditional greeting meaning, “Offering my respects to You.” There is more implied in this greeting and it might also be interpreted, “I bow to and greet the divine in you.”
Om The “word” or eternal vibration of the universe. Amen is derived from this word. Also defined as Aum, it is a mystical or sacred syllable in the Hindu, Jain and Buddhist religions. It is placed at the beginning of most Hindu texts as a sacred exclamation to be uttered at the beginning and end of a reading of the Vedas or previously to any prayer or mantra and also is said in the beginning of any puja (religious ritual). The Mandukya Upanishad is entirely devoted to the explanation of the syllable.” Wikipedia
A few more important terms with detailed expositions follow.