Assam ASSEB HSLC Elective Yoga & Physical Education key terms

A disciplined practice of body, breath and mind originating in India, aimed at calming mental fluctuations and uniting individual awareness with a larger reality. Classical texts define it as both a state and the methods leading to it.

Compiler of the Yoga Sutras, the foundational Sanskrit text of classical yoga. He systematised yoga into eight limbs and defined its goal as stilling the modifications of the mind through practice and detachment.

The second sutra's definition of yoga: the stilling or restraint of the fluctuating patterns of the mind. Vrittis include correct knowledge, wrong knowledge, imagination, sleep and memory, which yoga aims to quiet.

Patanjali's eight-limbed path: yama, niyama, asana, pranayama, pratyahara, dharana, dhyana and samadhi. The first four are external aids; the last four are internal, progressively deepening concentration toward absorption.

The first limb of Ashtanga yoga: five social restraints guiding conduct toward others. They are ahimsa, satya, asteya, brahmacharya and aparigraha, forming the ethical base on which the remaining limbs rest.

The second limb: five personal observances cultivating inner discipline. They are shaucha, santosha, tapas, svadhyaya and ishvarapranidhana, covering cleanliness, contentment, austerity, self-study and surrender to a higher principle.

The yama of non-violence: refraining from harm in thought, word and deed toward all beings. In practice it includes gentleness in speech, diet and asana practice, avoiding force that injures body or mind.

A branch emphasising physical techniques to purify and strengthen the body as a base for meditation. Its classical manuals describe asana, pranayama, mudra, bandha and shatkarma, with balance of solar and lunar energies.

The royal path of meditation and mental control, closely identified with Patanjali's eight limbs. It proceeds from ethical restraint through concentration to samadhi, treating mind mastery as the direct route to liberation.

The path of selfless action: performing duty without attachment to results. By offering outcomes to a higher purpose, the practitioner reduces ego-driven craving and keeps the mind steady amid success and failure.

The path of devotion, channelling emotion into love for the divine through prayer, chanting and surrender. Intense feeling is directed to one chosen ideal, which dissolves self-centred tendencies and steadies the mind.

The path of knowledge and discrimination, using inquiry to distinguish the unchanging witness from body, thoughts and personality. It suits reflective practitioners and relies on sustained self-questioning and study of texts.

A steady, comfortable physical posture held with awareness. Patanjali defines it by steadiness and ease, achieved through relaxation of effort, while Hatha texts describe many postures for health and purification.

Patanjali's formula for posture: firm and stable yet comfortable and at ease. It implies balanced effort without strain, with attention on breath and relaxation so the body can remain still for meditation.

A flowing sequence of linked postures saluting the sun, moving with the breath through forward bends, lunges and backbends. It warms the body, mobilises joints and can serve as a complete short practice.

A condition or situation in which a posture, breathing technique or exercise should be avoided or modified because it may cause harm. Teachers screen for pregnancy, high blood pressure, injury and recent surgery before instructing.

Regulation of the breath and thereby of vital energy, the fourth limb of Ashtanga yoga. Techniques include puraka (inhalation), rechaka (exhalation) and kumbhaka (retention), practised with attention to ratio and comfort.

Breath retention, either after inhalation or after exhalation, used in pranayama to deepen concentration. It is advanced practice and generally taught only after natural breath control is established, with caution in heart and blood pressure conditions.

Alternate-nostril breathing that balances the flow of the two nostrils. It calms the nervous system, improves concentration and is often used before meditation; it is generally safe for most healthy practitioners.

A gesture or seal, using hand positions or whole-body attitudes, that directs and retains energy during practice. Hand mudras accompany pranayama and meditation, while Hatha texts describe body seals such as maha mudra.

A lock, an internal muscular seal applied during breath work to contain and redirect energy. The main three are jalandhara at the throat, uddiyana in the abdomen and mula at the pelvic floor; they require expert guidance.

Six classical purification procedures in Hatha yoga: neti, dhauti, nauli, basti, kapalabhati and trataka. They cleanse internal passages and are described as preliminary aids, to be learned from a qualified teacher.

A cleansing and concentration practice of gazing steadily at a small object or flame, then closing the eyes to hold the after-image. It strengthens focus and is one of the six shatkarma, but is avoided by those with eye disorders.

The fifth limb: withdrawal of the senses from external objects, turning attention inward. It forms the bridge from outer practices to inner concentration, arising naturally when breath and senses settle.

The sixth limb: sustained concentration, fixing attention on a single object, breath or mantra. It precedes effortless meditation and is trained by repeatedly returning attention when it wanders.

The seventh limb: meditation proper, an unbroken flow of attention on the chosen object without distraction. It differs from dharana in continuity and effortlessness, arising when concentration is sustained.

The eighth limb: complete absorption in which subject and object merge and self-consciousness drops away. It is the culmination of the eightfold path, described in progressive stages of deepening stillness.

A guided lying relaxation and awareness practice, sometimes called yogic sleep. It systematically rotates attention through the body and breath while remaining awake, promoting deep rest and reducing stress and anxiety.

The supine corpse pose of complete relaxation, taken at the end of practice. Lying still with relaxed limbs and natural breath lets the nervous system settle and integrates the effects of preceding postures.

The use of techniques such as relaxation, breathing, exercise and time planning to reduce the harmful effects of prolonged pressure. Yoga practices lower arousal and improve coping, sleep and emotional balance.

An educational process using planned physical activity to develop fitness, movement skill, knowledge and social values. It covers games, gymnastics, athletics, health education and first aid within a school curriculum.

The ability to carry out daily tasks with vigour and alertness, without undue fatigue, leaving energy for leisure and emergencies. It has health-related and skill-related components, each measurable by standard tests.

The ability of the heart, lungs and blood vessels to supply oxygen to working muscles during sustained activity. It is developed by aerobic training and measured by tests such as the 12-minute run or shuttle run.

The range of motion available at a joint or group of joints. It depends on muscle, tendon and joint structure and is developed by stretching, improving posture and reducing injury risk in sport and daily movement.

A training principle stating that load must gradually increase beyond accustomed levels for improvement to continue. Increases in frequency, intensity or duration are applied in small steps to avoid injury and overtraining.

A preparatory phase of light activity and mobility work before exercise. It raises muscle temperature and blood flow, improves range of motion and reduces injury risk, and is followed by a cool-down after training.

Activity of moderate intensity sustained long enough for oxygen supply to meet demand, such as jogging or cycling. It strengthens the heart and lungs and improves endurance, and is a mainstay of fitness programmes.

Immediate, temporary care given to an injured or suddenly ill person before professional help arrives. It includes assessing the scene, checking airway, breathing and circulation, controlling bleeding and calling emergency services.

Planned teaching about health knowledge, attitudes and practices so people can protect and improve their wellbeing. In schools it covers hygiene, nutrition, disease prevention, safety and substance abuse awareness.

The study of psychological factors affecting participation and performance in sport and exercise. It covers motivation, arousal, anxiety, concentration, confidence and team dynamics, and trains mental skills for athletes.