Deltoids
The cap muscles of the shoulders — they lift the arms in every direction.
From the Practice Library · Study reference
Yoga Glossary
Every term the quiz and the anatomy reference use — all 58 of them — explained the yoga way: what it is, what it does in practice, and the poses that engage or lengthen it. Built for teacher-training students who meet these words in class and want them in plain language, one tap from wherever they appear.
No term matches that — try a muscle, a breath technique, or a chakra name.
Muscles
Serratus anterior
The finger-like muscle along the side ribs that anchors the shoulder blades to the torso.
Pectoralis major & minor
The chest muscles — they draw the arms forward and in, and open up in backbends and binds.
Latissimus dorsi
The broad back muscles that pull the arms down and back and lengthen in folds and Child's Pose.
Trapezius
The kite-shaped muscle of the upper back and neck that positions the shoulder blades.
Rhomboids
Small muscles between the spine and shoulder blades that draw the blades together.
Rotator cuff
Four small shoulder muscles that keep the ball of the arm bone centered in its socket.
Erector spinae
The paired columns of muscle along the spine that hold you upright and create backbends.
Transversus abdominis
The deepest abdominal layer — a built-in corset that steadies the spine and pelvis.
Rectus abdominis
The front abdominal muscle that flexes the trunk — the classic crunch muscle.
Obliques
The diagonal side-abdominal muscles that rotate and side-bend the trunk.
Intercostals
The small muscles between the ribs that lift and open the ribcage as you breathe.
Diaphragm
The dome-shaped main muscle of breathing, sitting under the ribs.
Pelvic floor
The muscular sling at the base of the pelvis — the floor of the core and the root of Mula Bandha.
Hip flexors (iliopsoas)
The deep muscles that lift the thigh toward the torso — and pull tight from hours of sitting.
Gluteus maximus
The largest muscle in the body — the main engine of hip extension and a backbend stabilizer.
Gluteus medius
The side-hip muscle that keeps the pelvis level whenever you stand on one leg.
Quadriceps
The front-thigh muscles that straighten the knee — the burn in Chair and the Warriors.
Hamstrings
The back-thigh muscles that bend the knee and extend the hip — the limit in most forward folds.
Adductors (inner thighs)
The inner-thigh muscles that draw the legs toward each other and steady the pelvis.
Calves (gastrocnemius & soleus)
The back-of-lower-leg muscles that point the toes and anchor balance — stretched hard in Down Dog.
Tibialis anterior
The shin muscle that lifts the front of the foot — the dorsiflexor that balances the calves.
Triceps brachii
The back-of-arm muscle that straightens the elbow — half the engine of Chaturanga.
Biceps brachii
The front-of-arm muscle that bends the elbow — the triceps' partner across the joint.
Wrist & finger flexors
The forearm muscles that curl the fingers and flex the wrist — your grip on the mat.
Intrinsic foot muscles
The small muscles inside the foot that build the arches and grip the mat.
Deep external rotators (piriformis)
Six small muscles deep in the buttock that turn the thigh outward — stretched in Pigeon.
Joint Actions
Flexion
Closing a joint angle — bending, as the knee bends or the spine rounds forward.
Extension
Opening a joint angle — straightening, as the knee straightens or the spine arches.
Abduction
Moving a limb away from the body's midline — the leg stepping wide, the arm lifting sideways.
Adduction
Moving a limb toward the body's midline — thighs hugging together, arms crossing in front.
External rotation
Rotating a limb outward, away from the midline — the thigh turning out in Warrior II.
Internal rotation
Rotating a limb inward, toward the midline — the subtle partner of turnout.
Lateral flexion (side bending)
Bending the trunk sideways — one side shortens, the other side lengthens.
Spinal rotation (twisting)
Turning the trunk around its vertical axis — the action behind every twist pose.
Dorsiflexion
Drawing the toes toward the shin — the ankle action that stretches the calves in Down Dog.
Plantarflexion
Pointing the foot — pressing through the toes like a dancer or a swimmer's kick.
Breath & Energy
Ujjayi (ocean breath)
The softly constricted 'ocean' breath that paces a vinyasa practice.
Pranayama
The yogic discipline of breath regulation — working with the breath on purpose.
Bandha (energy locks)
Internal 'locks' — coordinated muscle engagements that direct breath and pressure in the body.
Mula Bandha (root lock)
The root lock — a gentle lift of the pelvic floor that grounds the core from below.
Uddiyana Bandha (abdominal lock)
The abdominal lock — navel drawn in and up, creating the deep-core brace of practice.
Jalandhara Bandha (throat lock)
The throat lock — chin drawing toward the chest to seal the top of the trunk.
Nadi Shodhana (alternate-nostril breathing)
Alternate-nostril breathing — a slow, balancing pranayama for a scattered mind.
Kapalabhati (skull-shining breath)
A brisk, energizing breath: sharp exhales pumped by the belly, passive inhales.
Three-part breath (Dirga)
Filling the lungs in three stages — belly, ribs, chest — then emptying in reverse.
Drishti (focal point)
The steady gazing point that anchors attention — and makes balance possible.
Sankalpa (intention)
A short, heartfelt intention set at the start of practice — a resolve, not a goal list.
Chakras
Root Chakra (Muladhara)
The first chakra, at the base of the spine — grounding, stability, belonging. Element: earth.
Sacral Chakra (Svadhisthana)
The second chakra, at the sacrum and pelvis — fluidity, creativity, feeling. Element: water.
Solar Plexus Chakra (Manipura)
The third chakra, at the navel — fire, willpower, personal power. Element: fire.
Heart Chakra (Anahata)
The fourth chakra, at the center of the chest — love, openness, connection. Element: air.
Throat Chakra (Vishuddha)
The fifth chakra, at the throat — expression, truth, and the voice. Element: ether (space).
Third Eye Chakra (Ajna)
The sixth chakra, between the eyebrows — insight, intuition, inner seeing. Element: light.
Crown Chakra (Sahasrara)
The seventh chakra, at the crown of the head — connection, unity, quiet. Element: thought/consciousness.
Foundations
Fascia
The body's continuous web of connective tissue, wrapping every muscle, bone and organ.
Ligaments & Tendons
Tendons connect muscle to bone and move joints; ligaments connect bone to bone and guard them.
Proprioception
The body's position sense — knowing where your limbs are without looking at them.
Not a term: Sun Salutation
Surya Namaskar is a sequence, not a single concept — Mountain, fold, Plank, Chaturanga, Up Dog, Down Dog and the lunges, linked by breath. Each of its poses has its own anatomy card in Pose Anatomy.
The Yoga Glossary is an educational study reference, not medical advice.