Classical text of Patanjali on yoga.

lit. "union" or "communion." From the root "yuj," which means "to yoke" or "to harness." A term widely used today to describe a Hindu spiritual discipline of self-realization and the union of individual will to the will of God.

lit. the "flying up lock," being the abdominal lock, a pose used in hatha yoga. In practice, the diaphragm and all the abdominal organs beneath it, down to the sexual organs, are lifted, so that they "fly up' toward the thoracic cavity.

lit. "obeisance to the sun." Sun salutations, a series of flowing yoga poses.

Known in Sanskrit as sukshma-sharira, the subtle body is the psychomental aspect of the human body that exists independent of the physical, or gross body, and is often considered to survive the death of the physical body and is involved in the process of rebirth and eternal life.

lit. "auspicious," "favorable," "benign," or "benevolent." The yang, or masculine, aspect of divine creative expression, which in yoga is considered to reside at the crown of the head, in the sahasrara chakra. Also, the Destroyer God; the Third Person of the Hindu Trinity, the other two being Brahma and Vishnu.

Peace.

lit. "power," "ability," "strength," or "energy." The feminine aspect of divine creative expression, which in yoga is considered to reside at the base of the spine, in muladhara chakra.

Truth.

The ancient sacred language of the Aryans. The sanskrit language possesses voluminous and valuable works in prose and in verse, some of which, like the Vedas, date back, in the opinion of certain scholars, to the year 30,000 BC or even far beyond.

The world of change and becoming; the relative world.

lit. "putting together" or "joining or combining with," hence, a state of "oneness" related to feelings of absorption, bliss, ecstasy, trance, complete concentration, and communion with God.

Yogic control of the breath.

lit. "vital air." From the root word "pran," which means "to breathe." Vital energy. Prana in the human body moves in the pranamaya kosha as five primary life currents known as vayus, "vital airs or winds."

lit. "possessed of reverence." A Saivite Natha siddha who lived sometime between about 200 B.C.E. and 200 C.E., but the exact date is unknown. Patanjali traveled throughout much of India, studying and analyzing what different practitioners and teachers were doing under the name of "yoga" and then codified the ancient yoga philosophy that outlines the path to enlightenment through purification, control, and transcendence of the mind.

An Indian greeting simply translated "I bow to the divine in you"; from the root words: Namas - bow, reverential salutation (from "Nam" -humbly submitting) Te - to you, acknowledging the divine presence in another. Traditionally said while bringing the palms together at the heart in prayer position and lightly bowing the head and shoulders.

lit. "instrument of thought." A prayer or song of praise; a mystical verse or magical formula used to invoke a deity or to acquire a divine power. Commonly used to refer to any word, phrase, or prayer used for meditation.

lit. "action" or "deed." Karma refers to 1) any act or deed; 2) the principle of cause and effect; 3) a consequence or "fruit of action."

One who has found spiritual freedom while still living in the flesh.

Spiritual liberation. Jiva means "life," and mukta means "liberation." Jiva-mukta therefore, means to be spiritually liberated while still living in a mortal body.

Living being or life. The individual soul, which in essence is one with the Universal Soul.

lit. "pure seeing."

Nerve centers, or "wheels" of energy, located along the spine and considered a part of the subtle body.

Yoga poses or postures.

Pilates exercises ask the body to fully and completely inhale oxygen into the lungs and to fully and completely empty the lungs on an exhale. This breath work ensures the maximum amount of oxygen gets to the blood, the muscles, the joints, the cells of the body, and the maximum amount of toxins are released. 

Deep, robust breathing and flowing movement of your body require your heart to pump more blood more efficiently thus increasing your blood flow to all body parts, especially your brain.

Through every Pilates exercise your spinal bones are asked to levitate off one another, to be more spacious, to leave room for spongy, healthy vertebral discs. Joints are opened and closed repeatedly increasing range of motion, blood flow and nutrient intake. Healthy joints and a healthy spine are critical to your happiness and physical well being.

Visualize in your mind your body being pulled apart. Stretch your legs away from your pelvis. At the same time, imagine your pelvis pulling away from your legs. You are creating opposition. 

Pilates exercises incorporate movement of the whole body, not just pieces of the body. Movement is meant to be graceful, natural. 

The true core, however, is multi-layered and spans the distance from the pubic bone to the solar plexus in front and in back on the body as well as side to side.