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GLOSSARY OF TERMS

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ASANAS

Pronounced AH-sah-nahs. Yoga postures. The most famous pose is the lotus position. There are thousands of other poses, each designed to strengthen and stretch the body, which removes toxins and restores balance.

BRAIN

An organ used for thinking. Not to be confused with mind. Should be rested daily.

CHAKRA

The seven chakras are energy centers that each one of us has. Through them, we absorb energy from the environment, and we interchange energy amongst ourselves. The seven major chakras are lined up in the spinal column, and each one has its specific function for your body, mind and spirit.

CHI

The Chinese word for life force energy. Can also be spelled "qi". The hindu word, Prana, refers to the very same energy. We can learn to cultivate or grow this energy within ourselves such that we increase our strength, our enjoyment, our peace and our influence.

DNA - DEOXYRIBONUCLEIC ACID

While it is commonly believed that DNA was discovered in the 1960's using a miscroscope, in fact ancient cultures knew about and recorded information on genes thousands of years ago, without the assistance of microscopes.

Shamans and ancient medicine men used natural 'hallucinogens' such as tabacco and ayahuasca to reveal the reality of life that is normally hidden: that all humans, animals, plants and even seemingly inanimate objects were 'alive' and constantly changing and similarly built. Back then, the common building blocks were depicted as divine snakes or vines in twisted pairs, which bear stunning resemblance to the double-helix used in modern DNA textbooks. Amazingly, the ancient shamans and current molecular biologists have come to the same conclusion using vastly different methods.

INTIMACY

A close relationship with others, such as with a best friend, a lover or a family member. Nearly all experts agree that intimacy is central to our existence, and that it promotes physical and psychological well-being.

Dr. Howard C. Cutler writes in The Art of Happiness: "The romantic notion of that "One Special Person" with whom we have a passionate intimate relationship is a product of our time and culture. But this model of intimacy is not universally accepted among all cultures. For instance, the Japanese seem to rely more on friendships to gain intimacy, whereas Americans seek it more romantic relationships with a boyfriend, girlfriend, or spouse. In noting this... Asians... appear to be less vulnerable to the kind of disillusionment that leads to the crumbling of relationships."

KUNDALINI

The life force energy in the body that is often compared to a snake lying coiled at the base of the spine, waiting to be awakened.

MIND

Sensation, consciousness. Not to be confused with brain.

PRANA

Same as Chi, above.

PRANAYAMA

Method of controlling prana or life force through the regulation of breathing.

TANTRA

The highest yoga. In Sanskrit, "to weave". Tantra weaves our inner energy with our outer, everyday lives. It's teachings, more than two thousand years old, were passed down by monks and yogis.

The exercises in tantra can help us to have happier lives by improving the physical state of our body. They can enhance all types of expression, from art and music to dance and martial arts. Some of them teach proper breathing methods called pranayamas.

Tantric exercises can transform our intimacy into a more fulfilling, shared experience of our feelings. Doing these exercises helps to balance the energies within us. Tantra teaches that every adult has all their natural childlike energy within them, always waiting to be activated and help us be more creative, experience love, and feel happiness.

TOXIN

Toxic substances intoxify you; they make your body toxic; they make you acidic, they burn you, they make you sick, they give you stress, and that stress creates more chemicals which perpetuates the cycle. Each toxin can corrupt many cells that it encounters anywhere in the body's sophisticated organ system. It can corrupt nerve and brain cells affecting your mood and your thoughts. It can corrupt your heart cells, lung cells, and other vital organs. It can irritate and blemish skin. It causes so much harm and it demands more of itself because it abides the universal law of attraction. Complete removal is therefore necessary for addiction recovery.

YOGA

Union. With daily practice of yoga asanas or postures, the body is purified, such that one may be joined on all three levels, body, mind and soul, and this central point joins seamlessly with nature, and with other beings.