Introduction

Here you can quickly assess your knowledge of yoga teaching vocabulary, and identify gaps in your understanding.

We’ve compiled a comprehensive vocabulary list, plus a list of common Sanskrit components that make up pose names.
The vocabulary list includes terminology from anatomy, science, psychology and medicine that address the same subjects as yoga. For example, “reciprocal inhibition” is a physiology term directly related to teaching asana. The Higgs Field is a scientific term that equates to the aether in yoga philosophy. Terms such as “core belief” and “cognitive bias” from psychology address the same subject as vikalpa in yoga philosophy. And so on. Awareness of such terminology increases a teacher’s capability of connecting dots from multiple modalities, speaking students’ language, and modernizing or interpreting teachings for various audiences.
For briefer quizzes by subject, see the other self-assessments.

We offer a series of free quizzes for yoga teachers to:

Make it easy to self-assess knowledge privately.
Help teachers who identify knowledge gaps to bolster their learning with accessible and practical lessons.

For more free self-assessments, see the Standards & Self-Assessment Hub.

Quotes indicate the word is in Sanskrit. Links go to the related Member lessons and teaching support.

Sanskrit Components in Pose Names

To view more self-assessments, go to the Standards & Self-Assessment Hub.
To bolster your knowledge and be recognized as a YTC teacher, enroll in the Yoga Teacher Central Pre-Certification Study Program (details below).
Members, view this clear and concise resource:

The enrollment fee is $25 and is open to Yoga Teacher Central members, past members and non-members.
Members receive current membership benefits plus additional benefits listed below.
Enrollment in the Pre-Certification Study Program qualifies you for lifetime YTC Teacher status.

Enrolling in the YTC Pre-Certification Study Program gives you:

A downloadable Knowledge Standards Lesson Guide to walk you through a structured assessment and study path toward certification.
Selection of 5 Downloadable Lessons of your choice (from a library of nearly 400) for lifetime use.
Recognition as a YTC Teacher (for life; no expiration).
Professional marketing kit for highlighting your YTC Teacher status on social media and your website.*

Your current membership gives you online access to not only thousands of pages of organized study and teaching knowledge, but also sequence breakdowns and teaching notes, theme plans, injury cheat-sheets, and so on.
When you enroll in the Pre-Certification Study Program, you get these additional benefits: a Knowledge Standards Lesson Guide, selection of 5 Downloadable Lessons of your choice, and a professional marketing kit for highlighting your YTC Teacher status on social media and your website.

* In the future, YTC Teachers will have an option to matriculate and achieve certification status via low cost, in-home examination.