Yoga, a meditative practice that unifies the mind and body. Do you think you’re a certified yogi or meditative neophyte? Take these 35 Yoga Quiz Questions and Answers to know how much you really know about this ancient Hindu tradition.
Yoga Quiz Questions and Answers
1. The word “yoga” is derived from a Sanskrit word meaning what?
A. Spirit
B. Union
C. Posture
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”Yoga” literally means union, referring to the union between body and mind.
2. What is not one principle taught in yoga?
A. Proper exercise
B. Relaxation
C. Strength
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Strength is not a principle taught in yoga. The main five are: proper exercise, breathing, relaxation, diet, and meditation.
3. Which country does yoga originate from?
A. Bangladesh
B. Thailand
C. India
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Yoga comes from ancient India, and is thought to have developed at around the 5th century BCE.
4. There are eight stages of training for a yogi. What is the final stage (apart from ‘moksha’)?
A. Samadhi
B. Niyama
C. Pratyahara
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The final stage of ‘ashtanga,’ a form of yoga, is samadhi. Samadhi focuses on the separation of the practitioner’s mind from their body.
5. What does ‘hatha’ mean?
A. Sun and Moon
B. Fire and Water
C. Light and Dark
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’Hatha’ means Sun and Moon, and refers to the unification of two vastly-different forces.
6. What is chakra?
A. Energy center
B. Prayer point
C. Karma
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Chakra is an energy center, or to be straightforward, it is a focal point of energy.
7. How many chakras are in the human body?
A. Seven
B. Three
C. Twenty-five
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There are seven chakras in the human body — Muladhara, Svadhishthana, Sahasrara, Ajna, Manipura, Vishuddha, and Anahata.
8. What does ‘namaste’ mean?
A. “Salutations to you”
B. “Have a good day”
C. “Thank you”
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’Namaste’ literally means ‘salutations to you.’
9. What is a yogi?
A. A yoga instructor
B. A yoga learner
C. The highest title given to a performer of yoga
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Yogi refers to a yoga instructor.
10. There are twenty-six postures that make up Bikram Yoga. Which of these is not one of those postures?
A. Cobra Pose
B. Tree Pose
C. Sun Salutation Pose
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Sun Salutation is not the name of a Bikram Yoga posture. It is, however, a collection of postures.
11. Where is Kundalini located?
A. the base of the spine
B. the brain
C. the whole body
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Kundalini, which is in Hinduism a form of primal energy, is said to be located at the base of the spine.
12. What is not one way to awaken Kundalini, according to hatha yoga?
A. Kumbhaka
B. Mula Bandha
C. Samaveda
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Samaveda is not a method of awakening Kundalini. It is, however, the Veda of melodies and chants.
13. What is the system of nerves that connects chakras and is where energy flows through?
A. Nadi
B. Ramayana
C. Upanishad
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Nadi is the term used to refer to the nerves that energy flows through, and connects at special points of intensity called chakras.
14. Kundalini comes from the term “Kunda” which is a cavity for what particular animal?
A. Snake
B. Bear
C. Eagle
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The serpent, or snake, can be found in the pelvic area, and is where the power of Shakti is represented.
15. Which chakra signifies the process of enlightenment?
A. 3rd
B. 5th
C. 7th
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The 7th chakra, known as Sahasrara, signifies the process of enlightenment in a person.
16. What is the true meaning of yoga?
A. Spiritual union
B. Attaining freedom
C. Physical health
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Yoga is not accurately represented in Western culture. Returning back to the very first question, yoga does not mean physical health; it means spiritual union — or the union between body and mind.
17. Which of the following terms means freedom?
A. Mukti
B. Dharma
C. Vedas
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Real freedom is freedom from all bondage and desire, which is referred to as mukti.
18. Which word refers to the duty of a person to maintain harmony in the world?
A. Dharma
B. Vedas
C. Karma
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The personal duty to maintain harmony in the world, taught by the wise Gautama Buddha, is known as dharma.
19. The repetition of a holy mantra or phrase is known as what?
A. Japa
B. Jeyn
C. Jati
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Japa, or the repetition of a holy phrase and the pondering of it, is thought to be one of the best ways to gain purity.
20. What is the term used for ignorance?
A. Maya
B. Samadhi
C. Daetin
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Maya refers to the veil of ignorance covering the truth.
21. What are the Yamas?
A. Moral and ethical rules or goals
B. The holy scriptures of Hinduism
C. Occult or psychic powers
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The Yamas are moral and ethical rules/goals set upon a person to commit to. The five aspects are: non-violence, truthfulness, non-stealing, bodily continence, and non-attachment to worldly possessions.
22. Where is the fourth chakra located?
A. Heart
B. Brain
C. Spine
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The fourth chakra, or Anahata, is also known as the heart chakra.
23. Which type of yoga focuses primarily on exercise and physical techniques?
A. Hatha yoga
B. Jnana yoga
C. Raja yoga
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Hatha yoga focuses primarily on exercise and physical techniques, and is most closely associated with the Western world’s interpretation of yoga.
24. Which of these is not the name of one of the seven chakras?
A. Muladhara
B. Rudra
C. Ajna
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Rudra is not the name of one of the seven tantric chakras, but is instead the Rigvedic deity of wind, storm, and the hunt.
25. What would not be helpful to do when meditating?
A. Think of problems
B. Picture a peaceful place
C. Concentrate on a color
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Thinking about your problems won’t help with your meditation. It would only serve to hinder.
26. What are the three things you need for a session of Bikram yoga?
A. Mat / Book / Music
B. Mat / Towel / Water
C. Mat / Incense / Coffee
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The three essentials for a session of Bikram yoga is a mat, a towel, and some water.
27. What is one of the most important objectives during yoga?
A. Correct breathing
B. Physical strength
C. Flexibility
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One of the most important objectives during yoga is having proper breathing techniques.
28. Bikram yoga is a form of what type of yoga?
A. Hot yoga
B. Forrest yoga
C. Hatha yoga
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Bikram yoga is a form of hot yoga, which means that it is performed under extremely hot conditions.
29. In what state of what country was the founder of Bikram yoga born?
A. West Bengal, India
B. Jharkhand, India
C. Andhra Pradesh, India
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Bikram Choudhury, the founder of Bikram yoga, was born in West Bengal, India.
30. What is not one of the four main types of yoga?
A. Forrest yoga
B. Bhakti yoga
C. Karma yoga
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”Forrest yoga” is not one of the four primary types of yoga. It is a form of hatha yoga.
31. Which of the following is the ‘guna’ of passion?
A. Sattva
B. Rajas
C. Tamas
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Rajas is the ‘guna’ of passion. Sattva is of balance, while Tamas is of disorder.
32. Which of these, according to Yoga philosophy, is a state of consciousness of neither wake nor sleep?
A. Turiya
B. Atman
C. Pranee
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Turiya, is a state of neither wake nor sleep, and is known as a state of pure consciousness.
33. Based upon Yoga philosophy, which of these are the two entities that make up the universe?
A. Prakrti & Purusa
B. Shiva & Dharma
C. Veda & Virne
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The two entities that make up the universe are Prakrti and Purusa.
34. What are Granthi knots?
A. The first 3 composite chakras
B. The eye of Brahma
C. The knots of Nadi
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Granthi knots refer to the first 3 composite chakras.
35. What is the practice in Kundalini where the meditator exits his physical form and enters some sort of astral state called?
A. Siva’s breathing
B. Brahman’s gate
C. Death’s sleep
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The Kundalini practice is called Brahman’s gate.
Did you have fun taking these 35 Yoga Quiz Questions and Answers? Would you like to know about Natural Disasters? Well, if so, click here to see if you can tell the difference between Saffir-Simpson and Homer Simpson with our previous quiz.
