| Term | Meaning or definition as related to yoga in Sanskrit or another language. |
| Pada | foot; section of a literary work.
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| Padangustasana | Toe Stand Pose, often used in Bikram Yoga.
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| Padmasana | lotus pose - a seated meditative posture, "lotus posture", sitting position in which each foot rests on opposite thigh.
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| Pancha makara | the five tantric practices : mansa(meat), madhya(wine), matsya(fish), mudra(grain), and maithuna(sexual intercourse).
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| Pancha tattwa | the five elements: earth, water, fire, air and ether.
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| Pandavas | Arjuna and his five brothers, the heroes of the Mahabharata.
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| Panini | credited as being the ancient Sanskrit grammarian.
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| Para kundalini | an experience of the rise of kundalini where the breath "vanishes".
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| Para vedha | an experience of the rise of kundalini where one feels a flow of sexual joy.
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| Param | highest, supreme, God.
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| Paramatma | the supreme atma; God.
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| Paranand | when breathing process stops.
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| Paravak | in theory of speech, the highest state where the aspirant has the ability to travel between states without varying consciousness.
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| Parichaya avastha | stage of perception of nada
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| Parigraha | collecting, grasping.
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| Parivrtta Ardha Chandrasana | Revolved Half Moon Pose.
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| Parivrtta Surya Yantrasana | Compass Pose.
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| Parsvottonasana | Pyramid Pose.
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| Parvati | one of the names of the Great Mother, consort of Shiva.
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| Paschimottanasana | back stretching pose, seated forward bend.
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| Pashmina | cloth woven from the wool of a species of goat that lives in the high Himalayas.
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| Pashupatta | dualistic thought of Shaivism, emphasis on the rituals, the disciplines, and the service toward masters.
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| Pasyanti vak | in speech theory, the state which is characterized by pure sensation without any differentiation.
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| Patanjali | author of the Yoga Sutras and preacher of the eight-fold (ashtanga) yoga, Name of the first writer of the yoga philosophy.
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| Payaswini nadi | energy channel terminating at the right big toe, between poosha and pingala channels.
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| Pavanamuktasana | Wind Removing Pose, often used in Bikram Yoga.
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| Pincha Mayurasana | Forearm Stand.
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| Pingala nadi | one of the main energy channels running on the right side of the spine from the mooladhara (base) chakra to the ajna chakra in the head by intersecting various chakras on the way.
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| Plavini pranayama | breathing technique which involves gulping air and swallowing it into the stomach and retaining it.
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| Poorna - Salabhasana | Full Locust Pose, often used in Bikram Yoga.
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| Poornima | full moon night.
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| Prakamya | fulfillment of desire.
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| Prakasha | inner light.
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| Prakriti | nature.
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| Pramana | proof
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| Prana | vital energy force sustaining life and creation, Breath, life, vitality.
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| Pranayama | technique of breathing and breath control which regulates energy flow and aims at maintaining energy balance. "Pranayama Series" Standing Deep Breathing in Bikram Yoga, The rhythmic regulation of breath.
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| Prasad | an offering usually food to and from the guru or higher power.
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| Prasarita Padottanasana | Standing Straddle Forward Bend.
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| Pratyahara | sense withdrawal, first stage of concentrating on the mind during meditation.
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| Pravritti | nature of the mind.
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| Prithvi tattwa | the earth element.
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| Purana | eighteen ancient books consisting of legends and mythological narrations dealing with creation, recreation and the genealogies of sages and rulers.
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| Purusha | pure consciousness.
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| Purushartha | purpose of the consciousness, of man's existence- the four basic needs or desires, arth, kaama, dharma, moksha. |
