Traditional Sanskrit scholars use synonyms, rather than dictionaries, as a primary method for expressing the broader meaning of words. Pattabhi Jois spoke about having memorized the Amarakosha (a book of Sanskrit synonyms) from his father as part of his basic traditional education when he was a child. I learned some of the following seven synonyms for yoga from Pattabhi Jois' book, Yoga Mala, and some I learned from my Yoga Sutras studies.
Saṁgati: Union, joining or yoking. The saṁgati of yoga can be understood several different ways. It can be the removal of the disconnect between our mind and body that is then experienced as a sense of unity or harmony. It can be a sense of connectedness to something other than ourselves such as a loved one, our environment or God, our creator. Another meaning of saṁgati is to join our attention to the very thing we are focused on doing (cf. dhāraṇā, dhyāna, samādhi and saṁyama YS 3.01-3.04).
Upāya: A tool, method or remedy. Yoga is the method for developing the capacities of our body-mind system (sṛṣṭi). It is also the tool for maintaining health for a more functional life (rakṣaṇa). It is a remedy for resolving imbalances in our body-mind system (cikitsā). It is the process of studying ourselves and the world (śikṣaṇa). It can be a process of overcoming our self-created mental sufferings and relationship with God (ādhyātmika). It can also lead to having a spiritually healing presence (śakti).
Dhyāna: Meditative. A state of balance between our intellect, our perception, and our intuitive receptivity (cf. YS 1.39, 2.11 & 4.06).
Saṁnahana: Protection. Yoga increases mental fortitude as well as physical vitality and protects us against diseases of the body and mind.
Yukti: Adaptive intelligence, skill in action or spontaneous response. Yoga transcends reliance on memorized rules. It transcends our ideas of good and bad, right and wrong. From yoga we respond appropriately in any situation.
Sambandha: Healthy Relationship: yogaḥ sat-sambandhaḥ. We are constantly in relationship with everything around us (body, family, work, memories, etc). The effect flows both ways. We affect our surroundings, and our surroundings affect us. Yoga mindfully navigates the inter-relationship with our surroundings to foster healthy relationships.
Jñāna: Knowledge. Yoga is the knowledge arising from an unadulterated mind (cf. dhyāna above) aware of its surroundings (cf. sambandha above).
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