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yogi

/ˈjoʊgi/
IPA guide

Other forms: yogis; yogin

In the western part of the world, a yogi is someone who practices yoga, the physical and mental discipline of meditation and body postures. Do you do sun salutations every morning? Then you're a yogi!

The word yogi comes from a Sanskrit root, yuj, which means "to join or unite." This ancient source never meant "doing yoga poses," but referred to a deeply mystical practice. In India, a yogi can be a spiritual practitioner of various kinds, but in the West, it's come to refer to someone who does physical yoga asanas, or poses with names like "cat," "cow," and "downward dog."

Definitions of yogi
  1. noun
    one who practices yoga and has achieved a high level of spiritual insight
    see moresee less
    type of:
    philosopher
    a specialist in philosophy
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