Yoga has evoked various reactions from Americans, not all of them positive. 

Much of the difficulty in introducing an Eastern tradition into Western culture is language.

Traditional terminology, with its inherent reflection of Eastern philosophy, can sound like jargon to the Western ear.  Using such unfamiliar language to entice Americans to embrace Yoga is counter-productive.  The words themselves create negative reactions from the majority of Westerners.

It is not a matter of understanding.  It is more likely to be a reaction to jargonism.  While most any Westerner understands the literal meaning of phrases such as 'blocked energy' or 'universal consciousness', no one likes to be forced into communicating using another's belief system jargon.

Western proponents of Yoga could make a conscious effort to avoid such language completely.  This however carries its own major drawbacks.  While such effort might avoid some defensive reactions, it also strips Yoga of its history and theological implications.  The richness of Yoga's potential is literally lost in translation.

This page offers a dictionary of sorts.  This is an attempt to offer substitute definitions that are more likely to resonate with Westerners like you and me.

Now perhaps, when a Yogi waxes eloquent about "Karma purification of consciousness through ego removal and universal postures of the mind and body", you will have the option of interpreting this to mean "becoming a better person by using mental and physical exercises."

I found this glossary to be surprisingly interesting and entertaining to compile.  I sincerely hope it helps you try Yoga and accept the benefits it offers.

If you would like to see traditional definitions of these and many more Yoga-related words and phrases, you will apreciate the work done by Robert L. Wisehart:

Sanskrit Glossary

Takibi Yoga
4550 San Pablo Ave
Suite D, 2nd Floor
Emeryville, CA
510-652-4000
info@takibiyoga

Ashram = A yoga school or center.  Reference is to monastic-like religious centers rather than instructional exercise facilities

AUM (OM) = word or sound used to facilitate meditation

Brahma = Hindu God who created the universe

Brahman (Brahmin) = priest

Blocked energy = pinched nerves - cramped muscles

Chakra = traditional nerve system hubs in the human body

Dharana = concentration, firmness of mind

Hatha / Hatha Yoga = style of Yoga tending toward aesthetic practices

Karma = law of cause and effect - "what goes around comes around"

Laya Yoga = variant of Yoga

Mantra = meditation chant

OM (AUM) = word or sound used to facilitate mediation

OM Mani Padme Hum = mediation chant

Shiva (Siva) = Hindu God - patron of Yoga

Singularity = modern reference from Quantum Mechanics to Yoga theory of interconnectedness

So ham = meditation chant

Sutras = Short 'rules' of Yoga theory and tradition stated so as to be easily committed to memory

Takibi = Bonfire

Tapas = NOT small dishes of Spanish food - in Yoga, refers to heat generated by physical/spiritual practices

Tantra = Yin-Yang - male-female - refers to the opposing impulses within us

Tantra Yoga = more sensual branch of Yoga practice

Vidya = knowledge, wisdom or science

Vishnu = Hindu god - introduced life to earth - created living things

Yama = to hold back - control

Yama (as a proper noun) = the god of death

Yogi = instructor, teacher (or more traditional usage, any Yoga practitioner)

Yoni = the source - womb