W

watsu : Shiatsu administered while the practitioner holds the client in a warm pool of water.

ward : A protection spell.

wicca : A neo-pagan reconstruction of witchcraft. Most Wiccans call themselves witches, but not all witches are necessarily Wiccan.

witch: A member of the Wicca religion. A practitioner of witchcraft. There are many types and traditions of witches. A witch is not necessarily a Wiccan, though if a Wiccan practices witchcraft they can be called a witch.

witchcraft: The practice of spells and magic, often involving the worship of deities or a god and/or goddess.

yantra yoga (Tibetan Yantra Yoga, Yantra Tibetan Yoga) : Tibetan Buddhist variation of hatha yoga. The benefits of practicing Yantra Yoga include balanced energy and spiritual development.

yin/yang : Taoist terms referring to the active and passive principles of the universe. Yin refers to the female or inactive negative force; Yang to the male or active force. These two polar forces continually interplay with each other. Both are necessary and both must be harmonized for proper function. Yin and Yang flows through the human body so that a balance is required to maintain health.

yoga (from Sanskrit meaning "discipline" ) : Yoga is an ancient philosophy of life as well as a system of exercises that encourages the union of mind, body, and spirit. The ultimate aim of yoga is to achieve a state of balance and harmony between mind and body. There is evidence that yoga was practiced as early as 5,000 years ago, although the first written description is found in the Yoga Sutras, a book from the second century B.C. The Yoga Sutras describe a multifold path to spiritual enlightenment that includes Hatha Yoga, the system of physical exercises that is most often followed by Western yoga practitioners today. The discipline of Hatha Yoga combines deep breathing, physical postures known as asanas, and meditation. Practiced widely by people of all ages, hatha yoga is often recommended for stress reduction and as a way to improve overall health and well being.

zen buddhism : A Japanese branch of Mahayana Buddhism believed to have originated in India from the teachings of a Buddhist master, Bodhidharma, about 600 BC, but traced back by advocates to the Buddha himself. Practitioners seek satori (sudden illumination enabling bliss and harmony), which cannot be explained but only experienced. Techniques include zazen (sitting meditation techniques) and koans, which are short riddles or sayings. The koans (which number about 1700) are not designed to have cognitive answers but to promote the experience of Zen.

zodiac : The band of twelve constellations along the plane of the ecliptic through which pass the sun, moon and planets across the sky. Each constellation, or sign, is attributed symbolic significance and associations that describe or affect various aspects of life on Earth.

zone therapy : reflexology