Key Sanskrit Names for Yoga Poses

If you've attend some of my classes (or any teacher for that matter!) you might be confused about some of the Sanskrit names that we use for poses. After being requested by one of my students in our "Yoga for Absolute Beginners Class", I wanted to put together quick guide to Sanskrit terms, how you can get to learn them and some of the key poses as a quick reference guide.

Disclaimer: Different schools of yoga call poses different names, so depending on who your teacher has trained with, it may mean that the poses are a different name in English. E.g. "Mountain Pose" some schools refer to this as "Tadasana" others "Parvatasana".

A brief History of Sanskrit

Sanskrit is an incredible language steeped in history. Believe it or not, Sanskrit, is actually older than Greek or Latin. Sanskrit was passed down orally for generations, the first written recording of Sanskrit was in the Rigveda, the first of the four vedas, in 1,500BC.

Some English words also have their roots in Sanskrit, for example, Navasana (boat pose) is related to "Navy".

Pronunciation

It is important to get the pronunciation correct with Sankrit names, the bonus that we have is once you get the hang of the sounds, it's much easier than learning a modern language. The modern Sanskrit alphabet has 50 different letters, each with their own specific sound. It makes life a lot easier, compared to English where, lets face it, our language is difficult. We have plenty of words that are spelt the same but sound different, for example tear (rip) and tear (cry), live (to live) and live (live music), wind (the weather) and wind (wind up). On top of that, words that look like they should rhyme, but don't, for example, cough and dough, heard and beard, great and threat. It's crazy when you think about it. Luckily with sanskrit, we don't have this issue.

Breaking Down the Words

Each part of a word has a meaning. You will regularly hear the same words, or part of words repeated in different poses. Things like "Hasta" (hand) or "Pada" (foot) and of course "asana" (posture). You'll start to recognise some of these words so it will make it easier to remember even more of the poses!

Here are a couple of examples:

Utthita Parsvakonasana = Extended Side Angle Pose

utthita = extended

parsva = side

kona = angle

asana = posture

Supta Baddha Konasana = Reclined Bound Angle Pose

supta = reclined

baddha = bound

kona = angle

asana = posture

Padangusthasana = Big Toe Pose

pada = foot

angusta = thumb

asana = pose

Other poses are named after the animals they represent. for example Bhujangasana, Bhujang = Cobra, hence cobra pose. See it's not that scary!

Here are a few key words that you will hear regularly:

• Ardha = Half

• pada = foot

• hasta = hand

• Supta = reclined/supine

• utthita = extended

• parivrtta = revolved/twisted

Now here are a few key poses that you will regularly come across in yoga classes, along with the English and sanskrit names just to get you started. Just keep attending classes and it will soon sink in! Even ask your teacher to only say names in Sanskrit to really test your knowledge and help them sink in.

Standing

• Trikonasana = Triangle Pose

• Adho Mukha Svanasana = Downward Facing Dog Pose

• Uttanasana = Standing forward fold

• Utthita Parsvakonasana = Extended Side Angle Pose

• Padangusthasana = Extended Big Toe Pose

• Vrksasana = Tree Pose

• Parsvottanasana = Pyramid pose

• Prasarita Padottanasa = Standing wide legged forward fold

• Virabadrasana I/II/III = Warrior 1/2/3

Seated

• Padmasana = Lotus Pose

• Ardha Padmasana = Half Lotus Pose

• Paschimottanasana = Seated forward fold

• Gomukhasana = Cow Face Pose

• Ardha Matsyendrasana = Half Matsyendra’s Pose

• Navasana (Boat Pose)

Prone

• Salabasana = Locust Pose

• Bhujangasana = Cobra Pose

• Makrasana = Crocodile Pose

• Salamba Bhujangasana = Sphinx Pose

• Dhanurasana = Bow Pose

• Urdhva mukha Svanasana = Upward Facing Dog

Reclined/Supine

• Supta Baddhakonasana = Supine Bound Angle Pose

• Matsyasana = Fish Pose

• Ananda Balasana = Happy Baby

• Halasana = Plough Pose

• Jathara Parivartanasana = Reclined Twist

• Setu Bandasana = Bridge Pose

• Shavasana = Corpse Pose

If you are looking for more information, we have a weekly Yoga Philosophy class where you can come and explore more about the history of yoga and ask as many questions about sanskrit as you desire!