Pose Name Study Guide: Suggestions for Sanskrit Words to Include in Teaching

Arm Pressure Pose

  • Bhujapidasana
  • boo-ja-pi-dah-sana
  • “bhuja” = arm “pida” = pressure

Boat Pose

Full Boat Pose

  • Paripurna Navasana
  • par-ee-POOR-nah nah-VAHS-anna
  • “paripurna” = full, entire, complete  “nava” = boat

Half Boat Pose

  • Ardha Navasana
  • ARE-dah-nah nah-VAHS-anna
  • “ardha” = half   “nava” = boat

Bound Angle Pose

  • Baddha Konasana
  • BAH-dah cone-AHS-anna
  • “baddha” = fixed, restrained, bound  “kona” = angle

Bow Pose

Bridge Pose

  • Setu Bandhasana
  • SET–too BAHN–dah or SAY–tuh–bahn–DHAHS–ana
  • “setu” = bridge  “bandha” = lock

Camel Pose

Child’s Pose

  • Balasana
  • bah-LAHS-anna
  • “bala” = child

Cobra Pose

Corpse Pose

  • Savasana
  • shah-VAHS-anna
  • “sava” = corpse

Cow face Pose

  • Gomukhasana
  • go-moo-KAHS-anna
  • “go” = cow  “mukha” = face

Crane (Crow) Pose

  • Bakasana
  • bahk-AHS-anna
  • “baka” = crane

Dancer (Standing Bow) Pose

  • Natarajasana
  • not-ah-ra-JAHS-anna
  • “nata” = actor, dancer, mime  “raja” = king

Downward Facing Dog Pose

  • Adho Mukha Svanasana
  • AH-do MOO-kuh shvah-NAWS-ana
  • “adho” = down  “mukha” = face  “svan” = dog

Eagle Pose

  • Garudasana
  • gah-rue-DAHS-anna
  • “Garuda” = Mythological name of the “king of birds” who transports Lord Vishnu

Easy Pose

  • Sukhasana
  • soo-KAHS-ah-nah
  • “sukha” = easy, comfortable

Equal Standing Pose

  • Samasthiti
  • “sama” = same, even or equal  “sthiti” = state, condition or stability

Extended Hand to Big Toe Pose

  • Utthita Hasta Padangusthasana
  • oo-TEET-uh-AWS-tuh POD-ung-goosh-TAWS-un-nuh
  • “utthita” = extended, stretched  “hasta” = hand  “pada” = foot  “angustha” = big toe

Extended Side Angle Pose

  • Utthita Parsvakonasana
  • oo-TEE-tah parsh-vah-cone-AHS-anna
  • “utthita” = extended  “parsva” = side, sideways, flank  “kona” = angle

Fierce (Chair or Mighty) Pose

  • Utkatasana
  • OOT-kah-TAHS-anna
  • “utkata” = powerful, fierce

Fish Pose

Forearm Balance (Feather Peacock Pose)

  • Pincha Mayurasana
  • pin-cha my-your-AHS-anna
  • “pincha” = feather   “mayura” = peacock

Four Limbed Staff (Low Push Up) Pose

  • Chaturanga Dandasana
  • chah-tur-ANGH-uh dun-DAHS-uh-nuh
  • “chartur” = four  “anga” = limb  “danda” = staff

Frog Pose

Gate Pose

  • Parighasana
  • par-ee-GOSS-anna
  • “parigha” = gate, crossbar, bar or beam for shutting gate

Half Lord of Fishes

  • Ardha Matsyendrasana
  • ARE-dah MOT-see-en-DRAHS-anna
  • “ardha” = half  “Matsyendrasana” = Lord of the Fishes*

Half Moon

  • Ardha Chandrasana
  • ARE-duh-chun-DRAHS-anna
  • “ardha” = half  “chandra” = brilliance, moon

Handstand (Downward Facing Tree Pose)

  • Adho Mukha Vrksasana
  • ah-do moo-kah vriks-SHAHS-anna
  • “adho” = downward  “mukha” = face  “vrksa” = tree

Head to Knee Pose

  • Janu Sirsasana
  • JAH-new shear-SHAHS-anna
  • “janu” = knee  “sirsa” = head

Headstand Supported

  • Salamba Sirsasana
  • sah-LOM-bah shear-SHAW-sa-nuh
  • “salamba” =  with support  “sirsa” = head

Hero Pose

  • Virasana
  • veer-AHS–ana
  • “vira” = hero, chief

Lion Pose

Locust Pose

Half Locust

  • Ardha Salabhasana
  • ARE-duh-shawl-uh-BOSS-ahna
  • “ardha” = half “salabha” = locust

Lotus Pose

Mountain Pose

  • Tadasana
  • tah-DAHS-anna
  • “tada” = mountain

Noose Pose

  • Pasasana
  • posh-AHS-anna
  • “pasa” = a snare, trap, noose, tie, bond, cord, fetter

One Leg King Pigeon

  • Eka Pada Rajakapotasana
  • aa-KAH pah-DAH rah-JAH-cop-poh-TAHS-anna
  • “eka” = one  “pada” = foot  “raja” = king  “kapota” = pigeon

Peacock Pose

Pendant Pose

  • Lolasana
  • lo-LAHS-anna
  • “lola” = dangling (like an earring), moving to and fro, tremulous, quake

Plow Pose

  • Halasana
  • ha-LAW-suh-nuh
  • “hala” = plow

Pyramid (Itense Side Stretch) Pose

  • Parsvottanasana
  • pars-VOH-tah-NAS-ahna
  • “parsva” = flank or side  “uttana” = intense stretch

Reclined Hero

  • Supta Virasana
  • soup-tah veer-AHS–ana
  • “supta” = lying down, reclining  “vira” = hero, chief

Reclined or Supine Bound Angle

  • Supta Baddha Konasana
  • SOUP-tah BAH-dah cone-NAHS-anna
  • “supta” = lying down, reclining  “baddha” = bound  “kona” = angle

Revolved Half Moon

  • Parivrtta Ardha Chandrasana
  • PAHR-ee-VREE-tah ARD-uh chan-DRAHS-uh-nuh
  • “parivrtta” = revolved  “ardha” = half  “chandra” = moon

Reclined Hand to Toe Pose

  • Supta Padangusthasana
  • soop-TAH-pod-ang-goosh-TAHS-anna
  • “supta” = reclining  “pada” = foot  “angusta” = big toe

Revolved Head to Knee

  • Parivrtta Janu Sirsasana
  • par-ee-vrt-tah-JAH-new shear-SHAHS-anna
  • “parivrtta” = revolving  “janu” = knee  “sirsa” = head

Reclined Twist (Revolving Stomach Pose)

  • Jathara Parivartanasana
  • “jathara” = stomach  “parivrtta” = to revolve around  “tan” = to stretch or to go beyond

Revolved Side Angle

  • Parivrtta Parsvakonasna
  • par-ee-vrt-tah parsh-vah-cone-AHS-anna
  • “parivrtta” = revolved  “parsvakona” = lateral angle

Seated Angle (Wide Angle or Straddle) Pose

  • Upavistha Konasana
  • oo-pah-VEESH-tah cone-AHS-anna
  • “upavistha” = seated  “kona” = angle

Shoulderstand

  • Salamba Sarvangasana
  • sah-LAHM-bah SAHR-vahn-GAH-sah-nah
  • “salamba” = supported  “sarva” = all or whole  “anga” = limb or body

Splits (Monkey) Pose

  • Hanumanasana
  • hah-new-mahn-AHS-anna
  • “Hanuman”= name of monkey deity, reliever of suffering

Squat / Garland Pose

Staff (Stick) Pose

  • Dandasana
  • don-DAHS-anna
  • “danda” = staff or stick

Standing Forward Bend

  • Uttanasana
  • OOT-tan-AHS-ahna
  • “uttana” = intense stretching or extension

Sun Salutation

  • Surya Namaskar
  • SOOR-yah nam-ahs-KAHR
  • “surya” = sun  “namaskar” = greeting of honor and respect to the divinity present in all

Thunderbolt Pose

  • Vajrasana
  • vuj-RAHS-uh-nuh
  • “vajra” = thunderbolt or diamond

Tree Pose

  • Vrksasana
  • vrik-SHAHS-uh-nah
  • “vrksa” = tree

Triangle (Extended Triangle) Pose

  • Utthita Trikonasana
  • oo-TEE-tah tree-ko-NAH-suh-nuh
  • “utthita” = extended  “tri” = three  “kona” = angle

Revolved Triangle

  • Parivrtta Trikonasana
  • par-ee-vrit-tah trik-cone-AHS-anna
  • “parivrtta” = reverse, revolved “trikona” = triangle

Turtle (Tortoise) Pose

  • Kurmasana
  • koor-MAH-sah-nah
  • “kurma” = tortoise

Upward Bow (Wheel) Pose

  • Urdhva Dhanurasana
  • OORD-vah don-your-AHS-anna
  • “urdhva” = upward  “dhanura” = bow

Upward Facing Dog Pose

  • Urdhva Mukha Svanasana
  • OORD-vah MOO-kah shvon-AHS-ahna
  • “urdhva” = raised or upward  “mukha” = face  “svana” = dog

Upward Plank Pose

  • Purvottanasana
  • purvo-tan-AHS-ahna
  • “purva” = east side (front of body)  “uttana” = intense

Warrior Pose

  • Virabhadrasana
  • veer-baah-draah-san-ah
  • “Virabhadra” = name of a warrior from Indian mythology

Wide Legged Forward Bend

  • Prasarita Padottanasana
  • pra-sa-REE-tah pah-doh-tahn-AHS-anna
  • “prasarita” = spread out, separated or expanded  “pada” = foot or leg  “uttan” = intense stretch, extended

Yoga Sleep Pose