Sanskrit and English Names for Yoga Poses

In yoga class, you may hear both Sanskrit and English names for yoga poses. At first, this may seem a bit confusing, but over time it will be much easier to recognize Sanskrit terminology. This article provides a basic primer to help your yoga education.

If the yoga style you practice stems from classical yoga, then every pose should have a Sanskrit origin. However, there’s not a wrong or right way to refer to yoga poses. It’s all a matter of preference and, for some instructors, intention. Many classical yoga instructors choose only to refer to yoga postures in Sanskrit. Other teachers may want to make practice more accessible to beginners, and feel that the English names help with this approach.

Teachers of Kids’ Yoga may prefer to introduce children to each posture and naming convention gradually. English names such as Downward Dog or Triangle Pose paint a better picture in a child’s mind as to what the posture should be like. Then, the proper Sanskrit name and story behind each pose can enhance the child’s knowledge of yoga.

During yoga class, many yoga instructors interchange Sanskrit and English names throughout a routine. This repetition helps individuals remember the long and sometimes hard-to-pronounce Sanskrit terminology.

Many of the lists that outline Sanskrit and English names for yoga poses start with the Sanskrit version, then the English. To make it easier, this list of many popular asanas puts the English variation first:

• Boat Pose – Paripurna Navasana
• Bow Pose – Dhanurasana
• Bridge Pose – Setu Bandha Sarvangasana
• Camel Pose – Ustrasana
• Cat Pose – Marjaryasana
• Child’s Pose – Balasana
• Cobra Pose – Bhujangasana
• Cow Pose – Gomukhasana
• Cow Face Pose – Bitilasana
• Corpse Pose – Savasana
• Crow Pose – Bakasana
• Downward-Facing Dog Pose – Adho Mukha Svanasana
• Eagle Pose – Garudasana
• Fish Pose – Matsyasana
• Firefly Pose – Tittibhasana
• Hero Pose – Virasana
• Locust Pose – Salambhasana
• Lord of the Dance Pose – Natarajasan
• Lotus Pose – Padmasana
• Mountain Pose – Tadasana
• Pigeon Pose – Eka Pada Rajakapotasana
• Plow Pose – Halasana
• Prayer Twist – Parsvokonasana
• Scorpion Pose – Vrischikasana
• Side Plank Pose – Vasisthasana
• Staff Pose – Dandasana
• Standing Forward Bend – Uttanasana
• Supported Headstand – Salamba Sirsasana
• Tree Pose – Vrksasana
• Triangle Pose – Trikonasana
• Upward Bow Pose – Urdhva Dhanurasana
• Upward Facing Dog Pose – Urdhva Mukha Svanasana
• Warrior Pose – Virabhadrasana
• Wheel Pose – Urdhva Dhanurasana
• Wide-Angled Seated Forward Bend – Upavistha Konasana
• Wide-Legged Forward Bend – Prasarita Padottanasana

You won’t learn Sanskrit and English names for yoga poses all the time. Some postures are most often referred to in English only. Here are some examples:

• High Lunge – Part of the Sun Salutation Sequence, there doesn’t seem to be a Sanskrit name variation for this posture.
• Inclined Plane – Purvottanasana is the Sanskrit origin of this pose, but Inclined Plane is far more common to hear.
• Knee-to-Chest Pose – This posture is rarely called by its Sanskrit name, Apanasana. However, if you practice Bikram Yoga, this posture may be called Pavanamuktasana, which means Wind-Relieving Pose.
• Plank Pose – Introduced as part of various yoga styles, it is sometimes known as Kumbhaka, but not often.
• Sun Salutation Sequence – In Sanskrit, this is Surya Namaskar, but most instructors refer to the English variation.
• Spinal Twist – This posture’s Sanskrit name honors the yogic sage Matsyendrasana, but is frequently referenced in English.

Want to see pictures of some of these yoga poses? Visit our Yoga Pose Gallery.

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