Sanskrit Names of Yoga Postures & Pranayamas 

Are you lost when told to do an adho mukha svanasana? Confused by the names of the breathing exercises? Don't worry! Check out Yogateket's list of all yoga poses and you will soon recognize and learn Sanskrit names av the most common yoga poses and breathing exercises (pranayamas). After the Sanskrit name, you have the most common English name of the pose. Some asanas have hyperlinks for deeper learning about the pose. All yoga poses are divided into different categories. 

Standing Yoga Asanas

Lizette Pompa in Warrior III - Linnea Ahlgren in Warrior I - Amaranta Aguilar in Warrior II 

Standing yoga poses to teach you the foundational actions that are necessary for the correct practice of all the other categories of yoga poses. Always meet flexibility with strength. Some basic alignments you here in class can be point knee forward, stretch the spine, straighten and extend legs, lift kneecaps, tone quads, tone glutes, straighten and extend arms.

Ardha chandrasana with Padahastasana: Half moon pose with hands to feet (Bikram yoga)

Ardha chandrasana: Half moon pose variations 

Ardha uttanasana: Standing half forward bend pose

Dandayamana janushirsasana: Standing head to knee pose

Dandayamana dhanurasana: Standing bow pulling pose

Dandayamana ardha chakrasana: Standing backward bend pose

Eka pada rajakapotasana: One-legged king pidgeon pose

Garudasana: Eagle pose

Natarajasana: Lord of the dance pose

Padangusthasana: Big toe pose

Pada hastasana: Hands-to-feet pose

Parivrtta parsvakonasana: Revolved side angle pose

Parivrtta trikonasana: Revolved triangle pose

Parivrtta baddha trikonasana: Revolved bound triangle pose

Parivrtta utkatasana: Twisted chair

Parivrtta uttanasana: Revolved forward fold pose

Parsvottanasana: Intense side stretch pose (Pyramid pose)

Prasarita Padottanasana: Wide-legged forward bend pose

Svarga Dvidasana: Bird of Paradise Pose

Tadasana: Mountain pose

Tuladandasana: Balancing stick pose

Urdhva hastasana: Upward salute

Urdhva prasarita eka padasana: Standing split pose

Utkatasana: Chair pose

Uttanasana: Standing forward bend pose

Utthita Hasta Padangustasana: Extended hand-to-big-toe pose

Utthita Parsvakonasana: Extended side angle pose

Utthita trikonasana: Triangle pose

Virabhadrasana 1: Warrior i

Virabhadrasana 2: Warrior ii

Virabhadrasana 3: Warrior iii

Vrksasana: Tree pose

Yoga Poses - Forward Folds

Lizette Pompa in Paschimottanasana: Seated forward bend pose

Most of us because of sport and, daily lives make our spine and hamstring stiff and tight. Forward folds are great for that. They also have a calming effect on our nervous system. Please be patient in your practice because this takes time. Basic alignment cues you can hear in yoga class is. Press hands down and forward, Straighten legs, stretch the spine. 

Ardha uttanasana: Standing half forward bend pose

Ardha kurmasana: Half tortoise pose

Adho mukha svanasana: Downward dog

Ananda balasana: Happy baby Pose

Baddha konasana: Bound angle pose (kona angle)

Bakasana: Crow pose

Baddha tittibhasana: Bound firefly pose

Balasana: Child’s pose

Malasana: Garland pose/low squat

Marichyasana: Sage twist ( Sage Marichi's pose)

Marjaryasana: Cat pose

Janu sirsasana: Head-to-knee forward bend

Lolasana: Pendant pose

Padangusthasana: Big toe pose

Paschimottanasana: Seated forward bend pose

Sasangasana: Rabbit pose

Upavistha konasana: Wide-angle seated forward bend pose

Urdhva prasarita eka padasana: Standing split pose

Backbends Poses

Itziar Donezar in Purvottanasana: Intense East Stretch

Most of us need backbends to balance our forward bending lives. Sitting in front of a computer all day is not good for our posture. Backbends can help you develop strength and flexibility in the spine. It is important to remember that always be warm and practice with caution. Safety cues you can hear in yoga class are. Contract the glutes, stretch the spine and lift the chest.

Ardha bhekasana: Half frog pose

Bhujangasana: Cobra pose

Bitilasana: Cow pose

Camatkarasana: Wild thing

Dhanurasana: Bow pose

Dwi pada viparita dandasana: Inverted two legged staff pose

Matsyasana: Fish pose

Purvottanasana: Intense East Stretch

Salabhasana: Locust pose

Setu bandha sarvangasana: Bridge pose

Urdhva dhanurasana: Upward facing bow pose

Urdhva mukha svanasana: Upward-facing dog pose

Ustrasana: Camel pose

Twists Yoga Postures

Lizette Pompa in Parivrtta baddha trikonasana: Revolved triangle pose

Twists in yoga are great for de-stress, and they remove toxins from the spine. Twists are causing compression of the discs and when release from the pose the discs will rehydrate with fresh liquids again. Alignment cues you can hear are. Stretch the spine on the inhale, twist torso, press knee, and elbow together

Ardha matsyendrasana: Half Lord of the fishes pose/Spine twisting pose

Baddha parivrtta parsvakonasana:  Bound revolved side angle pose

Baddha parsvakonasana: Bound side angle pose

Parivrtta baddha trikanasana: Bound revolved triangle pose

Parivrtta anjanyenasana: Twisted lunge pose

Parivrtta ardha chandrasana: Revolved half moon pose

Parivrtta parsvakonasana: Revolved side angle pose

Parivrtta trikonasana: Revolved triangle pose

Parivrtta utkatasana: Twisted chair

Parivrtta uttanasana: Revolved forward fold pose

Arm Balancing Asanas

Sofia Soori in Titttibasana: Firefly pose

Arm balances are a challenge for most of us. It will build a bulldog determination, strength and core. It can be hard on the wrists so always make sure they are warmed up.  What you can hear from your yoga teacher in class is. Straighten arms, Press index knuckles down, draw belly in, straighten legs. 

Ardha pincha mayurasana: Dolphin pose

Adho mukha vrkasana - Handstand pose

Bakasana: Crow pose

Camatkarasana: Wild thing

Chaturanga dandasana: Four-limbed staff pose

Lolasana: Pendant pose

Mayurasana: Peacock pose

Phalakasana: Plank pose

Parsva bakasana: Side crow/crane pose

Pincha mayurasana: Feathered peacock pose (forearm stand)

Titttibasana: Firefly pose

Eka pada galavasana: Flying pigeon pose 

 

Inversions

Sofia Soori in Sirsasana: Headstand

Inversions can be fun and frightening and are not to often seen in a regular yoga class. You should always practice inversions with caution, and until you feel safe and steady always with the guidance of a yoga instructor.  You should stop what you are doing straight away if you feel any discomfort in the neck or cervical spine.  

Ardha pincha mayurasana: Dolphin pose

Adho Mukha Svanasana: Downward facing dog

Adho mukha vrksasana: Handstand pose

Halasana: Plow pose

Karnapidasana: Ear pressure pose

Pincha mayurasana: Feathered peacock pose (forearm stand)

Prasarita padottanasana: Wide legged forward bend

Sarvangasana: Shoulder stand pose

Sirsasana: Headstand pose

Urdhva prasarita eka padasana: Standing split pose

Vrschikasana B: Handstand scorpion pose

Seated Yoga Postures

Catalina Palma in Baddha konasana: Bound angle pose

Agnistambhasana: Fire log pose

Ardha matsyendrasana: Half Lord of the fishes pose/Spine twisting pose

Baddha konasana: Bound angle pose

Eka pada rajakapotasana: Pigeon pose

Gomukhasana: Cow face pose

Hanumanasana: Monkey pose

Malasana: Garland pose/low squat

Padmasana: Lotus pose

Sukhasana: Easy pose

Virasana: Hero pose

Asanas in Prone Position

Itziar Donezar in Dhanurasana: Bow posture

Ardha bhekasana: Half frog pose

Dhanurasana: Bow pose

Makarasana: Crocodile pose

Salabhasana: Locust pose

Rajakapotasana: King pigeon pose

 

Poses in Supine Pose

Catalina Palma in Savasana: Dead body pose

Jathara parivartanasana: Revolved abdomen twist

Matsyasana: fish pose (Ashtanga yoga)

Matsyasana: fish pose (Hatha, Iyengar yoga)

Shavasana: Corpse pose (usually performed at the end of a yoga class)

Supta Konasana: Reclined angle pose

Supta kurmasana: Sleeping tortoise pose

Supta Padanghustasana: reclined big toe pose

Supta vajrasana: Reclined fixed-firm pose

 

Core Exercises 

Jaime White in Ardha navasana: Half boat pose

Ardha navasana: Half boat

Bakasana: Crow/Crane pose

Chaturanga dandasana: Four-limbed staff pose

Paripurna navasana: Full boat pose

Lolasana: Pendant pose

Parsva bakasana: Side crow/crane pose

Vasisthasana: Side plank pose

Titttibasana: Firefly pose

Pranayamas Exercises 

Karolina Wretbring and Nicklas Johansson practicing Nadi Shodhana: Alternate nostril breathing

Bhastrika pranayama: Bellow’s breath

Bhramari pranayama: Humming bee breath

Chandra Bhedhana: Moon channel piercing

Nadi shodhana pranayama: Alternate nostril breath

Kapalabhati pranayama: Breath of fire/Skull-shining breath

Sama vritti pranayama: Equal breath

Simhasana pranayama: Lion’s breath

Sitali pranayama: Cooling breath

Sitkari Pranayama: Cooling breath

Viloma pranayama: Interrupted breath (paus on inhale, exhale or both)

Vishama vritti pranayama: Uneven breath

Ujjayi pranayama: Victorious breath/Ocean breath

Salutations

Surya namaskar a: Sun salutation a (7 asanas)

Surya namaskar b: Sun salutation b (8 asanas)

Chandra namaskar: Moon salutaton (9 asanas)

Kriyas

Guy Powiecki Peforming Uddiyana Bandha Kriya: Pre Nauli

Uddiyana Bandha Kriya: Pre Nauli

Many of these common yoga poses can be practiced in the large collection of our online courses of yoga classes, program, and challenges. The yoga poses are taken from various styles and name can vary from the different traditions like Hatha Yoga, Ashtanga yoga, Iyengar Yoga, Bikram Yoga, Restorative Yoga, and Yin Yoga.