Asanas Flashcards
Learn the sanskrit names of yoga poses
WARRIOR 1
VIRABHADRASANA
virabhadra: warrior
(specifically, the warrior created by Shiva to avenge Sati 4.5.3)
WARRIOR 2
VIRABHADRASANA
virabhadra: warrior
(specifically, the warrior created by Shiva to avenge Sati 4.5.3)
TRIANGLE
(image is extended triangle)
TRIKONASANA
trikona: triangle, triangular
FORWARD BEND
UTTANASANA
uttana: stretch, spread out
CHAIR POSE or INTENSE POSE
UTKATASANA
utkata: proud, excessive, superior, furious
EXTENDED SIDE ANGLE STRETCH
UTTHITA PARSVAKONASANA
Utthita: extended, risen, elevated
Parsva: side, near, proximate
Kona: Angle, corner
PYRAMID POSE
PARSVOTTANASANA
Parsva: side
Ut: Intense
Tan: Stretch
SEATED FORWARD BEND
PASCHIMOTTANASANA
Pazcima: west
Uttana: stretched out, spread out
According to traditional texts and teachings of yoga, Paschimottanasana may not only be good for digestion but can also increase appetite, reduce obesity, and is even believed to have the power to cure disease.
COW FACE POSE
GOMUKHASANA
Go: cow, ox, herd of cattle
Mukha: face
This asana is called the Gomukhasana or Cow Face Face Pose, simply because the shape the body makes resembles the face of a cow. The overlapping legs are the lips, the torso is the face and the arms are the floppy ears.
BOW POSE
DHANURASANA
Dhanu: bow
LORD OF THE FISH III
ARDHA MATSYENDRASANA III
Ardha: half
Marsyendranath: Lord of the Fishes and a founder of the school of Hatha Yoga
RECLINING TWIST
SUPTA MATSYENDRASANA
Supta: supine (a person lying face upwards)
Matsyendra: was a yogi and student of Shiva.
COBRA
BHUJANGASANA
Bhujana: serpent, snake
TREE POSE
VRIKSHASANA
Vriksha: Tree
DANCER’S POSE
NATARAJASANA
Nata: Dancer
Raja: King
STANDING STRADDLED FORWARD FOLD
(wide legged forward bend)
PRASARITA PADOTTANASANA
Prasarita: stretched out, expanded, spread
Pada: foot
Ut: intense
Tan: continuation, extend, uninterrupted succession
ONE LEGGED KING PIGEON
EKA PADA RAJAKAPOTASANA
eka: single, one
pada: leg, foot
raja: king, chief
kapota: pigeon, dove
FULL SHOULD STAND
SALAMBA SARVANGASANA
salamba: as support
sarva: each, every, all
agga (anga): limb, bodypart
PLOW POSE
HALASANA
Hala: plow, earth
FISH POSE
MATSYASANA
Matsya: fish
DOLPHIN POSE
ARDHA PINCHA MAYURASANA
Ardha: half
Pincha: feathers
Mayura: Peacock
SUN SALUTATION A
SURYA NAMASKARA A
Surya: Sun
Namaskara: to bow, to adore
SUN SALUTATIONS B
(includes lunge)
SURYA NAMASKARA B
Surya: Sun
Namaskara: to bow, to adore
SEATED STRADDLE
Wide Angle Seated Forward Bend
UPAVISTHA KONASANA
upavistha: sitting, seated
kona: angle, corner
ROD POSE
Staff Pose
DANDASANA
Danda: staff, rod
TALL MOUNTAIN or UPWARD LIFT POSE (in Surya Namaskara)
Upward Salute
URDHVA HASTASANA
ūrdhva: upwards
hasa: hand
vṛkṣa: tree
MOUNTAIN
TADASANA
Tada: mountain
CHILD’S POSE
BALASANA
Bala: child
DOWNWARD FACING DOG
ADHO MUKHA SVANASANA
adho: bottom, downward
mukha: face, mouth
svana: dog
LOW PUSH UP
Four-Limbed Staff Pose
CHATURANGA DANDASANA
chaturanga: having four limbs
danda: rod, stick, being a staff
PLANK POSE
KUMBHAKASANA
Kumbha :inhaling, retaining and exhaling (breath retention)
UPWARD FACING DOG
URDHVA MUKHA SVANASANA
urdhva: upright, erect, elevated
mukha: face, mouth
svana: dog
CAT/COW POSE
BITILASANA
bhatila: dog / bidala: male cat / surabhitanaya: cow, bull
While Bitilasana is translated as the “Cow Pose,” there are several Sanskrit words for cow and “bitila” isn’t one of them. While it may be a shortening of “surabhitanaya,” which means cow or bull, “bitila” most resembles the Sanskrit words “bhatila,” meaning “dog,” or “bidala,” meaning “male cat.” Either of these other meaning make sense as translations as well when you consider this pose is incredibly similar to the Cat Pose, Marjaryasana, and that “marjari” means “female cat.” If this were the case, it’s possible the name was changed to “Cow Pose” to prevent confusion with the Cat Pose or the Downward Facing Dog.
