Basic 7 Sanskrit Body Parts for Yoga

Question 1

Hasta

Answer 1

Hand, Arm

Mnemonic: Hand and Hasta start with H
Mnemonic: You hasta use you hands in yoga
Example Pose: Urdhva Hastasana​ = Arms upward/raised up

Question 2

Pada

Answer 2

Foot, Leg

Mnemonic: You pedal (pada) a bike
Example Pose: Urdhva Prasarita Padasana​ = Legs extending upward (on your back, legs at 90 degrees)

Question 3

Muka

Answer 3

Face.

Mnemonic: Mug shot = Mukha shot? (weak)
Example Pose: Adho Mukha Śvānāsana = Downward-facing dog

Question 4

Śīrṣa

Answer 4

Head

Mnemonic: Sure’s a (Sirsa) big head!
Example Pose: Śīrṣāsana - headstand

Question 5

Aṅga

Answer 5

Limbs

Sarvāṅgāsana/ Shoulder stand comes. from the Sanskrit sarva meaning all, aṅga meaning limb/body. parts and āsana meaning posture, i.e. all limbs or the whole body.

Question 6

Purva

Answer 6

Front (Purva = literally ‘east’ side of the body, i.e. the front)

Mnemonic: I purva-ed my drink down the front of my body
Example Pose: Sālamba Purvottānāsana = Supported intense extension of the ‘east’ side of the body (i.e. the front)

Question 7

Paścima

Answer 7

The west side of the body. (Which is the back since we face east)

Mnemonic: Pascima sounds like back pack (back pascima)
Example Pose: Paścimottānāsana = intense extension of the back (sitting, legs straight out, leaning forward and hands around feet)

Question 8

Hand, Arm

Answer 8

Hasta

Mnemonic: Hand and Hasta start with H
Mnemonic: You hasta use you hands in yoga
Example Pose: Urdhva Hastasana​ = Arms upward/raised up

Question 9

Face

Answer 9

Muka

Mnemonic: Mug shot = Mukha shot? (weak)
Example Pose: Adho Mukha Śvānāsana = Downward-facing dog

Question 10

Limbs

Answer 10

aṅga

Sarvāṅgāsana/ Shoulder stand comes. from the Sanskrit sarva meaning all, aṅga meaning limb/body. parts and āsana meaning posture, i.e. all limbs or the whole body.

Question 11

Back (west side of body)

Answer 11

Paścima

Mnemonic: Pascima sounds like back pack (back pascima)
Example Pose: Paścimottānāsana = intense extension of the back (sitting, legs straight out, leaning forward and hands around feet)

Question 12

Front (east side of body)

Answer 12

Purva = literally ‘east’ side of the body, i.e. the front

Mnemonic: I purva-ed my drink down the front of my body
Example Pose: Sālamba Purvottānāsana = Supported intense extension of the ‘east’ side of the body (i.e. the front)

Question 13

Foot, Leg

Answer 13

Pada

Mnemonic: You pedal (pada) a bike
Example Pose: Urdhva Prasarita Padasana​ = Legs extending upward (on your back, legs at 90 degrees)

Question 14

Head

Answer 14

Śīrṣa

Mnemonic: Sure’s a (Sirsa) big head!
Example Pose: Śīrṣāsana - headstand