Compiled Sanskrit Body Parts For Yoga Poses Flashcards
Basic 7 and many other body parts. Two cards for each body part, one in English and one in Sanskrit, so only half as big as it looks.
Hasta
Hand, or Arm
Mnemonic: Hand and Hasta start with H
Mnemonic: You hasta use you hands in yoga
Example Pose: Urdhva Hastasana = Arms upward/raised up
Pada
Foot, Leg
Mnemonic: You pedal (pada) a bike
Example Pose: Urdhva Prasarita Padasana = Legs extending upward (on your back, legs at 90 degrees)
Mukha
Face.
Mnemonic: Mug shot = Mukha shot? (weak)
Example Pose: Adho Mukha Śvānāsana = Downward-facing dog
Śīrṣa
Head
Mnemonic: Sure’s a (Sirsa) big head!
Example Pose: Śīrṣāsana - headstand
Aṅga
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.
Paścima
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)
Purva
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)
Hand, Arm
Hasta
Mnemonic: Hand and Hasta start with H
Mnemonic: You hasta use you hands in yoga
Example Pose: Urdhva Hastasana = Arms upward/raised up
Head
Śīrṣa
Mnemonic: Sure’s a (Sirsa) big head!
Example Pose: Śīrṣāsana - headstand
Foot, Leg
Pada
Mnemonic: A podiatrist is a foot doctor (Pada-trist?)
Example Pose: Urdhva Prasarita Padasana = Legs extending upward (on your back, legs at 90 degrees)
Limbs
Aṅga
Example Pose: Sālamba Sarvāṅgāsana = Supported all limbs pose (shoulder stand)
Back (West side of body)
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)
Front (East side of body)
Purva
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)
Face
Mukha
Mnemonic: Mug shot = Mukha shot? (weak)
Example Pose: Adho Mukha Śvānāsana = Downward-facing dog
Bhuja
The arm or the shoulder
The arm or the shoulder
Bhuja
Janu
Knee
Knee
Janu
Padangustha
The Big Toe
Mnemonic: Remember Pada is foot. Grab you toe with gusto.
The Big Toe
Padangustha
Mnemonic: Remember Pada is foot. Grab you toe with gusto.
Parsva
The side, flank; lateral.
The side, flank; lateral.
Parsva
Salabha
The Locust
Locust
Salabha
Sarva
All, Whole
All, Whole
Sarva
Supta
Sleeping
Sleeping
Supta
Surya
The Sun
The Sun
Surya
Svana
A Dog
A Dog
Svana
Tada
A Mountain
Example Pose: Tadasana
Mountain
Tada
Example Pose: Tadasana
Trikona
A Triangle
Mnemonic: Tri = 3
A Triangle
Trikona
Mnemonic: Tri = 3
Urdhva
Raised, elevated, tending upwards.
Mnemonic: Up and Urdhva start with U
Example: Urdhva Muka = Upward Facing Dog
Raised, elevated, tending upwards.
Urdhva
Mnemonic: Up and Urdhva start with U
Example: Urdhva Muka = Upward Facing Dog
Uttana
An intense stretch.
An intense stretch.
Uttana
Utthita
Raised up, extended, stretched.
Raised up, extended, stretched.
Utthita
Virabhadra
A powerful hero created out of Siva’s matted hair (warrior)
Hero, Warrior
Virabhadra
Utkata
Powerful, fierce.
Example Pose: Utkatasana (Awkward pose, Awkward chair)
Powerful, fierce.
Utkata
Example Pose: Utkatasana (Awkward pose, Awkward chair)
