Sanskrit (English) Yoga Asanas
Learn how to perform a variety of yoga postures. We have a complete list of many Hatha yoga poses with detailed explanations and pictures for you to practice yoga at home.
Some terms in Sanskrit are repeatedly used in the names of asanas. Generally these are prefixes and can be used on any pose to explain a variation. Ardha means half, Supta means reclining, Adho means downward, Parivrtta means revolved or twisted, Urdhva means upward, Utthita means extended.
A majority of the Sanskrit names for the postures actually end with asana. Here are the main yoga postures. Click each to see an image of the yoga pose along with a description.
The names of the most common yoga postures (asanas) used in Hatha Yoga:
Yoga Sitting Poses
- Butterfly or Bound Angle – Baddha Konasana
- Staff Posture – Dandasana
- Lotus – Padmasana
- Seated Forward Bend – Paschimottanasana
- Head to Knee Forward Bend – Janu Sirsasana A
- Head-to-Knee Sitting Forward Bend Yoga Pose – Janu Sirasana C
- Lion – Simhasana
- Half Lord of the Fishes Ardha Matsyendrasana
- Balancing Bear – Merudandasana
- Full Boat – Paripurna Navasana
- Revolved Seated Angle – Parivrtta Upavistha Konasana
- Tortoise – Kurmasana
- Sleeping Tortoise – Supta Kurmasana
- Salutation Seal – Anjali Mudra
- Heron – Krounchasana
- Cow Face – Gomukhasana
- Bharadvaja’s Twist – Bharadvajasana I
- Seated Twist in Half Lotus – Bharadvajasana Twist II
- Garland Pose – Malasana
- Hero – Virasana
- Open Angle – Upavistha Konasana
- Wide Angle – Upavistha Konasana
- Cobbler Pose -Bhadrasana
- Easy Pose – Sukasana
- Perfect Pose/Accomplished Pose – Siddhasana
- Auspicious/Prosperous Pose – Svastikasana
Yoga Lying Poses
- Knee Hug – Apanasana
- Child Pose – Balasana
- Reclining Hero – Supta Virasana
- One Legged Pigeon – Eka Pada Rajakapotasana
- Legs up the Wall or Leg Raise – Viparita Karani
- Double Leg Lift Supine Twist – Supta Matsyendrasana
- Corpse / Relaxation – Savasana
- Reclining Big Toe – Supta Padangusthasana
- Reclining Bound Angle – Supta Baddha Konasana
- Happy Baby – Ananda Balasana
Yoga Back Bending Poses
- Bridge – Setu Bandha Sarvangasana
- Arch – Setu Bandhasana
- Cobra – Bhujangasana
- Upward Bow or Wheel – Urdhva Dhanurasana
- Bow – Dhanurasana
- Camel – Ustrasana
- Extended Fish – Uttana Padasana
- Cat Stretch – Bidalasana
- Upward-Facing Dog – Urdhva Mukha Svanasana
- Locust – Salabhasana
Yoga Inverted Poses
- Ear Pressure – Karnapidasana
- Headstand – Sirsasana
- Plow – Halasana
- Shoulderstand – Sarvangasana
- Downward Facing Dog – Adho Mukha Svanasana
- Dolphin – Makarasana – Dolphin Yoga Posture
Yoga Standing Poses
- Warroir I Yoga Pose – Virabhadrasana I
- Warroir II Yoga Pose – Virabhadrasana II
- Mountain – Tadasana
- Intense Spread Leg Stretch/Wide-Legged Forward Bend – Prasarita Padottanasana
- Revolved Triangle – Parivrtta Trikonasana
- Extended Triangle – Utthita Trikonasana
- Revolved Side Angle – Parivrtta Parsvakonasana
- Extended Side Angle – Utthita Parsvakonasana
- Standing Forward Bend – Uttanasana
- Hands to Feet Pose – Padahastasana
- Chair – Utkatasana
- Rishi’s Posture
Yoga Balancing Poses
- Scale or Pendant Pose – Tolasana
- Arm Pressure – Bhujapidasana
- Reversed Plank – Purvottanasana
- Side Plank – Vasisthasana
- Crane – Bakasana
- Spinal Balance
- Eagle – Garudasana
- Tree – Virksasana
For a complete yoga lesson you can start your session with some loosening postures as a warm up, then you can perform a combination of lying and sitting postures, these can include back bending and twisting poses, followed by balancing and standing postures, and finish with some inverted postures. You can then complete your yoga lesson workout with a few minutes of relaxation.
Yoga is an extremely diverse discipline, but this collection of yoga positions names covers all the most common poses that you will come across in classes and self study at home. We have many general articles and pages on yoga as well as more detailed yoga information here at MotleyHealth.