Does your yoga teacher say each yoga pose in Sanskrit?

Originating in ancient India with a 3,500-year history rooted in Hindu philosophy as well as Buddhism and Jainism, Sanskrit is considered to be one of the oldest languages on Earth,

Sanskrit is still relevant to yoga practice today. Many of the chants sung in kirtan, the mantras repeat in meditation, and the terms you hear from your yoga teacher’s lips are ancient Sanskrit words.,

Below is a yoga glossary of 42 Sanskrit words used to describe yoga  asanas / postures in  the yoga studio.

Now do your homework & learn the Sanskrit translations!

42 Yoga Asanas in Sanskrit

• Sarvangasana = The whole body
• Utthita = Raised up, extended, stretched.
• Parsva = Lateral, side
• Nava = Boat
• Danda = Staff
• Kona =   Angle
• Mala = Wreath
• Svana = Dog
• Supta = Sleeping, lying down
• Urdhva = Upward
• Ut = Intensity
• Parsarita = Spread/stretched out
• Pachima = West
• Pada = Foot or leg
• Karna = Ear
• Angusta = Big Toe
• Muhka = Face
• Ardha = Half
• Sava = Corpse
• Tan = Stretch, extend, lengthen
• Parivrtta = Turned around, revolved,
• Janu = Knee
• Sirsa = Head
• Baddha = Caught, restrained, bound
• Padma = Lotus
• Eka = One
• Upavistha = Seated
• Karna = Ear
• Salamba = With support
• Hasta = Hand
• Parsva = Side or flank
• Niralamba = Without support
• Hala = Plough
• Mayura = Peacock
• Ubhaya = Both
• Go = Cow
• Paripurna = Entire or complete
• Bhujangasana = Serpent
• Chatur = Four
• Ariga = Limb or part of
• Vatayanasana =    Horse
• Garuda = Eagle

[ Download Sanskrit to English Translations ]

“Not only has there been a reversal of Hatha Yoga and Yoga, whereby Hatha Yoga (the “part”) has been labeled as “Yoga” (the “whole”), but the whole process and scope of Yoga has been effected in our collective perceptions of Yoga.” – Swami Jnaneshvara Bharati

• Yoga is the whole, of which:
• Kundalini is a part.
• Laya is a part.
• Mantra is a part.
• Nada is a part.
• Raja is a part.
• Tantra is a part.
• Bhakti is a part.
• Hatha is a part.
• Jnana is a part.
• Karma is a part.

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