Sanskrit Names for Yoga Poses

October 7, 2015

I've been learning more about Sanskrit and have a few pronunciation keys in my Ayurveda books. This one legged wheel is called Eka Pada Urdhva Danurasana. 
Eka = one
Pada = foot
Urdhva = upward
Dhanu = bow

Here are some other commonly used Sanskrit words so you can match them with their poses.
Adho = downward
Anga = body
Ardha = half
Asta = eight
Baddha = bound
Baka = crane
Bala = child
Bhuja = arm or shoulder
Bhujanga = snake or serpent 
Chandra = moon
Chatur = four
Danda = staff
Dwi = two
Go = cow
Gu = darkness
Hala = plough
Hasta = hand
Janu = knee
Kapota = dove or pigeon
Karani = doing, making, action
Karna = ear
Kona = angle
Mala = garland or wreath
Marjari = cat
Matsya = fish
Mayura = peacock
Mudra = seal
Mukha = face
Nama = name
Nata = actor, dancer, mime
Nava = boat
Padangustha = big toe
Padma = lotus
Parigha = beam or bar for a gate
Paripurna = entire, complete
Parivrtta = revolved
Parsva = side, flank, lateral
Pasa = fetter, trap, noose
Paschima = west, back of body
Pida = pressure
Prasarita = spread out, stretch out
Purva = east, front of body
Raja = King 
Ru = light
Salabha = locust
Salamba = with support
San = six
Sarva = whole
Sava = corpse
Setu = bridge
Siddha = sage, seer, prophet
Simha = lion
Sirsa = head
Supta = sleeping, reclining
Surya = sun
Svana = dog
Tada = mountain
Tan = to stretch, extend, lengthen 
Tola = balance or scale 
Tri = three
Upavista = seated
Ustra = camel
Ut = intense
Utkata = powerful, fierce
Uttana = intense stretch
Utthita = extended
Vajra = thunderbolt
Vasistha = most excellent, best, richest
Viparita = turned around, reversed, inverted
Vira = hero, man, chief
Vrksa = tree
Vritta = fluctuation