In short: the Sanskrit names of the poses in our library, A to Z, each with its English name. Other spellings you may meet in class (Vrikshasana, Vrksasana, Shavasana) point to the same pose. Search works with or without the accent marks.
We write Sanskrit names in IAST, the standard scholarly transliteration, which marks long vowels and other sounds (ā, ś, ṣ, ṛ). Studios and books often simplify these marks, so the same name can appear in several spellings; the index lists the common ones. We show a Sanskrit name only when credible sources agree on it. Many popular poses, such as reverse warrior or bird dog, are modern and have no established Sanskrit name, so they are not in this list; find them in the English A to Z . Where a tradition uses a different name for the same pose, or the same name for a different pose, the pose page explains it.
Most pose names are built from a few recurring words: ardha (half), parivṛtta (revolved), supta (reclining), eka pāda (one foot or leg) and āsana (posture). Our guide to Sanskrit words in pose names explains them.
Find a Sanskrit name
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z A Sanskrit name English name Family Difficulty Adho Mukha Śvānāsana Downward Dog Forward bend, Inversion, Standing Beginner Adho Mukha Vṛkṣāsana Handstand Arm balance, Inversion Advanced Agnistambhāsana Fire Log Pose Hip opener and leg extension, Seated Intermediate Ānanda Bālāsana Happy Baby Pose Hip opener and leg extension, Supine Beginner Anantāsana Side-Reclining Leg Lift Balancing, Supine Intermediate Āñjaneyāsana Low Lunge Backbend, Hip opener and leg extension, Standing Beginner Ardha Baddha Padma Paścimottānāsana Half-Bound Lotus Seated Forward Bend Forward bend, Hip opener and leg extension, Seated Advanced Ardha Baddha Padmottānāsana Half-Bound Lotus Standing Forward Bend Balancing, Forward bend, Standing Advanced Ardha Bhekasana → Bhekāsana Frog Pose (Bhekasana) Backbend, Prone Advanced Ardha Candrāsana Half Moon Pose Balancing, Side bend, Standing Intermediate Ardha Matsyendrasan → Ardha Matsyendrāsana Half Lord of the Fishes Seated, Twist Beginner, Intermediate Ardha Matsyendrāsana Half Lord of the Fishes Seated, Twist Beginner, Intermediate Ardha Navasana → Paripūrṇa Nāvāsana Boat Pose Balancing, Floor foundations and core, Seated Intermediate Ardha Padmāsana Half Lotus Seated, Seated and meditation Intermediate Ardha Salabhasana → Śalabhāsana Locust Pose Backbend, Prone Beginner Ardha Shalabhasana → Śalabhāsana Locust Pose Backbend, Prone Beginner Ardha Uttānāsana Half Standing Forward Fold Forward bend, Standing Beginner Ashtanga Namaskar → Aṣṭāṅga Namaskāra Eight-Point Salute Floor foundations and core, Prone Beginner Ashtanga Pranam → Aṣṭāṅga Namaskāra Eight-Point Salute Floor foundations and core, Prone Beginner Ashwa Sanchalasana → Aśva Sañcalanāsana Equestrian Pose Hip opener and leg extension, Standing Beginner Aṣṭāṅga Namaskāra Eight-Point Salute Floor foundations and core, Prone Beginner Aṣṭāvakrāsana Eight-Angle Pose Arm balance, Twist Advanced Aśva Sañcalanāsana Equestrian Pose Hip opener and leg extension, Standing Beginner
B Sanskrit name English name Family Difficulty Baddha Hasta Sirsasana → Sālamba Śīrṣāsana Supported Headstand Inversion Advanced Baddha Koṇāsana Bound Angle Pose Hip opener and leg extension, Seated Beginner Baddha Padmāsana Bound Lotus Seated, Seated and meditation Advanced Baddha Parsvakonasana → Utthita Pārśvakoṇāsana Extended Side Angle Side bend, Standing Beginner Baddha Utthita Parsvakonasana → Utthita Pārśvakoṇāsana Extended Side Angle Side bend, Standing Beginner Bakāsana Crane Pose Arm balance, Balancing Advanced Bakasana → Kākāsana Crow Pose Arm balance, Balancing Intermediate Bakāsana (बकासन) → Kākāsana Crow Pose Arm balance, Balancing Intermediate Bālāsana Child's Pose Forward bend, Kneeling, Resting and restorative Beginner Bhadrāsana Gracious Pose Hip opener and leg extension, Seated, Seated and meditation Beginner Bharadvājāsana Bharadvaja’s Twist Seated, Twist Beginner Bharadvajasana I → Bharadvājāsana Bharadvaja’s Twist Seated, Twist Beginner Bharadvajasana II → Bharadvājāsana Bharadvaja’s Twist Seated, Twist Beginner Bhekāsana Frog Pose (Bhekasana) Backbend, Prone Advanced Bhujaṅgāsana Cobra Pose Backbend, Prone Beginner Bhujangasana I → Bhujaṅgāsana Cobra Pose Backbend, Prone Beginner Bhujapīḍāsana Shoulder-Pressing Pose Arm balance Advanced Bidalasana → Marjaryasana-Bitilasana Cat-Cow Backbend, Forward bend, Kneeling Beginner Bitilasana → Marjaryasana-Bitilasana Cat-Cow Backbend, Forward bend, Kneeling Beginner
C Sanskrit name English name Family Difficulty Caturaṅga Daṇḍāsana Chaturanga Prone Intermediate Chakrasana (wheel usage, e.g. Bihar School) → Ūrdhva Dhanurāsana Wheel Pose Backbend, Supine Advanced
D Sanskrit name English name Family Difficulty Daṇḍāsana Staff Pose Seated Beginner Dhanurāsana Bow Pose Backbend, Prone Intermediate Dvi Pāda Śīrṣāsana Both Legs Behind the Head Balancing, Hip opener and leg extension, Seated Advanced Dvi Pāda Viparīta Daṇḍāsana Two-Legged Inverted Staff Backbend, Inversion Advanced Dwi Pada Sirasana → Dvi Pāda Śīrṣāsana Both Legs Behind the Head Balancing, Hip opener and leg extension, Seated Advanced
E Sanskrit name English name Family Difficulty Eka Pada Bakasana → Bakāsana Crane Pose Arm balance, Balancing Advanced Eka Pāda Bakāsana → Bakāsana Crane Pose Arm balance, Balancing Advanced Eka Pada Bhekasana → Bhekāsana Frog Pose (Bhekasana) Backbend, Prone Advanced Eka Pāda Gālavāsana Flying Pigeon Arm balance, Hip opener and leg extension Advanced Eka Pada Kaundinyasana → Eka Pāda Kauṇḍinyāsana I Sage Koundinya’s Pose Arm balance, Twist Advanced Eka Pāda Kauṇḍinyāsana I Sage Koundinya’s Pose Arm balance, Twist Advanced Eka Pada Koundinyasana → Eka Pāda Kauṇḍinyāsana I Sage Koundinya’s Pose Arm balance, Twist Advanced Eka Pada Koundinyasana II → Eka Pāda Kauṇḍinyāsana I Sage Koundinya’s Pose Arm balance, Twist Advanced Eka Pāda Rājakapotāsana One-Legged King Pigeon Backbend, Hip opener and leg extension Advanced Eka Pāda Rājakapotāsana Pigeon Pose Forward bend, Seated Intermediate Eka Pada Rajakapotasana I → Eka Pāda Rājakapotāsana One-Legged King Pigeon Backbend, Hip opener and leg extension Advanced Eka Pada Rajakapotasana II → Eka Pāda Rājakapotāsana One-Legged King Pigeon Backbend, Hip opener and leg extension Advanced Eka Pada Rajakapotasana III → Eka Pāda Rājakapotāsana One-Legged King Pigeon Backbend, Hip opener and leg extension Advanced Eka Pada Rajakapotasana IV → Eka Pāda Rājakapotāsana One-Legged King Pigeon Backbend, Hip opener and leg extension Advanced Eka Pada Sarvangasana → Sālamba Sarvāṅgāsana Supported Shoulderstand Inversion Advanced Eka Pada Setu Bandha Sarvangasana → Setu Bandha Sarvāṅgāsana Bridge Pose Backbend, Supine Beginner Eka Pada Sirasana → Eka Pāda Śīrṣāsana One Leg Behind the Head Hip opener and leg extension, Seated Advanced Eka Pāda Śīrṣāsana One Leg Behind the Head Hip opener and leg extension, Seated Advanced Eka Pada Urdhva Dhanurasana → Ūrdhva Dhanurāsana Wheel Pose Backbend, Supine Advanced Eka Pada Viparita Dandasana → Dvi Pāda Viparīta Daṇḍāsana Two-Legged Inverted Staff Backbend, Inversion Advanced
G Sanskrit name English name Family Difficulty Galavasana → Eka Pāda Gālavāsana Flying Pigeon Arm balance, Hip opener and leg extension Advanced Garbha Piṇḍāsana Embryo in the Womb Balancing, Seated Advanced Garuḍāsana Eagle Pose Balancing, Standing Intermediate Gomukhāsana Cow Face Pose Hip opener and leg extension, Seated Intermediate Gorakshasana (Hatha Yoga Pradipika alternative name) → Bhadrāsana Gracious Pose Hip opener and leg extension, Seated, Seated and meditation Beginner
H Sanskrit name English name Family Difficulty Halāsana Plow Pose Forward bend, Inversion Intermediate Hanumānāsana Monkey Pose (Full Split) Hip opener and leg extension Advanced Hasta Uttānāsana Raised Arms with Backbend Backbend, Standing Beginner Hasta Utthanasana → Hasta Uttānāsana Raised Arms with Backbend Backbend, Standing Beginner
J Sanskrit name English name Family Difficulty Jānu Śīrṣāsana Head-to-Knee Pose Forward bend, Hip opener and leg extension, Seated Beginner Janu Sirsasana B → Jānu Śīrṣāsana Head-to-Knee Pose Forward bend, Hip opener and leg extension, Seated Beginner Janu Sirsasana C → Jānu Śīrṣāsana Head-to-Knee Pose Forward bend, Hip opener and leg extension, Seated Beginner Jaṭhara Parivartanāsana Revolved Abdomen Pose Floor foundations and core, Supine, Twist Intermediate
K Sanskrit name English name Family Difficulty Kākāsana Crow Pose Arm balance, Balancing Intermediate Kapotāsana Kapotasana Backbend, Kneeling Advanced Kapotasana B → Kapotāsana Kapotasana Backbend, Kneeling Advanced Karṇapīḍāsana Ear Pressure Pose Forward bend, Inversion Advanced Kaundinyasana → Eka Pāda Kauṇḍinyāsana I Sage Koundinya’s Pose Arm balance, Twist Advanced Koundinyasana → Eka Pāda Kauṇḍinyāsana I Sage Koundinya’s Pose Arm balance, Twist Advanced Krauñcāsana Heron Pose Forward bend, Seated Intermediate Krounchasana → Krauñcāsana Heron Pose Forward bend, Seated Intermediate Kukkuṭāsana Rooster Pose Arm balance, Seated Advanced Kukutasana → Kukkuṭāsana Rooster Pose Arm balance, Seated Advanced Kūrmāsana Tortoise Pose Forward bend, Hip opener and leg extension, Seated Advanced
L Sanskrit name English name Family Difficulty Laghu Vajrāsana Little Thunderbolt Backbend, Kneeling Advanced Lolāsana Pendant Pose Arm balance, Kneeling Advanced
M Sanskrit name English name Family Difficulty Makarāsana Crocodile Pose Prone, Resting and restorative Beginner Mālāsana Garland Pose Hip opener and leg extension, Standing Beginner Mandukasana (Light on Yoga alternative name) → Bhekāsana Frog Pose (Bhekasana) Backbend, Prone Advanced Marichyasana B → Marīcyāsana A Marichi’s Pose (A and B) Forward bend, Seated Intermediate Marichyasana D → Marīcyāsana C Marichi’s Twist (C and D) Seated, Twist Intermediate Marichyasana I → Marīcyāsana A Marichi’s Pose (A and B) Forward bend, Seated Intermediate Marichyasana II → Marīcyāsana A Marichi’s Pose (A and B) Forward bend, Seated Intermediate Marichyasana III → Marīcyāsana C Marichi’s Twist (C and D) Seated, Twist Intermediate Marichyasana IV → Marīcyāsana C Marichi’s Twist (C and D) Seated, Twist Intermediate Marīcyāsana A Marichi’s Pose (A and B) Forward bend, Seated Intermediate Marīcyāsana C Marichi’s Twist (C and D) Seated, Twist Intermediate Marjaryasana → Marjaryasana-Bitilasana Cat-Cow Backbend, Forward bend, Kneeling Beginner Marjaryasana-Bitilasana Cat-Cow Backbend, Forward bend, Kneeling Beginner Matsyāsana Fish Pose Backbend, Supine Intermediate Matsyendrāsana Full Lord of the Fishes Seated, Twist Advanced Mayūrāsana Peacock Pose Arm balance Advanced Mritasana → Śavāsana Corpse Pose Resting and restorative, Supine Beginner Mrtasana → Śavāsana Corpse Pose Resting and restorative, Supine Beginner Mukta Hasta Sirsasana → Sālamba Śīrṣāsana Supported Headstand Inversion Advanced
N Sanskrit name English name Family Difficulty Naṭarājāsana Dancer Pose Backbend, Balancing, Standing Intermediate Navasana → Paripūrṇa Nāvāsana Boat Pose Balancing, Floor foundations and core, Seated Intermediate Niralamba Sarvangasana → Sālamba Sarvāṅgāsana Supported Shoulderstand Inversion Advanced
P Sanskrit name English name Family Difficulty Pādahastāsana Hands Under Feet Pose Forward bend, Standing Intermediate Pādāṅguṣṭhāsana Big Toe Pose Forward bend, Standing Intermediate Padma Mayurasana → Mayūrāsana Peacock Pose Arm balance Advanced Padmāsana Lotus Pose Seated Advanced Paripurna Matsyendrasana → Matsyendrāsana Full Lord of the Fishes Seated, Twist Advanced Paripūrṇa Nāvāsana Boat Pose Balancing, Floor foundations and core, Seated Intermediate Parivṛtta Ardha Candrāsana Revolved Half Moon Balancing, Standing, Twist Intermediate Parivrtta Hasta Padangusthasana (section on this page) → Utthita Hasta Pādāṅguṣṭhāsana Extended Hand-to-Big-Toe Pose Balancing, Standing Intermediate Parivṛtta Jānu Śīrṣāsana Revolved Head-to-Knee Pose Seated, Side bend, Twist Intermediate Parivṛtta Pārśvakoṇāsana Revolved Side Angle Standing, Twist Intermediate Parivrtta Supta Padangusthasana → Supta Pādāṅguṣṭhāsana Reclining Hand-to-Big-Toe Pose Forward bend, Resting and restorative, Supine Beginner Parivṛtta Trikoṇāsana Revolved Triangle Standing, Twist Intermediate Parivṛtta Utkaṭāsana Revolved Chair Pose Standing, Twist Intermediate Parshva Dhanurasana → Dhanurāsana Bow Pose Backbend, Prone Intermediate Pārśva Bakāsana Side Crow Pose Arm balance, Twist Advanced Parsva Dhanurasana → Dhanurāsana Bow Pose Backbend, Prone Intermediate Parsva Halasana → Halāsana Plow Pose Forward bend, Inversion Intermediate Parsva Sarvangasana → Sālamba Sarvāṅgāsana Supported Shoulderstand Inversion Advanced Parsva Sirsasana → Sālamba Śīrṣāsana Supported Headstand Inversion Advanced Parsva Supta Padangusthasana → Supta Pādāṅguṣṭhāsana Reclining Hand-to-Big-Toe Pose Forward bend, Resting and restorative, Supine Beginner Parsvakonasana A (Ashtanga) → Utthita Pārśvakoṇāsana Extended Side Angle Side bend, Standing Beginner Parsvakonasana B (Ashtanga) → Parivṛtta Pārśvakoṇāsana Revolved Side Angle Standing, Twist Intermediate Pārśvottānāsana Pyramid Pose Forward bend, Standing Beginner Pāśāsana Noose Pose Standing, Twist Advanced Paschimotanasana → Paścimottānāsana Seated Forward Bend Forward bend, Seated Beginner Paścimottānāsana Seated Forward Bend Forward bend, Seated Beginner Pavanamuktāsana Wind-Relieving Pose Resting and restorative, Supine Beginner Pawanmuktasana → Pavanamuktāsana Wind-Relieving Pose Resting and restorative, Supine Beginner Piñcha Mayūrāsana Forearm Stand Arm balance, Inversion Advanced Pindasana → Sālamba Sarvāṅgāsana Supported Shoulderstand Inversion Advanced Praṇāmāsana Prayer Pose Standing Beginner Prasārita Pādottānāsana Wide-Legged Forward Fold Forward bend, Standing Beginner Prasarita Padottanasana B → Prasārita Pādottānāsana Wide-Legged Forward Fold Forward bend, Standing Beginner Prasarita Padottanasana C → Prasārita Pādottānāsana Wide-Legged Forward Fold Forward bend, Standing Beginner Prasarita Padottanasana D → Prasārita Pādottānāsana Wide-Legged Forward Fold Forward bend, Standing Beginner Purna Matsyendrasana → Matsyendrāsana Full Lord of the Fishes Seated, Twist Advanced Pūrvottānāsana Upward Plank Backbend, Seated Intermediate
S Sanskrit name English name Family Difficulty Śalabhāsana Locust Pose Backbend, Prone Beginner Sālamba Sarvāṅgāsana Supported Shoulderstand Inversion Advanced Sālamba Śīrṣāsana Supported Headstand Inversion Advanced Salamba Sirsasana I → Sālamba Śīrṣāsana Supported Headstand Inversion Advanced Sālamba Śīrṣāsana II Tripod Headstand Inversion Advanced Samasthiti → Tāḍāsana Mountain Pose Standing Beginner Samasthitih → Tāḍāsana Mountain Pose Standing Beginner Samasthitiḥ → Tāḍāsana Mountain Pose Standing Beginner Sarvangasana → Sālamba Sarvāṅgāsana Supported Shoulderstand Inversion Advanced Sashtanga Namaskar → Aṣṭāṅga Namaskāra Eight-Point Salute Floor foundations and core, Prone Beginner Śavāsana Corpse Pose Resting and restorative, Supine Beginner Setu Bandha Sarvāṅgāsana Bridge Pose Backbend, Supine Beginner Setu Bandhasana → Setu Bandha Sarvāṅgāsana Bridge Pose Backbend, Supine Beginner Shirshasana → Sālamba Śīrṣāsana Supported Headstand Inversion Advanced Siddhāsana Accomplished Pose Seated, Seated and meditation Intermediate Siṃhāsana Lion Pose Kneeling, Seated and meditation Beginner Sinhasana → Siṃhāsana Lion Pose Kneeling, Seated and meditation Beginner Sirsasana → Sālamba Śīrṣāsana Supported Headstand Inversion Advanced Śīrṣāsana → Sālamba Śīrṣāsana Supported Headstand Inversion Advanced Sirsasana II → Sālamba Śīrṣāsana II Tripod Headstand Inversion Advanced Sirshasana → Sālamba Śīrṣāsana Supported Headstand Inversion Advanced Skandāsana Side Lunge Hip opener and leg extension, Standing Intermediate Skandasana (modern classes) → Skandāsana Side Lunge Hip opener and leg extension, Standing Intermediate Sukhāsana Easy Pose Seated, Seated and meditation Beginner Supta Ardha Virasana (half reclining hero) → Supta Vīrāsana Reclining Hero Backbend, Kneeling, Supine Intermediate Supta Baddha Koṇāsana Reclining Bound Angle Hip opener and leg extension, Resting and restorative, Supine Beginner Supta Kūrmāsana Reclining Tortoise Forward bend, Hip opener and leg extension, Seated Advanced Supta Pādāṅguṣṭhāsana Reclining Hand-to-Big-Toe Pose Forward bend, Resting and restorative, Supine Beginner Supta Padangusthasana I → Supta Pādāṅguṣṭhāsana Reclining Hand-to-Big-Toe Pose Forward bend, Resting and restorative, Supine Beginner Supta Padangusthasana II → Supta Pādāṅguṣṭhāsana Reclining Hand-to-Big-Toe Pose Forward bend, Resting and restorative, Supine Beginner Supta Pawanmuktasana → Pavanamuktāsana Wind-Relieving Pose Resting and restorative, Supine Beginner Supta Vīrāsana Reclining Hero Backbend, Kneeling, Supine Intermediate Svastikāsana Auspicious Pose Seated, Seated and meditation Intermediate
T Sanskrit name English name Family Difficulty Tāḍāsana Mountain Pose Standing Beginner Tiryak Tadasana → Tiryaka Tāḍāsana Swaying Palm Tree Side bend, Standing Beginner Tiryaka Tāḍāsana Swaying Palm Tree Side bend, Standing Beginner Titibhasana → Ṭiṭṭibhāsana Firefly Pose Arm balance Advanced Tolāsana Scale Pose Arm balance, Seated Advanced Triang Mukha Eka Pada Paschimottanasana → Triaṅga Mukhaikapāda Paścimottānāsana Three-Limbed Forward Bend Forward bend, Seated Intermediate Triang Mukhaikapada Paschimottanasana → Triaṅga Mukhaikapāda Paścimottānāsana Three-Limbed Forward Bend Forward bend, Seated Intermediate Triaṅga Mukhaikapāda Paścimottānāsana Three-Limbed Forward Bend Forward bend, Seated Intermediate Trikonasana → Utthita Trikoṇāsana Triangle Pose Side bend, Standing Beginner Trikoṇāsana → Utthita Trikoṇāsana Triangle Pose Side bend, Standing Beginner Trikonasana B (Ashtanga) → Parivṛtta Trikoṇāsana Revolved Triangle Standing, Twist Intermediate Try-anga Mukhaika Pada Paschimottanasana → Triaṅga Mukhaikapāda Paścimottānāsana Three-Limbed Forward Bend Forward bend, Seated Intermediate
U Sanskrit name English name Family Difficulty Ubhaya Pādāṅguṣṭhāsana Both Big Toes Pose Balancing, Floor foundations and core, Forward bend, Seated Intermediate Upavishta Konasana → Upaviṣṭha Koṇāsana Seated Wide-Angle Forward Bend Forward bend, Hip opener and leg extension, Seated Intermediate Upaviṣṭha Koṇāsana Seated Wide-Angle Forward Bend Forward bend, Hip opener and leg extension, Seated Intermediate Ūrdhva Dhanurāsana Wheel Pose Backbend, Supine Advanced Ūrdhva Hastāsana Upward Salute Standing Beginner Urdhva Kukkutasana → Kukkuṭāsana Rooster Pose Arm balance, Seated Advanced Ūrdhva Mukha Paścimottānāsana Upward-Facing Intense Stretch Balancing, Floor foundations and core, Forward bend, Seated Intermediate Ūrdhva Mukha Śvānāsana Upward-Facing Dog Backbend, Prone Intermediate Urdhva Padmasana → Sālamba Sarvāṅgāsana Supported Shoulderstand Inversion Advanced Ūrdhva Prasārita Ekapādāsana Standing Split Balancing, Forward bend, Standing Intermediate Ūrdhva Prasārita Pādāsana Upward Extended Legs Floor foundations and core, Supine Intermediate Uṣṭrāsana Camel Pose Backbend, Kneeling Intermediate Utkaṭāsana Chair Pose Standing Beginner Utpluthih → Tolāsana Scale Pose Arm balance, Seated Advanced Utpluti → Tolāsana Scale Pose Arm balance, Seated Advanced Uttānāsana Standing Forward Fold Forward bend, Standing Beginner Uttanasana A (Ashtanga label) → Uttānāsana Standing Forward Fold Forward bend, Standing Beginner Uttanasana B (Ashtanga label) → Ardha Uttānāsana Half Standing Forward Fold Forward bend, Standing Beginner Utthita Hasta Pādāṅguṣṭhāsana Extended Hand-to-Big-Toe Pose Balancing, Standing Intermediate Utthita Pārśvakoṇāsana Extended Side Angle Side bend, Standing Beginner Utthita Trikoṇāsana Triangle Pose Side bend, Standing Beginner
V Sanskrit name English name Family Difficulty Vajrāsana Thunderbolt Pose Kneeling, Seated and meditation Beginner Vashishtasana → Vasiṣṭhāsana Side Plank Arm balance, Balancing, Floor foundations and core Intermediate Vasiṣṭhāsana Side Plank Arm balance, Balancing, Floor foundations and core Intermediate Vipareeta Karani → Viparīta Karaṇī Viparita Karani Inversion, Resting and restorative Intermediate Vipareeta Karani Asana → Viparīta Karaṇī Viparita Karani Inversion, Resting and restorative Intermediate Viparita Dandasana → Dvi Pāda Viparīta Daṇḍāsana Two-Legged Inverted Staff Backbend, Inversion Advanced Viparīta Karaṇī Viparita Karani Inversion, Resting and restorative Intermediate Viparita Karani Mudra → Viparīta Karaṇī Viparita Karani Inversion, Resting and restorative Intermediate Virabhadrasana 1 → Vīrabhadrāsana I Warrior I Standing Beginner Virabhadrasana 2 → Vīrabhadrāsana II Warrior II Hip opener and leg extension, Standing Beginner Virabhadrasana 3 → Vīrabhadrāsana III Warrior III Balancing, Standing Intermediate Virabhadrasana A → Vīrabhadrāsana I Warrior I Standing Beginner Virabhadrasana B → Vīrabhadrāsana II Warrior II Hip opener and leg extension, Standing Beginner Vīrabhadrāsana I Warrior I Standing Beginner Vīrabhadrāsana II Warrior II Hip opener and leg extension, Standing Beginner Vīrabhadrāsana III Warrior III Balancing, Standing Intermediate Vīrāsana Hero Pose Kneeling, Seated and meditation Intermediate Viśvāmitrāsana Sage Visvamitra’s Pose Arm balance, Hip opener and leg extension Advanced Vṛkṣāsana Tree Pose Balancing, Standing Beginner Vṛścikāsana Scorpion Pose Arm balance, Backbend, Inversion Advanced
Y Sanskrit name English name Family Difficulty Yoga Mudra → Yoga Mudrāsana Yoga Seal Pose Forward bend, Seated Advanced Yoga Mudrāsana Yoga Seal Pose Forward bend, Seated Advanced Yoganidrāsana Yoga Sleep Pose (Yoganidrasana) Forward bend, Hip opener and leg extension, Supine Advanced
# Sanskrit name English name Family Difficulty Ṭiṭṭibhāsana Firefly Pose Arm balance Advanced
Frequently asked questions Why are Sanskrit pose names spelled in different ways? Sanskrit is written in Devanagari script, and there are several ways to write it in the Latin alphabet. Scholarly IAST uses marks such as ā and ś; studios often drop them or write sh for ś. Vrksasana, Vrikshasana and Vṛkṣāsana are the same name.
Does every yoga pose have a Sanskrit name? No. Many poses taught today are modern and have only English names. We show a Sanskrit name only when credible sources agree on it, and say so when a pose has a modern descriptive name.
Facts checked on October 6, 2026
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