New to yoga — or just tired of nodding along when the teacher calls out a pose you can’t place? This page is a clean, scannable reference for common yoga pose names in both English and Sanskrit. No long tutorials. No sequence plans. Just the names, organized so you can actually find what you’re looking for.
Who This Reference Is For
This list is built for three kinds of readers:
Beginners who just started classes and keep hearing Sanskrit words they can’t match to a shape. You’ll find the English name first, Sanskrit second — so you can start building a mental map without having to memorize a new language on day one.
Self-taught practitioners who learned from videos and may only know poses by their English nicknames. If your teacher says Virabhadrasana II and you freeze, this list bridges that gap.
Students returning after a break who want a quick vocabulary refresh before stepping back on the mat.
This is a reference, not a tutorial. Step-by-step instructions for individual poses live on the full yoga poses guide. What this page does is give you the names, the categories, and enough context to stop feeling lost in class.
It is not a foundation curriculum, a beginner sequence, or a guide to which poses to master first.
How Yoga Poses Get Their Names
Most yoga poses have two names running in parallel: a Sanskrit name from the classical tradition, and an English translation or descriptive nickname that became common in Western studios.
Sanskrit names follow a consistent logic. Most compound words end in -asana (meaning “seat” or “pose”). The first part typically describes an animal, a shape, a mythological figure, or an action. Vrksasana = vrksa (tree) + asana (pose). Bhujangasana = bhujanga (cobra/serpent) + asana.
English names are less systematic. Some are direct translations (Tree Pose, Cobra Pose). Others are approximations (Downward-Facing Dog). A few have no obvious English equivalent and are simply kept in Sanskrit even in casual conversation (Savasana, Tadasana).
One practical note: spelling varies. You’ll see Trikonasana and Trikonāsana, Adho Mukha Svanasana and shorter forms like Adho Mukha. Don’t get hung up on it — the core word is usually recognizable.
If you’re using this page mainly to keep up in class, focus on recognizing the most common English and Sanskrit pairs first. The vocabulary gets easier once you stop trying to memorize everything in one sitting.
Pose Categories: How the List Is Organized
Yoga poses are commonly grouped by body position and structural demand. Understanding these categories helps you follow class sequences, build home practices, and look up poses faster.
Standing Poses
Built on contact with the ground through the feet. These poses develop balance, leg strength, and spatial awareness. Many beginner sequences are anchored by standing poses because they’re grounding and accessible.
Seated Poses
Performed on the floor with the hips down. Includes forward folds, twists, and hip openers. Generally lower-intensity than standing work, though some seated poses — like full splits or deep twists — require significant flexibility.
Supine Poses
Lying on the back. Often used for hip openers, core work, and cooling-down sequences. Savasana (Corpse Pose) is the most recognized supine pose.
Prone Poses
Lying face down. Backbends and upper-body strengtheners dominate this category: Bhujangasana (Cobra), Salabhasana (Locust), Dhanurasana (Bow).
Inversions
Any pose where the hips are above the heart, or the head below the heart. Ranges from gentle (Viparita Karani / Legs-Up-the-Wall) to demanding (Sirsasana / Headstand). Not all inversions require being fully upside-down.
Balancing Poses
Standing or arm-supported poses that require significant balance and concentration. Vrksasana (Tree Pose) is the most familiar. Arm balances like Bakasana (Crow/Crane Pose) belong here too.
Restorative Poses
Held for several minutes with the body fully supported, usually with props. Designed for deep relaxation. Balasana (Child’s Pose) is used restoratively, though it appears in active sequences too.
Backbends
Poses that extend the spine. Includes a wide intensity range — from Bitilasana (Cow Pose) to Ustrasana (Camel Pose) to Urdhva Dhanurasana (Wheel Pose).
Twists
Rotational poses that move the spine around its vertical axis. Can be seated, supine, standing, or incorporated into other pose types.
Common Yoga Pose Names: Sanskrit and English
The following list covers poses you’ll encounter regularly across yoga styles. Each entry gives the English name first, followed by Sanskrit in parentheses.
Standing Poses
| English Name | Sanskrit Name |
|---|---|
| Mountain Pose | Tadasana |
| Standing Forward Fold | Uttanasana |
| Halfway Lift | Ardha Uttanasana |
| Chair Pose | Utkatasana |
| Warrior I | Virabhadrasana I |
| Warrior II | Virabhadrasana II |
| Warrior III | Virabhadrasana III |
| Reverse Warrior | Viparita Virabhadrasana |
| Triangle Pose | Trikonasana |
| Extended Side Angle | Utthita Parsvakonasana |
| Wide-Legged Forward Fold | Prasarita Padottanasana |
| Pyramid Pose | Parsvottanasana |
| Crescent Lunge | Anjaneyasana |
| High Lunge | Utthita Ashwa Sanchalanasana |
| Garland Pose (Squat) | Malasana |
| Eagle Pose | Garudasana |
| Tree Pose | Vrksasana |
| Half Moon Pose | Ardha Chandrasana |
| Standing Split | Urdhva Prasarita Eka Padasana |
Seated Poses
| English Name | Sanskrit Name |
|---|---|
| Staff Pose | Dandasana |
| Easy Pose | Sukhasana |
| Hero Pose | Virasana |
| Lotus Pose | Padmasana |
| Bound Angle / Butterfly Pose | Baddha Konasana |
| Wide-Angle Seated Forward Fold | Upavistha Konasana |
| Seated Forward Fold | Paschimottanasana |
| Head-to-Knee Pose | Janu Sirsasana |
| Half Lord of the Fishes (Seated Twist) | Ardha Matsyendrasana |
| Boat Pose | Navasana |
| Cow Face Pose | Gomukhasana |
| Heron Pose | Krounchasana |
| Fire Log Pose | Agnistambhasana |
Supine Poses
| English Name | Sanskrit Name |
|---|---|
| Corpse Pose | Savasana |
| Reclined Bound Angle | Supta Baddha Konasana |
| Happy Baby Pose | Ananda Balasana |
| Reclined Twist | Supta Matsyendrasana |
| Reclined Hero Pose | Supta Virasana |
| Legs-Up-the-Wall | Viparita Karani |
| Bridge Pose | Setu Bandha Sarvangasana |
| Wheel / Upward Bow | Urdhva Dhanurasana |
| Shoulder Stand | Sarvangasana |
| Fish Pose | Matsyasana |
| Wind-Relieving Pose | Pawanmuktasana |
Prone Poses
| English Name | Sanskrit Name |
|---|---|
| Cobra Pose | Bhujangasana |
| Low Cobra / Baby Cobra | Ardha Bhujangasana |
| Sphinx Pose | Salamba Bhujangasana |
| Locust Pose | Salabhasana |
| Bow Pose | Dhanurasana |
| Frog Pose | Mandukasana |
Balancing Poses
| English Name | Sanskrit Name |
|---|---|
| Tree Pose | Vrksasana |
| Eagle Pose | Garudasana |
| Warrior III | Virabhadrasana III |
| Half Moon Pose | Ardha Chandrasana |
| Dancer’s Pose | Natarajasana |
| Crow / Crane Pose | Bakasana |
| Side Crow | Parsva Bakasana |
| Scale Pose | Tolasana |
| Eight-Angle Pose | Astavakrasana |
| Firefly Pose | Tittibhasana |
Inversions
| English Name | Sanskrit Name |
|---|---|
| Downward-Facing Dog | Adho Mukha Svanasana |
| Legs-Up-the-Wall | Viparita Karani |
| Supported Shoulder Stand | Salamba Sarvangasana |
| Headstand | Sirsasana |
| Forearm Stand | Pincha Mayurasana |
| Handstand | Adho Mukha Vrksasana |
Backbends
| English Name | Sanskrit Name |
|---|---|
| Cat Pose | Marjaryasana |
| Cow Pose | Bitilasana |
| Cobra Pose | Bhujangasana |
| Upward-Facing Dog | Urdhva Mukha Svanasana |
| Camel Pose | Ustrasana |
| Wheel / Upward Bow | Urdhva Dhanurasana |
| Bridge Pose | Setu Bandha Sarvangasana |
| Pigeon Pose | Kapotasana (full) / Eka Pada Rajakapotasana |
| King Pigeon | Raja Kapotasana |
Twists
| English Name | Sanskrit Name |
|---|---|
| Revolved Chair Pose | Parivrtta Utkatasana |
| Revolved Triangle | Parivrtta Trikonasana |
| Revolved Side Angle | Parivrtta Parsvakonasana |
| Half Lord of the Fishes | Ardha Matsyendrasana |
| Seated Spinal Twist | Marichyasana C |
| Reclined Twist | Supta Matsyendrasana |
Transitions and Floor-Work Poses
These appear frequently in class flows even though they’re often treated as “in-between” shapes:
| English Name | Sanskrit Name |
|---|---|
| Child’s Pose | Balasana |
| Extended Child’s Pose | Utthita Balasana |
| Tabletop Pose | Bharmanasana |
| Plank Pose | Phalakasana |
| Low Plank / Four-Limbed Staff Pose | Chaturanga Dandasana |
| Thread the Needle | Parsva Balasana |
| Puppy Pose | Uttana Shishosana |
A Note on Pose Groupings
Some poses appear in more than one category depending on context and emphasis. Adho Mukha Svanasana (Downward-Facing Dog) is often classed as an inversion because the hips are above the heart — but it’s also a standing transition, a hamstring stretch, and a resting pose in many practices. The categories above reflect the most common classification you’ll hear in class, not a rigid taxonomy.
Similarly, poses like Eka Pada Rajakapotasana (One-Legged King Pigeon) show up both as a hip opener and a backbend depending on how it’s taught. When you encounter classification ambiguity, context usually resolves it.
How to Use This List
In class: if the teacher calls a Sanskrit name you don’t recognize, scan the Sanskrit column in the relevant category. Most teachers won’t stop mid-sequence, so having a rough mental map before class reduces confusion.
Building a home practice: use the category structure as a framework. A balanced session typically includes something from standing, seated, a twist, a backbend, and a closing supine shape. This list lets you mix deliberately rather than guessing.
Learning Sanskrit: don’t try to memorize everything at once. Pick five poses you already know in English and learn their Sanskrit names. Repeat until automatic, then add five more. Spaced repetition works better here than a single study session.
What’s Next
This page covers the naming layer — what poses are called and how they’re grouped. It doesn’t go deeper into alignment, sequencing, or practice structure. For those, the following pages are more useful:
- Complete Guide to Yoga Poses — the parent guide if you want to move from pose names into alignment, safety, and how categories fit together.
- First Yoga Poses to Learn — if you want a shorter list of foundational poses instead of a broad reference page.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which yoga pose names show up most often in beginner classes? The names you’ll hear most often are Mountain Pose (Tadasana), Downward-Facing Dog (Adho Mukha Svanasana), Child’s Pose (Balasana), Warrior I and II (Virabhadrasana I and II), and Corpse Pose (Savasana). These appear across virtually all yoga styles and are the most useful vocabulary to recognize first.
What is the difference between Sanskrit and English yoga pose names? Sanskrit names come from the classical Indian tradition and follow consistent grammatical patterns — most end in -asana. English names are translations or descriptive nicknames developed as yoga spread to Western audiences. Both names refer to the same poses. Some teachers use Sanskrit exclusively, others alternate, and some use English only. Knowing both gives you flexibility.
How are yoga poses grouped by type? The most common groupings are: standing poses, seated poses, supine poses (lying on the back), prone poses (lying face down), inversions, balancing poses, backbends, and twists. These categories reflect body position and the primary demand of the pose — but many poses cross categories depending on emphasis and context.