Ashtanga Yoga Terminology

Yoga is a ancient system of physical and mental training. Traditionally, yoga was developed as a way of life to prepare the mind and body for enlightenment. Today, we practice yoga to build strength and flexibility, to learn to control our breathing, and to enhance our ability to concentrate.

There are a number of popular schools of yoga practice, one of which is Ashtanga yoga.

As you study Ashtanga yoga, you will encounter a great many strange words derived from Sanskrit, the ancient classical language of India.

Below you will find the derivation for many of the words you will hear as you learn Ashtanga yoga. In particular, you will be able to understand the meaning behind the names of the various poses.

General Terminology
Opening Chant
Numbers
Warm-Up Poses
Standing Poses
Seated Poses
Finishing Poses
Rest

General Terminology

Ashtanga yoga:

The classical yoga writings, the Yoga Sutras, were compiled in the second century B.C. by Patanjali, who described yoga as having eight major parts, sometimes referred to as the eight limbs of yoga. The word Ashtanga comes from the words ashta (eight) and anga (limbs).

Asana:

An asana is a pose or posture. The names of almost all yoga poses end in "asasa".

Vinyasa:

Vinyasa refers to a series of connected movements, performed in sequence. The sequences of warm up postures, Surya Namaskara A and B, are examples of vinyasa, as are the short sequences of movements used to connect one pose to another.

Ujjayi breath:

Ujjayi breath is a type of pranayama (controlled breathing) in which you breathe in a constant, even rhythm through both nostrils, holding your glottis partially closed. (When you do this right, it sounds a bit like Darth Vador.) You should practice Ujjayi breath throughout the entire Ashtanga yoga series. The word ujjayi means victory.

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Opening Chant

At the beginning of every Ashtanga yoga class, the teacher will take a moment to lead the students in chanting a few lines of Sanskrit. As you chant, you close your eyes and focus your attention inward to prepare yourself for the rigors of the class.

Literally, the chant refers to the tradition of honoring the wisdom of the teachers who passed down the ancient yoga traditions. In a practical sense, the chant helps you mark a division between your everyday activities and the Ashtanga class that is about to begin.

The chant is as follows:

vande gurunam charanaravinde
sandarsita svatmasukhava bodhe
nihsreyase jangalikayamane
samsara halahala mohasantyai

abahu purusakaram
sankhacakrasi dharinam
sahasra sirasam svetam
pranamami patanjalim

(Translation into English)

I bow to the lotus feet of the guru
who awakens insight into the happiness of pure Being,
who is the final refuge, the jungle physician,
who eliminates the delusion caused by the poisonous
herb of samsara [conditioned existence].

I prostrate before the sage Patanjali
who has thousands of radiant, white heads
[in his form as the divine serpent, Ananta]
and who has, as far as his arms,
assumed the form of a man holding a conch shell [divine sound],
a wheel [discus of light, representing infinite time]
and a sword [discrimination].

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Numbers

During the class, many teachers will establish a rhythm by counting the various movements of the vinyasas. Some teachers, the more traditional ones, will count in Sanskrit.

Here are the numbers you may hear:

1		ekam
2		dve
3		trini
4		catvari
5		panca
6		sat
7		sapta
8		astau
9		nava
10		dasa
11		ekadasa
12		dvadasa
13		trayodasa
14		caturdasa
15		pancadasa
16		sodasa
17		saptadasa

When the teacher says samasthiti (same state) it means return to the basic standing position.

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Warm-Up Poses

Surya Namaskara A
Surya Namaskara B

surya sun
namaskara salutation

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Standing Poses

Padangusthasana

padangustha big toe
asana pose

Padahastasana

pada foot, leg
hasta hand
asana pose

Uttihita Trikonasana

uttihita extended, stretched
tri three
kona angle
asana pose

Parivrtta Trikonasana

parivrtta revolved, turned round
tri three
kona angle
asana pose

Uttihita Parsvakonasana

uttihita extended, stretched
parsva side, flank
kona angle
asana pose

Parivrtta Parsvakonasana

parivrtta revolved, turned round
parsva side, flank
kona angle
asana pose

Prasarita Padottanasana A
Prasarita Padottanasana B
Prasarita Padottanasana C
Prasarita Padottanasana D

prasarita expanded, spread out, extended
pada foot, leg
tan stretch
asana pose

Parsvottanasana

parsva side, flank
tan stretch
asana pose

Utthita Hasta Padangustasana

uttihita extended, stretched
hasta hand
padangusta big toe
asana pose

Ardha Baddha Padmottanasana

ardha half
baddha bound, restrained
padma lotus
ut intense
tan stretch
asana pose

Utkatasana

utkata powerful, fierce
asana pose

Virabhadrasasana I
Virabhadrasasana II

Virabhadra the name of a hero who led Siva's army
asana pose

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Seated Poses

Dandasasana

danda a staff, a rod
asana pose

Paschimottanasana A
Paschimottanasana B
Paschimottanasana C

paschima west [refers to the back of the body]
ut intense
tan stretch
asana pose

Purvottanasana

purva east [refers to the front of the body]
ut intense
tan stretch
asana pose

Ardha Baddha Padma Paschimottanasana

ardha half
baddha bound, restrained
padma lotus
paschima west [refers to the back of the body]
ut intense
tan stretch
asana pose

Triang Mukhaikapada Paschimottanasana

tri three
anga body, limb, part of the body
mukha face
eka one
pada foot, leg
paschima west [refers to the back of the body]
ut intense
tan stretch
asana pose

Janu Sirsasana A
Janu Sirsasana B
Janu Sirsasana C

janu knee
sirsa head
asana pose

Marichyasana A
Marichyasana B
Marichyasana C
Marichyasana D

Marichi the name of a sage, the son of Brahma (the creator)
asana pose

Navasana

nava boat
asana pose

Bhujapidasana A
Bhujapidasana B

bhuja arm, shoulder
pida pain, discomfort, pressure
asana pose

Kurmasana

kurma tortoise
asana pose

Supta Kurmasana

supta sleeping, lying down
kurma tortoise
asana pose

Garbaha Pindasana

garbha womb
pinda embryo
asana pose

Kukkutasana

kukkuta cock, rooster
asana pose

Baddha Konasana

baddha bound, restrained
kona angle
asana pose

Upavistha Konasana A
Upavistha Konasana B

upavistha seated
kona angle
asana pose

Supta Konasana

supta sleeping, lying down
kona angle
asana pose

Supta Padagusthasana

supta sleeping, lying down
padangusta big toe
asana pose

Ubhaya Padagusthasana

ubhaya both
padangusta big toe
asana pose

Urdhva Mukha Paschimottanasana

urdhva upwards
mukha face
paschima west [refers to the back of the body]
ut intense
tan stretch
asana pose

Setu Bandhasana

setu bridge
bandha bondage
asana pose

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Finishing Poses

Urdhva Dhanurasana

urdhva upwards
dhanu a bow
asana pose

Paschimottanasana

paschima west [refers to the back of the body]
ut intense
tan stretch
asana pose

Sarvangasana

sarva all, whole, entire, complete
anga limb, body
asana pose

Halasana

hala a plow
asana pose

Karnapidasana

karna ear
pida pain, discomfort, pressure
asana pose

Urdhva Padmasana

urdhva upwards
padma lotus
asana pose

Pindasana

pinda embryo
asana pose

Matsyasana

matsya fish
asana pose

Uttana Padasana

ut intense
tan stretch
pada foot, leg
asana pose

Sirsasana

sirsa head
asana pose

Baddha Padmasana

baddha bound, restrained
padma lotus
asana pose

Yoga Mudra

yoga union, communion
mudra a fastener, a seal

Padmasana

padma lotus
asana pose

Tolasana

tola a balance (pair of scales)
asana pose

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Rest

Savasana

sava corpse
asana pose

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