The first few yoga classes can sometimes feel as though you have walked into both an exercise class and a language lesson.
On this page
- Quick Answer
- About This Guide
- The Yoga Words You Are Most Likely to Hear
- Words That Help You Understand Yoga Pose Names
- Common Sanskrit Animal Words in Yoga Poses
- Body Words Used in Yoga Pose Names
- Breath and Pranayama Words
- Bandha
- Mudra
- Anjali Mudra
- Yoga Philosophy Words
- The Eight Limbs of Yoga
- Meditation Words in Yoga
- Traditional Subtle-Body Terms
- Yoga Practice Words
- Yoga Teacher Words
- Yoga Style Words
- Common English Words You Hear in Yoga Classes
A teacher may ask you to come into Tadasana, move through a vinyasa, find your drishti, engage a bandha and eventually settle into Savasana. If you are new to yoga, it is entirely reasonable to understand the movements long before you understand all the words.
Much of yoga’s vocabulary comes from Sanskrit, although modern yoga also uses plenty of English terms and a growing collection of style names, teaching shorthand and anatomy cues. Some Sanskrit words have very precise meanings, while others have acquired looser interpretations as yoga has travelled between traditions, countries and modern studios.
This guide explains the yoga words you are most likely to encounter, from basic pose terminology and breathing practices to philosophy, meditation and the names of different yoga styles. If you are trying to understand how those terms translate into actual classes, Yoga for Yogi has separate guides to yoga styles, studios and teacher training.
Quick Answer
Common yoga words include asana for posture, pranayama for practices involving regulation of the breath, vinyasa for a sequence or movement linked with breathing, drishti for a point of focus, mudra for a gesture or seal, and Savasana for the resting pose usually taken at the end of class.
Many pose names become much easier to understand once you recognise the smaller Sanskrit words inside them. Ardha, for example, means half, supta indicates reclining or lying down, and parivrtta means revolved.
About This Guide
This is a practical guide to yoga words and terminology, rather than an attempt to reproduce an entire Sanskrit dictionary.
The emphasis is on words you are likely to hear in contemporary yoga classes, teacher training courses and yoga books. Where a Sanskrit term has a much richer philosophical meaning than its common studio translation suggests, that distinction is noted rather than reducing the word to a single English equivalent.
Sanskrit can also be transliterated into the Roman alphabet in different ways. Scholarly writing often uses marks such as ā, ṛ, ś and ṣ, while yoga studios and websites usually drop the diacritics for convenience. That is one reason you may encounter spellings such as Savasana and Shavasana, or vrksasana and vrikshasana, referring to the same term.
The Yoga Words You Are Most Likely to Hear
You do not need to know a hundred Sanskrit terms before attending a yoga class. A fairly small group appears again and again.
Asana
Asana is usually translated in modern yoga as posture or pose.
The Sanskrit word originally has the sense of a seat or sitting posture, although in contemporary yoga it is used much more broadly for physical postures.
You will see asana at the end of many pose names:
Tadasana — Mountain Pose
Balasana — Child’s Pose
Bhujangasana — Cobra Pose
Savasana — Corpse Pose
Once you recognise asana, long Sanskrit pose names become considerably less intimidating.
Namaste
Namaste is a respectful greeting from Sanskrit and related South Asian languages.
In many Western yoga studios it is commonly said at the end of class, often with the palms together. It is sometimes given elaborate spiritual translations in yoga culture, but its basic function is that of a respectful greeting or salutation.
It is not compulsory to say namaste simply because you are practising yoga.
Om or Aum
Om, also written Aum, is a sacred syllable with a long history in Indian religious and philosophical traditions.
Some yoga classes begin or end by chanting Om, while others do not use chanting at all.
It is much more than simply a “yoga sound”, so definitions that reduce it to a relaxation technique miss much of its religious and philosophical context.
Savasana
Savasana, often written Shavasana, is the pose commonly taken at the end of a yoga class in which the practitioner lies on the back and rests.
The name combines a Sanskrit word for corpse with asana, hence the familiar English name Corpse Pose.
Although it can look like the easiest part of class, many teachers treat Savasana as an important period of stillness rather than simply a break after the physical practice.
Vinyasa
Vinyasa is one of those yoga words whose meaning depends heavily on context.
In a modern studio, a teacher who says:
Take a vinyasa.
may be referring to a familiar transitional sequence, often involving poses such as plank, Chaturanga, Upward-Facing Dog and Downward-Facing Dog.
More broadly, vinyasa is associated with arranging or moving through postures in a deliberate sequence, often coordinated with breathing.
It is also the name used for Vinyasa Yoga, a broad style of flowing yoga practice. If you are trying to work out how Vinyasa differs from Hatha, Ashtanga, Yin and other class labels, the Yoga for Yogi guide to yoga types is a useful next step.
Drishti
Drishti refers to the gaze or a point of visual focus.
A teacher may ask you to choose a drishti during a balancing pose, which usually means allowing your eyes to rest steadily on one point rather than looking around the room.
In some yoga systems, particularly Ashtanga, specific poses have prescribed gaze points.
Pranayama
Pranayama refers to yogic practices involving regulation or control of the breath.
It is often casually translated as “breathwork”, which is useful in a modern class but does not fully capture the traditional concept. Prana is associated with vital energy or life force in yogic thought, so pranayama has a broader history than simply performing breathing exercises.
Words That Help You Understand Yoga Pose Names
One of the easiest ways to build yoga vocabulary is not to memorise every pose individually, but to learn the recurring words inside the names.
Once you know them, many apparently complicated pose names start describing themselves.
Ardha
Ardha means half.
You may see it in:
Ardha Chandrasana — Half Moon Pose
Ardha Matsyendrasana — Half Lord of the Fishes Pose
Adho
Adho indicates downward or down.
The best-known example is:
Adho Mukha Svanasana — Downward-Facing Dog
Urdhva
Urdhva means upward.
For example:
Urdhva Mukha Svanasana — Upward-Facing Dog
Mukha
Mukha means face or facing in the way it appears in many familiar pose translations.
That gives us the contrast between:
Adho Mukha — downward-facing
Urdhva Mukha — upward-facing
Supta
Supta indicates reclining or lying down.
Examples include:
Supta Baddha Konasana — Reclining Bound Angle Pose
Supta Padangusthasana — Reclining Hand-to-Big-Toe Pose
Parivrtta
Parivrtta means revolved or turned around.
You will often see it in twisting versions of poses:
Parivrtta Trikonasana — Revolved Triangle Pose
Eka
Eka means one.
Dvi
Dvi means two.
Tri
Tri relates to three.
It appears in Trikonasana, usually translated as Triangle Pose.
Pada
Pada can refer to the foot or leg in pose terminology.
It appears in names such as Eka Pada Rajakapotasana, commonly called One-Legged King Pigeon Pose.
Hasta
Hasta means hand.
Angustha
Angustha refers to the big toe or thumb depending on context.
In Padangusthasana, it forms part of the name commonly translated as Big Toe Pose.
Uttana
Uttana conveys the idea of an intense stretch or extension.
You will recognise it in:
Uttanasana — Standing Forward Bend
and:
Paschimottanasana — Seated Forward Bend
Kona
Kona means angle.
Examples include:
Baddha Konasana — Bound Angle Pose
Utthita Parsvakonasana — Extended Side Angle Pose
Baddha
Baddha means bound.
Utthita
Utthita means extended or stretched out.
Parsva
Parsva means side.
Paschima
Paschima literally refers to the west and, in traditional body terminology, can refer to the back or posterior side of the body.
This is why translating Sanskrit pose names word for word does not always produce the familiar English name.
Common Sanskrit Animal Words in Yoga Poses
Animals appear constantly in yoga pose names.
Svana
Svana means dog.
It appears in both Downward-Facing Dog and Upward-Facing Dog.
Bhujanga
Bhujanga means serpent or snake.
Bhujangasana is Cobra Pose.
Marjari
Marjari refers to a cat.
This appears in names associated with Cat Pose.
Gomukha
Gomukha literally refers to a cow’s face.
Gomukhasana is therefore known as Cow Face Pose.
Ustra
Ustra means camel.
Ustrasana is Camel Pose.
Matsya
Matsya means fish.
Matsyasana is Fish Pose.
Kurma
Kurma means tortoise.
Kaka
Kaka means crow.
You may therefore encounter Kakasana, Crow Pose.
Baka
Baka is commonly associated with a crane, giving us Bakasana, Crane Pose.
In modern classes, the English terms Crow and Crane are sometimes used rather loosely or interchangeably even though the Sanskrit names differ.
Body Words Used in Yoga Pose Names
Knowing a few body-part words also makes pose names easier to decode.
Hasta — hand
Pada — foot
Anga — limb or part
Janu — knee
Sirsa / Shirsha — head
Mukha — face
Bhuja — arm or shoulder
Danda — staff
Angustha — big toe or thumb, depending on context
For example, Sirsasana or Shirshasana is commonly known as Headstand.
Breath and Pranayama Words
Yoga vocabulary around breathing can be particularly confusing because many terms are casually translated as “breathwork” even though they refer to quite different practices.
Prana
Prana is commonly translated as life force, vital energy or breath, although none of those English words captures the traditional concept perfectly.
In yogic philosophy it refers to a form of vital energy, not simply oxygen moving through the lungs.
Ujjayi
Ujjayi is a breathing technique commonly practised with a slight narrowing at the throat, creating an audible quality to the breath.
It is particularly associated with Vinyasa and Ashtanga-style practice.
Nadi Shodhana
Nadi Shodhana is commonly known as alternate-nostril breathing.
In yogic terminology, nadi refers to a channel through which prana is understood to move, while shodhana relates to purification.
Nadis belong to traditional yogic models of the subtle body rather than modern anatomical descriptions.
Bhastrika
Bhastrika is usually translated as Bellows Breath because the breathing action is compared with a blacksmith’s bellows.
Bhramari
Bhramari is commonly called Bee Breath, involving a humming sound during exhalation.
Kapalabhati
Kapalabhati is a traditional cleansing practice involving active exhalations.
It is often taught alongside pranayama in modern classes, although traditional classifications may treat it as a kriya, or cleansing practice, rather than simply another breathing exercise.
Pranayama is also one of the subjects that becomes much more detailed in teacher education. If you are encountering these terms while considering formal training, Yoga for Yogi maintains a broader yoga teacher training directory where programmes can be compared by style and focus.
Bandha
Bandha is usually translated as lock.
In yoga practice, bandhas refer to particular muscular or energetic engagements used in some pranayama and asana traditions.
The three names you are most likely to encounter are:
Mula Bandha — Root Lock
Uddiyana Bandha — Abdominal or upward-flying lock
Jalandhara Bandha — Throat Lock
Modern teachers vary considerably in how literally or strongly they teach these actions.
Mudra
A mudra is a gesture or seal.
People often think immediately of hand positions because these are the mudras most visible in modern yoga classes, but the word has broader ritual and yogic uses.
One of the most recognisable is Anjali Mudra, in which the palms meet in front of the chest.
Anjali Mudra
Anjali Mudra is the familiar gesture of bringing the palms together.
You may hear a teacher call it prayer position, although that English label can be misleading because the gesture has a broader cultural and religious history.
Yoga Philosophy Words
Yoga vocabulary extends far beyond physical poses.
The Yoga Sutras’ well-known eight-limbed framework includes ethical practices, posture, breathing, sensory withdrawal, concentration, meditation and meditative absorption.
Yama
Yama refers to ethical restraints or principles concerning how one relates to others and the world.
The five commonly listed yamas are:
Ahimsa — non-harming
Satya — truthfulness
Asteya — non-stealing
Brahmacharya — traditionally connected with restraint or conduct; its interpretation varies considerably across traditions
Aparigraha — non-grasping or non-possessiveness
Ahimsa
Ahimsa is commonly translated as non-violence or non-harming.
The idea extends beyond simply avoiding physical violence and is traditionally considered in relation to thought, speech and action.
Satya
Satya means truth or truthfulness.
Asteya
Asteya means non-stealing.
Aparigraha
Aparigraha is often translated as non-possessiveness, non-grasping or freedom from excessive accumulation.
Niyama
Niyama refers to personal observances or disciplines.
The five commonly listed niyamas are:
Saucha — purity or cleanliness
Santosha — contentment
Tapas — discipline, heat or austerity
Svadhyaya — self-study or study
Ishvara Pranidhana — devotion or surrender to Ishvara
Translations vary because each term carries a much broader philosophical history than a single English word can convey.
The Eight Limbs of Yoga
Ashtanga literally refers to eight limbs, from ashta, eight, and anga, limb.
In the framework associated with Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras, these are commonly listed as:
- Yama — ethical restraints
- Niyama — personal observances
- Asana — posture
- Pranayama — regulation of breath or prana
- Pratyahara — withdrawal of the senses
- Dharana — concentration
- Dhyana — meditation
- Samadhi — meditative absorption
The word Ashtanga can therefore refer to this philosophical eight-limbed framework, but it is also used for Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga, the modern physical practice associated with K. Pattabhi Jois.
That distinction is worth knowing before choosing a class. Yoga for Yogi’s yoga styles directory treats Ashtanga Vinyasa as a practice method alongside styles and formats such as Hatha, Vinyasa, Iyengar, Yin and Restorative Yoga.
Meditation Words in Yoga
Dharana
Dharana is generally translated as concentration, particularly sustained focus on a particular object or point.
Dhyana
Dhyana refers to meditation.
In the eight-limbed framework, it follows dharana rather than functioning simply as another word for concentration.
Samadhi
Samadhi is difficult to translate neatly into one English word.
Terms such as absorption, meditative absorption or a state of profound integration are often used.
Calling it simply “relaxation” does not capture what the word means in classical yoga philosophy.
Mantra
A mantra is a sacred utterance, word, syllable or formula used in religious and contemplative practices.
Modern yoga classes may use a short mantra during meditation or chanting.
Japa
Japa refers to the repetition of a mantra or sacred name, silently or aloud.
Traditional Subtle-Body Terms
Some words you hear in yoga belong to traditional models of the subtle body.
These concepts are part of religious and philosophical systems and should not be confused with structures recognised in modern anatomy.
Chakra
Chakra literally relates to a wheel or circular form and, in yoga and tantric traditions, refers to centres within subtle-body systems.
The familiar modern scheme of seven chakras is one influential model, but historical traditions have not all described the subtle body in exactly the same way.
Nadi
A nadi is a channel through which prana is understood to move within traditional subtle-body models.
It is not an anatomical nerve or blood vessel.
Sushumna
Sushumna is traditionally described as the central nadi.
Ida and Pingala
Ida and Pingala are two other important nadis in particular yogic systems.
Yoga Practice Words
Sadhana
Sadhana means a disciplined spiritual practice or practice undertaken towards a particular aim.
In a yoga context, someone’s sadhana may include much more than physical poses.
Kriya
Kriya broadly relates to an action or practice.
In Hatha Yoga contexts it can refer to cleansing practices, although the word has other meanings in other yoga traditions.
Shatkarma
Shatkarma or shatkriya refers to traditional cleansing practices associated particularly with Hatha Yoga.
Tapas
In contemporary classes, tapas is sometimes loosely described as discipline or inner fire.
The Sanskrit term has broader associations with heat, austerity and disciplined practice.
Svadhyaya
Svadhyaya is commonly translated as self-study, although traditionally it can also involve study or recitation of sacred texts.
Yoga Teacher Words
Yogi
A yogi is a practitioner of yoga.
Historically the term has deeper associations with someone committed to a yogic path, so it did not originally mean simply “a person who occasionally attends yoga classes.”
Yogini
Yogini is traditionally a feminine form associated with a female yoga practitioner, although historical uses of the word are considerably richer than its modern studio meaning.
Guru
Guru means teacher or spiritual guide.
It should not simply be used as a fashionable synonym for anyone who is very good at something.
Shala
Shala is often used by modern yoga communities to refer to a yoga school or practice space.
It is especially common in Ashtanga circles.
Sangha
Sangha broadly refers to a community or assembly and has important origins in Indian religious traditions, particularly Buddhism.
Some yoga communities use it more loosely for a community of practitioners.
YTT
You may also come across the abbreviation YTT, particularly on studio websites and social media.
It stands for Yoga Teacher Training.
A 200-hour YTT usually refers to a foundational teacher-training programme advertised as containing around 200 hours of training, while longer or specialist courses may focus on subjects such as Yin Yoga, prenatal yoga, sequencing, anatomy or pranayama.
The label alone does not tell you how good a programme is. Curriculum, teachers, supervised practice, assessment, scheduling and the amount of actual teaching experience can vary substantially. If you are researching training rather than simply the abbreviation, Yoga for Yogi’s teacher-training section is designed for comparing those details rather than treating every YTT as interchangeable.
For material aimed specifically at people who teach or are considering teaching, there is also a separate Yoga for Yogi teacher resource section.
Yoga Style Words
Modern yoga class schedules introduce another set of vocabulary because terms that originally had broad philosophical meanings can also become names of specific studio formats.
If a studio timetable is full of labels such as Hatha, Vinyasa, Ashtanga, Yin, Restorative and Power Yoga, you can browse them together in the Yoga for Yogi yoga styles guide.
Hatha Yoga
Hatha Yoga historically refers to a major tradition of yoga involving physical and energetic practices.
In modern studio timetables, however, Hatha often means a relatively steady class in which postures are practised individually rather than linked together in a continuous flow.
Those meanings are related, but they are not identical. This is one reason it is worth checking how an individual studio actually uses the label rather than assuming every Hatha class will feel the same.
Vinyasa Yoga
Vinyasa Yoga generally refers to a flowing style in which movement is coordinated with breathing.
There is no single universal Vinyasa sequence, so two Vinyasa classes can feel very different.
Ashtanga Yoga
As mentioned earlier, Ashtanga can refer to the eight limbs of yoga or to the modern Ashtanga Vinyasa system.
In the modern style, practitioners work through established sequences of postures rather than a teacher inventing a completely different sequence each class.
Iyengar Yoga
Iyengar Yoga is associated with B.K.S. Iyengar and is particularly known for detailed attention to alignment and the use of props.
Yin Yoga
Yin Yoga is a modern style involving relatively long-held, predominantly floor-based postures.
Despite the Chinese philosophical terminology in the name, Yin Yoga as taught in contemporary studios is a relatively modern development rather than an ancient Indian yoga style.
Restorative Yoga
Restorative Yoga uses props to support the body in positions that can be held with relatively little muscular effort.
It is not simply another name for Yin Yoga, although the two may look superficially similar because both often involve longer holds and floor-based practice.
Power Yoga
Power Yoga is a broad modern label for physically demanding yoga influenced particularly by Ashtanga and Vinyasa practice.
Unlike Ashtanga, it does not refer to one fixed sequence.
Hot Yoga
Hot Yoga simply describes yoga practised in a heated room.
It is a category rather than one particular sequence.
Bikram Yoga
Bikram Yoga refers specifically to the system developed by Bikram Choudhury, traditionally involving a fixed sequence of 26 postures and two breathing exercises in a heated room.
Not every hot yoga class is Bikram Yoga.
Viniyoga
Viniyoga is an adaptive approach strongly associated with the teachings of T.K.V. Desikachar and the broader Krishnamacharya tradition.
Its central idea is that practice should be adapted to the individual rather than requiring every person to conform to one fixed sequence. A class or personal practice may therefore change according to the student’s needs, experience, stage of life and wider context.
It is one of several styles and approaches worth comparing before deciding that a familiar studio label such as “Hatha” or “Vinyasa” tells you everything you need to know about a class. Yoga for Yogi’s yoga types section is built around these distinctions.
Common English Words You Hear in Yoga Classes
Not everything in yoga class is Sanskrit.
Modern teachers often use anatomical and movement terms such as:
alignment
extension
flexion
rotation
external rotation
internal rotation
neutral spine
pelvis
core
hamstrings
quadriceps
hip flexors
shoulder blades
sit bones
crown of the head
weight-bearing
range of motion
These words come from modern movement and anatomy vocabulary rather than classical yoga terminology.
That distinction is useful because today’s yoga classes are often a blend of Sanskrit terminology, traditional yoga concepts and contemporary exercise language.
Yoga Prop Words
Mat
The surface on which most contemporary studio yoga is practised.
Block
A firm support, usually foam, cork or wood, used to bring the floor closer or support the body.
Strap
A long belt-like prop used to extend reach or assist with positioning.
Bolster
A firm cushion used extensively in restorative and some Yin practices.
Blanket
Yoga blankets may be folded to provide height, cushioning or support.
Chair
Chairs are used as props in several yoga traditions, particularly Iyengar Yoga and therapeutic adaptations.
Wall Ropes
Ropes fixed to a wall and used to support or modify certain postures, especially in some Iyengar Yoga settings.
Common Yoga Pose Names
Here are some of the Sanskrit pose names you are most likely to encounter.
| Sanskrit name | Common English name |
|---|---|
| Tadasana | Mountain Pose |
| Balasana | Child’s Pose |
| Savasana | Corpse Pose |
| Bhujangasana | Cobra Pose |
| Ustrasana | Camel Pose |
| Matsyasana | Fish Pose |
| Vrikshasana | Tree Pose |
| Trikonasana | Triangle Pose |
| Uttanasana | Standing Forward Bend |
| Dandasana | Staff Pose |
| Padmasana | Lotus Pose |
| Sukhasana | Easy Pose |
| Malasana | Garland Pose |
| Virabhadrasana I | Warrior I |
| Virabhadrasana II | Warrior II |
| Adho Mukha Svanasana | Downward-Facing Dog |
| Urdhva Mukha Svanasana | Upward-Facing Dog |
| Baddha Konasana | Bound Angle Pose |
| Setu Bandha Sarvangasana | Bridge Pose |
| Salamba Sarvangasana | Supported Shoulderstand |
English pose names are not always literal translations of the Sanskrit, and different schools sometimes use slightly different names.
Yoga Words A–Z
For quick reference, here is a broader selection of yoga vocabulary.
A: Adho, Ahimsa, Ananda, Anjali Mudra, Aparigraha, Ardha, Asana, Ashram, Ashtanga, Asteya, Atman, Aum
B: Baddha, Bandha, Bhakti, Bhastrika, Bhujanga, Bhramari, Brahmacharya
C: Chakra, Chaturanga
D: Danda, Dharana, Dharma, Dhyana, Drishti
E: Eka
G: Guru
H: Hasta, Hatha
I: Ida, Ishvara Pranidhana, Iyengar
J: Jalandhara Bandha, Janu, Japa
K: Kapalabhati, Karma, Kona, Kriya, Kurma
M: Mantra, Matsya, Mudra, Mukha, Mula Bandha
N: Nadi, Nadi Shodhana, Namaste, Niyama
O: Om
P: Pada, Padma, Parivrtta, Parsva, Patanjali, Pingala, Prana, Pranayama, Pratyahara
S: Sadhana, Samadhi, Santosha, Satya, Saucha, Savasana, Shala, Shanti, Sirsa, Supta, Sushumna, Svadhyaya, Svana
T: Tadasana, Tapas
U: Uddiyana Bandha, Ujjayi, Urdhva, Ustra, Uttana, Utthita
V: Viniyoga, Vinyasa, Virabhadra, Vriksha
Y: Yama, Yin, Yoga, Yogi, Yogini, YTT
Yoga Vocabulary by Category
| Category | Examples |
|---|---|
| General practice | Yoga, asana, sadhana, vinyasa |
| Breath | Prana, pranayama, ujjayi, bhastrika |
| Focus | Drishti, dharana, dhyana |
| Ethics | Ahimsa, satya, asteya, aparigraha |
| Personal practice | Saucha, santosha, tapas, svadhyaya |
| Pose directions | Ardha, adho, urdhva, supta, parivrtta |
| Body words | Pada, hasta, janu, sirsa, mukha |
| Subtle-body concepts | Chakra, nadi, sushumna, ida, pingala |
| Gestures and locks | Mudra, bandha, mula bandha |
| Yoga styles | Hatha, Vinyasa, Ashtanga, Iyengar, Yin, Viniyoga |
| Meditation | Mantra, japa, dhyana, samadhi |
| Teaching | YTT, guru, teacher, shala |
| Community | Yogi, yogini, sangha |
Why Are So Many Yoga Words Sanskrit?
Yoga developed within the religious, philosophical and cultural traditions of South Asia, and many of its foundational texts were composed in Sanskrit.
That is why Sanskrit terminology remains part of yoga even when the class itself is taught entirely in English.
At the same time, the vocabulary used in today’s studios is not frozen in antiquity. Modern yoga has developed new styles, translations and teaching conventions, and the meaning of a term in a twenty-first-century Vinyasa class may be narrower or somewhat different from the way it appears in an older philosophical text.
Understanding that history is more useful than treating Sanskrit simply as a collection of exotic names for stretches.
Do You Need to Learn Sanskrit to Practise Yoga?
No.
You can practise yoga without memorising Sanskrit terminology, and a good teacher should not make a beginner feel as though unfamiliar vocabulary is a test they have failed.
Still, knowing a few recurring words can make classes easier to follow.
If you understand that asana means pose, ardha means half, supta indicates reclining, parivrtta means revolved and adho mukha tells you something is facing downward, many pose names stop looking like unrelated strings of syllables.
The vocabulary becomes a tool rather than another thing to memorise.
The same is true when choosing a class. Knowing the dictionary meaning of vinyasa is useful, but knowing what a particular Vinyasa, Hatha or Yin class is likely to feel like is a different question. For that, see the practical Yoga for Yogi guide to yoga styles.
Final Thoughts
Yoga has accumulated a large vocabulary because it is not one single activity.
The word can encompass physical postures, breathing practices, meditation, ethical ideas, philosophical traditions and a wide range of modern movement styles. It therefore makes sense that the language of yoga stretches far beyond the names of poses.
For a beginner, however, there is no reason to learn everything at once.
Start with the words you actually hear: asana, Savasana, vinyasa, pranayama, drishti, bandha, mudra and perhaps a handful of recurring pose-name fragments such as ardha, supta, adho, urdhva and parivrtta.
Once those become familiar, the longer vocabulary starts to organise itself.
And if learning the vocabulary leads you into the bigger questions of what different classes actually involve, how yoga styles differ or what happens in teacher training, Yoga for Yogi goes into those practical distinctions in more depth.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the most common yoga words?
Common yoga words include asana, namaste, Om, Savasana, vinyasa, pranayama, drishti, mudra, bandha, mantra, chakra, ahimsa and dhyana.
What does asana mean?
In modern yoga, asana means a posture or pose. The Sanskrit term has an older association with a seat or seated posture.
What does yoga mean?
The Sanskrit word yoga has associations with joining, yoking or union, although its meaning varies considerably across philosophical traditions and historical texts.
What does Savasana mean?
Savasana combines the Sanskrit term associated with a corpse with asana, posture, which is why it is commonly called Corpse Pose.
What does vinyasa mean?
In contemporary yoga, vinyasa commonly refers to arranging movements into a sequence, particularly movement coordinated with breathing. It can also refer to a particular transitional sequence or to Vinyasa Yoga as a style.
If you are trying to distinguish the class style from the general term, compare Vinyasa with other formats in the Yoga for Yogi yoga types directory.
What does pranayama mean?
Pranayama refers to yogic practices involving regulation of breath and prana. It is often translated more simply as yogic breathing or breath practice.
What does drishti mean in yoga?
Drishti refers to the gaze or point of visual focus used during practice.
What does namaste mean?
Namaste is a respectful greeting or salutation. In many contemporary yoga studios it is said at the end of class, although it is not exclusive to yoga.
What does Om mean?
Om, or Aum, is a sacred syllable with a long history in Indian religious and philosophical traditions. Some yoga classes chant it at the beginning or end of practice.
What does bandha mean?
Bandha is usually translated as lock and refers to particular muscular or energetic engagements used in some yoga traditions.
What does mudra mean?
A mudra is a gesture or seal. Hand gestures such as Anjali Mudra are among the forms most commonly encountered in modern yoga classes.
What is a chakra?
In yoga and related Indian traditions, a chakra is a centre within particular models of the subtle body. Chakras are traditional philosophical and religious concepts rather than structures recognised by modern anatomy.
What is a nadi?
A nadi is a channel through which prana is traditionally understood to move within yogic subtle-body systems. It should not be confused with an anatomical nerve or blood vessel.
What does Hatha mean in yoga?
Hatha has a much broader historical meaning than the modern studio category. Today, a class labelled Hatha Yoga often means a relatively steady, non-flowing asana class, but historical Hatha Yoga encompasses a much wider system of practices.
What does Ashtanga mean?
Ashtanga means eight-limbed or eight limbs. It can refer to the eight-limbed framework associated with Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras or, in modern yoga, to the Ashtanga Vinyasa system.
What does ahimsa mean?
Ahimsa is commonly translated as non-harming or non-violence and is one of the yamas in classical yoga philosophy.
Why do yoga poses end in “asana”?
Many Sanskrit posture names end with asana because the word means posture or seat.
What does ardha mean in yoga?
Ardha means half, which is why it appears in pose names such as Ardha Chandrasana, Half Moon Pose.
What does supta mean in yoga?
Supta indicates a reclining or lying-down variation of a pose.
What does parivrtta mean?
Parivrtta means revolved and commonly appears in the names of twisting pose variations.
What does YTT mean?
YTT stands for Yoga Teacher Training. You will often see labels such as 200-hour YTT or 300-hour YTT when researching teacher education. If you are comparing programmes, start with the Yoga for Yogi teacher-training directory rather than assuming the number of advertised hours tells you everything about the course.
Is Savasana the same as Shavasana?
Yes. Savasana and Shavasana are different Roman spellings used for the same Sanskrit pose name. Differences arise because Sanskrit sounds can be transliterated in different ways when diacritical marks are omitted.
