Sanscrit Names
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The Online Sanskrit Pronunciation Guide The Online Sanskrit Pronunciation Guide is a resource for Yoga teachers and students interested in learning how to better pronounce and understand the Sanskrit words that they use and encounter in classes,conversations, texts, and teachings. The Sanskrit words are shown in the original Devanagari script, the corresponding transliteration, English translations of the terms and their roots, and streaming audio files of these words being pronounced. |
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Yoga Journal Go to the Poses Section of the Yoga Journal website to find the Sanskrit names and the Sanskrit pronunciation for a wide variety of yoga postures. |
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Sanskrit Root Words A comprehensive list of the English translations for almost all the Sanskrit root words used in yoga postures. |
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Kripalu Yoga Postures A list of the English names of the postures from the YTT Manual along with the Sanskrit names and the Sanskrit pronunciation. |
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Yoga Glossary A glossary of yoga terms in Sanskrit and their English meanings. |
Kripalu Postures
- BOAT Navasana (nah-VAHS-anna)
- BOUND ANGLE Baddha Konasana (BAH-dah cone-NAHS-anna)
- BOW Dhanurasana (don-your-AHS-anna)
- BRIDGE Setu Bhandasana (SET-too BAHN-dahs-anna)
- CAMEL Ustrasana (oosh-TRAHS-anna)
- CHILD Garbhasana (Gar BAHS anna)
- COBRA Bhujangasana (Boo-jang-GAHS-anna)
- CRANE Balakikasana (Bal uh kee kas anna)
- DOWNWARD FACING DOG Adho Mukha Svanasana (AH doh MOO kah shvah-NAHS-anna)
- FACE OF LIGHT Gomukhasana (go-moo-KAHS-anna)
- FISH Matsyasana (mot-see-AHS-anna)
- GATE Parighasana (par-ee-GOSS-anna)
- GREAT SEAL Maha Mudra (Mah hah MOO-drah)
- HALF LOCUST Ardha Salabhasana (ARE dah Shal ab HAHS anna)
- HALF MOON SERIES Ardha Chandra Vinyasa (Are-dah Chan-DRAH Vin YAH sah)
- HALF SHOULDERSTAND Ardha Sarvangasana (ARE-dah Sar-van-GAHS-anna)
- HEADSTAND Sirsasana (shir-SHAHS-anna)
- LATERAL ANGLE Parsvakonasana (parsh-vah-cone-AHS-anna)
- MOUNTAIN Tadasana (tah-DAHS-anna)
- PIGEON Kapotasana (Kap oh TAHS anna)
- SEATED FORWARD BEND Paschimottanasana (POSH ee moh tan AHS anna)
- STANDING WIDE ANGLE Prasarita Padottanasana (pra-sa-REE-tah pah-doh-tahn-AHS-anna)
- SPINAL TWIST Matsyendrasana (MOT see en DRAHS anna)
- STAFF Dandasana (don-DAHS-anna)
- STANDING FORWARD BEND Uttanasana (OOT tan ahs anna)
- STANDING SQUAT Utkatasana (OOT-kah-TAHS-anna)
- STANDING WIDE ANGLE Prasarita Padottanasana (pra-sa-REE-tah pah-doh-tahn-AHS-anna)
- SUPINE TWIST Supta Matsyendrasana (SOUP-tah MOT see en DRAHS anna)
- SYMBOL OF YOGA Yoga Mudra (Yo gah MOO-drah)
- TREE Vrksasana (vrik-SHAHS-anna)
- TRIANGLE Trikonasana (trik-cone-AHS-anna)
- UPWARD BOAT Paripurna Navasana (par-ee-POOR-nah nah-VAHS-anna)
- WARRIOR 1 Virabhadrasana 1 (veer-ah-bah-DRAHS-anna)
- WARRIOR 2 Virabhadrasana 2 (veer-ah-bah-DRAHS-anna)
- WIDE ANGLE FORWARD BEND Upavista Konasana (oo-pah-veesh-tah cone-AHS-anna)
- SUN SALUTATION Surya Namaskar (Sur YAH nah mass KAR)
Sanskrit Pronunciation Idiosyncrasies
Some instructors drop the final "a" when pronouncing Sanskrit names. For example, you will often here Pranayama pronounced "PRAH-nah-yam" rather than "PRAH- nah-yama" or Tadasana pronounced "tah-DAHS-an" rather than "tah-DAHS-anna." I have adopted the usage followed by Yoga Journal of pronouncing the final "a."