Yoga Asanas Names with Pictures and Meanings

Yoga poses 12 illustrations Updated 2 Nov 2026

Yoga asanas names usually come in two forms: a Sanskrit name such as bhujangasana and an English name such as cobra pose. Most Sanskrit names describe a shape from nature or daily life, so once you know a few word parts, the names start to explain themselves.

This page lists all the yoga poses names covered on the site, grouped by type, with a picture for the most common ones. Tap any name to open its full guide with steps, holds and safety notes.

Name pattern: Word for a shape plus asana, meaning seat or pose
Poses on this site: 40 single pose guides and 3 pose lists
Classic number: 84 asanas in tradition
Best first five: Tadasana, vrikshasana, balasana, bhujangasana, shavasana
Languages: Sanskrit with English and Hindi names

How yoga asanas names are built

Almost every Sanskrit pose name ends in asana. The first part names a shape, an animal, an object or a sage. Learn these common word parts and many yoga asanas with names start to make sense.

Word part	Meaning	Example
Ardha	Half	Ardha chakrasana, half wheel
Utthita	Extended	Utthita trikonasana
Supta	Lying down	Supta baddha konasana
Parivrtta	Revolved, twisted	Parivrtta trikonasana
Adho mukha	Face down	Adho mukha svanasana
Urdhva	Upward	Urdhva hastasana
Eka pada	One leg	Eka pada kapotasana
Baddha	Bound	Baddha konasana

Yoga asanas names in pictures

Tadasana, mountain pose, standing straight with feet together and arms by the sides — Level
Beginner
Hold
5 to 10 breaths
Works on
Posture
Tadasana means palm tree or mountain pose. It is the base for every standing asana.
**Teacher's cue:** Feel the weight spread evenly across both feet.

Vrikshasana, tree pose, balancing on one leg with hands joined overhead — Level
Beginner
Hold
5 breaths each side
Works on
Balance
Vriksha means tree. The standing leg is the trunk and the raised arms are the branches.
**Teacher's cue:** Root down through the standing foot before you raise the arms.

Trikonasana, triangle pose, with legs wide and one hand reaching to the shin — Level
Beginner
Hold
5 breaths each side
Works on
Side body, legs
Trikona means triangle. The legs and the floor form one triangle and the torso forms another.
**Teacher's cue:** Reach out long before you tip down, and keep both sides of the waist even.

Bhujangasana, cobra pose, lying on the belly with the chest raised — Level
Beginner
Hold
3 to 5 breaths
Works on
Spine
Bhujanga means serpent. The lifted chest looks like a cobra raising its hood.
**Teacher's cue:** Lift with the upper back and keep the elbows bent.

Dhanurasana, bow pose, holding the ankles with chest and thighs lifted — Level
Intermediate
Hold
3 breaths
Works on
Back, thighs
Dhanu means bow. The arms are the string and the body curves like the wooden bow.
**Teacher's cue:** Kick the feet into the hands to lift, rather than pulling with the arms.

Paschimottanasana, seated forward bend, legs straight and hands toward the feet — Level
Beginner
Hold
5 to 8 breaths
Works on
Hamstrings, back
Paschima means west, the back of the body. This pose stretches the whole back line from heels to head.
**Teacher's cue:** Lead with the chest, not the head, and bend the knees if needed.

Vajrasana, thunderbolt pose, kneeling and sitting back on the heels — Level
Beginner
Hold
2 to 5 minutes
Works on
Knees, digestion
Vajra means thunderbolt or diamond. It is the one pose often done right after meals.
**Teacher's cue:** Rest the hands on the thighs and keep the spine tall.

Ustrasana, camel pose, kneeling back bend with hands on the heels — Level
Intermediate
Hold
3 breaths
Works on
Chest, hip flexors
Ushtra means camel. The back bend lifts the chest the way a camel's hump rises.
**Teacher's cue:** Push the hips forward over the knees before you reach back.

Setu bandhasana, bridge pose, lying on the back with hips raised — Level
Beginner
Hold
3 to 5 breaths
Works on
Glutes, back
Setu bandha means bridge building. The body forms an arch from shoulders to knees.
**Teacher's cue:** Press the feet down and keep the knees pointing straight ahead.

Padmasana, lotus pose, sitting with each foot on the opposite thigh — Level
Intermediate
Hold
1 to 10 minutes
Works on
Hips, posture
Padma means lotus. It is the classic seat for meditation, but only for very open hips.
**Teacher's cue:** Never force the knees; use half lotus or easy pose if they hurt.

Halasana, plough pose, lying on the back with legs over the head — Level
Intermediate
Hold
5 breaths
Works on
Spine, shoulders
Hala means plough. The legs reach over the head like the blade of a plough.
**Teacher's cue:** Keep the neck still and the weight on the shoulders, never on the neck.

Shavasana, corpse pose, lying flat and still at the end of practice — Level
All levels
Hold
5 to 10 minutes
Works on
Rest
Shava means corpse. Lying completely still is harder than it sounds and is the final pose of every session.
**Teacher's cue:** Let the body be heavy and let go of controlling the breath.

Standing yoga poses names

Tadasana: mountain pose
Vrikshasana: tree pose
Trikonasana: triangle pose
Utkatasana: chair pose
Virabhadrasana: warrior pose, in three forms
Malasana: garland pose or yogi squat

More on the standing yoga poses page, including eagle, half moon and dancer pose.

Sitting and kneeling asanas names

Sukhasana: easy pose
Padmasana: lotus pose
Vajrasana: thunderbolt pose
Dandasana: staff pose
Paschimottanasana: seated forward bend
Vakrasana: simple seated twist
Baddha konasana: butterfly or bound angle pose
Mandukasana: frog pose
Simhasana: lion pose
Ustrasana: camel pose

See the full sitting yoga poses list.

Lying down poses on the belly and back

On the belly (prone): bhujangasana (cobra), dhanurasana (bow), makarasana (crocodile) and shalabhasana (locust).

On the back (supine): setu bandhasana (bridge), pawanmuktasana (wind relieving), matsyasana (fish), ananda balasana (happy baby), halasana (plough), naukasana (boat) and shavasana (corpse).

All fours, balances and inversions

Marjaryasana and bitilasana: cat cow pose
Balasana: child pose
Adho mukha svanasana: downward dog
Kumbhakasana: plank pose
Kapotasana: pigeon pose
Chakrasana: wheel pose
Bakasana: crow pose
Sarvangasana: shoulder stand
Shirshasana: headstand
Viparita karani: legs up the wall

For the hardest of these, read advanced yoga poses first.

The 84 yoga asanas list: tradition and reality

Many people search for an 84 yoga asanas list. The number comes from old tradition: texts such as the Hatha Yoga Pradipika say that 84 asanas were taught, then describe only about 15 of them in detail. Later teachers created their own lists of 84, and they do not match each other.

So there is no single official list. A sensible approach is to learn 20 to 30 poses well, covering every family above, rather than trying to collect all 84 names. The yoga chart page shows a printable style overview of the poses most teachers start with.

Yoga asanas names in Hindi and English

Most Indian teachers use the Sanskrit names, which are also used in Hindi. A few have popular Hindi names too: tadasana is sometimes called taad asana, vajrasana is called vajra aasan, and naukasana is the boat pose, nauka meaning boat in Hindi. In English classes you will hear the English name first. Knowing both helps you follow any teacher, video or yoga aasan chart.

How to learn yoga poses names faster

Learn five poses a week, saying the Sanskrit name aloud each time you practise.
Link each name to its picture: bhujanga, serpent, and a cobra's raised hood.
Use the word parts table above to decode new names.
Practise a short sequence such as surya namaskar, which repeats the same names daily.

Every yoga poses guide on this site

Guide	What it covers
Bhujangasana (cobra)	Cobra pose: a gentle back bend lying on the belly
Standing yoga poses	The main standing asanas with names, pictures and a sequence
Cat cow pose	A flowing spine warm up on hands and knees, linked to the breath
Balasana (child)	Child pose: a kneeling forward rest for the back and mind
Sitting yoga poses	Seated asanas for breathing, flexibility and calm, with names
Butterfly pose	Soles together, knees wide: a seated hip opener
Tadasana (mountain)	Mountain pose: the standing base for every other asana
Vrikshasana (tree)	Tree pose: a one leg balance for focus and steadiness
Advanced yoga poses	Arm balances, inversions and deep bends, with prep poses
Yoga for flexibility	Ten stretching poses and a routine to loosen a stiff body
Setu bandhasana (bridge)	Hips lifted from the floor: a gentle back bend and glute builder
Padmasana (lotus)	Lotus pose: the classic cross legged seat for meditation
Vajrasana (thunderbolt)	Kneeling on the heels: the seat traditionally used after meals
Ustrasana (camel)	Camel pose: a kneeling back bend that opens chest and hips
Downward dog	The inverted V: hips high, heels reaching, spine long
Dhanurasana (bow)	Bow pose: a belly down back bend holding the ankles
Halasana (plough)	Plough pose: legs overhead, weight on the shoulders
Malasana (garland)	Garland pose: a deep squat with palms together at the chest
Trikonasana (triangle)	Triangle pose: a wide legged side stretch and leg strengthener
Pawanmuktasana (wind relieving)	Knees hugged to the chest to ease gas and the lower back
Chakrasana (wheel)	Wheel pose and the standing half wheel used in schools
Shavasana (corpse)	Corpse pose: complete stillness at the end of practice
Matsyasana (fish)	Fish pose: an open chest, lifted ribs, and a lightly supported head
Naukasana (boat)	Boat pose: balance on the sit bones with legs and chest lifted
Vakrasana (twist)	The beginner seated twist, and the other twists it leads to
Pigeon pose	A deep outer hip stretch with props and knee friendly options
Sukhasana (easy)	The simple cross legged seat for breathing and meditation
Simhasana (lion)	Kneeling, tongue out, a strong exhale: tension release for face and throat
Sarvangasana (shoulder stand)	The shoulder stand, with a blanket setup that protects the neck
Warrior pose	Three strong standing poses for legs, hips and balance
Utkatasana (chair)	An invisible chair: a strong squat with arms raised
Mandukasana (frog)	The kneeling fist fold and the wide knee hip opener
Plank pose	The straight line hold and the low push up of sun salutation
Viparita karani (legs up the wall)	Lying with the legs resting up a wall: the easiest restful inversion
Shirshasana (headstand)	Headstand on the forearms, learned slowly with preparation
Happy baby pose	Lying on the back holding the feet: a playful hip opener
Bakasana (crow)	The first arm balance: knees on the upper arms, feet lifted
Paschimottanasana (seated forward bend)	Legs long, folding forward from the hips over the thighs
Dandasana (staff)	Sitting tall with legs straight: the base of seated yoga
Makarasana (crocodile)	Lying face down with the head on folded arms: rest that teaches breathing

Practise on an empty stomach, move slowly into each position and stop at any sharp pain. If you have an injury, a health condition or are pregnant, check with a doctor or an experienced teacher first.

Questions people ask

How many yoga asanas are there in total?

Tradition speaks of 84 classic asanas, and some texts mention far more variations. Modern teachers use a few hundred named poses, but a balanced home practice needs only 20 to 30.

What are the 12 basic yoga asanas names?

A common basic set is tadasana, vrikshasana, trikonasana, utkatasana, vajrasana, sukhasana, paschimottanasana, bhujangasana, setu bandhasana, balasana, pawanmuktasana and shavasana.

Why do yoga poses have Sanskrit names?

Yoga developed in India, where Sanskrit was the language of learning. The names are descriptive and shared by teachers around the world, which keeps instructions consistent.

Which yoga asana is called the king of asanas?

Shirshasana, the headstand, is traditionally called the king of asanas and sarvangasana, the shoulder stand, the queen. Both should be learned with a teacher.

Is there an official 84 yoga asanas list?

No. Texts mention the number 84, but different traditions give different lists. Treat the number as symbolic.

Practise next

Standing yoga posesThe main standing asanas with names, pictures and a sequence

Sitting yoga posesSeated asanas for breathing, flexibility and calm, with names

Yoga chartA chart of common poses by type, plus school chart tips

Advanced yoga posesArm balances, inversions and deep bends, with prep poses

Yoga for beginnersTen easy poses, basic rules and a two week plan for new students

HomeEvery yoga pose, breath and mudra on the site in one place