Compiled Sanskrit Body Parts For Yoga Poses

Question 1

Hasta

Answer 1

Hand, or Arm

Mnemonic: Hand and Hasta start with H
Mnemonic: You hasta use you hands in yoga
Example Pose: Urdhva Hastasana​ = Arms upward/raised up

Question 2

Pada

Answer 2

Foot, Leg

Mnemonic: You pedal (pada) a bike
Example Pose: Urdhva Prasarita Padasana​ = Legs extending upward (on your back, legs at 90 degrees)

Question 3

Mukha

Answer 3

Face.

Mnemonic: Mug shot = Mukha shot? (weak)
Example Pose: Adho Mukha Śvānāsana = Downward-facing dog

Question 4

Śīrṣa

Answer 4

Head

Mnemonic: Sure’s a (Sirsa) big head!
Example Pose: Śīrṣāsana - headstand

Question 5

Aṅga

Answer 5

Limbs

Sarvāṅgāsana/ Shoulder stand comes. from the Sanskrit sarva meaning all, aṅga meaning limb/body. parts and āsana meaning posture, i.e. all limbs or the whole body.

Question 6

Paścima

Answer 6

The west side of the body. (Which is the back since we face east)

Mnemonic: Pascima sounds like back pack (back pascima)
Example Pose: Paścimottānāsana = intense extension of the back (sitting, legs straight out, leaning forward and hands around feet)

Question 7

Purva

Answer 7

Purva = literally ‘east’ side of the body, i.e. the front

Mnemonic: I purva-ed my drink down the front of my body
Example Pose: Sālamba Purvottānāsana = Supported intense extension of the ‘east’ side of the body (i.e. the front)

Question 8

Hand, Arm

Answer 8

Hasta

Mnemonic: Hand and Hasta start with H
Mnemonic: You hasta use you hands in yoga
Example Pose: Urdhva Hastasana​ = Arms upward/raised up

Question 9

Head

Answer 9

Śīrṣa

Mnemonic: Sure’s a (Sirsa) big head!
Example Pose: Śīrṣāsana - headstand

Question 10

Foot, Leg

Answer 10

Pada

Mnemonic: A podiatrist is a foot doctor (Pada-trist?)
Example Pose: Urdhva Prasarita Padasana​ = Legs extending upward (on your back, legs at 90 degrees)

Question 11

Limbs

Answer 11

Aṅga

Example Pose: Sālamba Sarvāṅgāsana = Supported all limbs pose (shoulder stand)

Question 12

Back (West side of body)

Answer 12

Paścima

Mnemonic: Pascima sounds like back pack (back pascima)
Example Pose: Paścimottānāsana = intense extension of the back (sitting, legs straight out, leaning forward and hands around feet)

Question 13

Front (East side of body)

Answer 13

Purva

Mnemonic: I purva-ed my drink down the front of my body
Example Pose: Sālamba Purvottānāsana = Supported intense extension of the ‘east’ side of the body (i.e. the front)

Question 14

Face

Answer 14

Mukha

Mnemonic: Mug shot = Mukha shot? (weak)
Example Pose: Adho Mukha Śvānāsana = Downward-facing dog

Question 15

Bhuja

Answer 15

The arm or the shoulder

Question 16

The arm or the shoulder

Answer 16

Bhuja

Question 17

Janu

Answer 17

Knee

Question 18

Knee

Answer 18

Janu

Question 19

Padangustha

Answer 19

The Big Toe

Mnemonic: Remember Pada is foot. Grab you toe with gusto.

Question 20

The Big Toe

Answer 20

Padangustha

Mnemonic: Remember Pada is foot. Grab you toe with gusto.

Question 21

Parsva

Answer 21

The side, flank; lateral.

Question 22

The side, flank; lateral.

Answer 22

Parsva

Question 23

Salabha

Answer 23

The Locust

Question 24

Locust

Answer 24

Salabha

Question 25

Sarva

Answer 25

All, Whole

Question 26

All, Whole

Answer 26

Sarva

Question 27

Supta

Answer 27

Sleeping

Question 28

Sleeping

Answer 28

Supta

Question 29

Surya

Answer 29

The Sun

Question 30

The Sun

Answer 30

Surya

Question 31

Svana

Answer 31

A Dog

Question 32

A Dog

Answer 32

Svana

Question 33

Tada

Answer 33

A Mountain Example Pose: Tadasana

Question 34

Mountain

Answer 34

Tada Example Pose: Tadasana

Question 35

Trikona

Answer 35

A Triangle Mnemonic: Tri = 3

Question 36

A Triangle

Answer 36

Trikona Mnemonic: Tri = 3

Question 37

Urdhva

Answer 37

Raised, elevated, tending upwards. Mnemonic: Up and Urdhva start with U Example: Urdhva Muka = Upward Facing Dog

Question 38

Raised, elevated, tending upwards.

Answer 38

Urdhva Mnemonic: Up and Urdhva start with U Example: Urdhva Muka = Upward Facing Dog

Question 39

Uttana

Answer 39

An intense stretch.

Question 40

An intense stretch.

Answer 40

Uttana

Question 41

Utthita

Answer 41

Raised up, extended, stretched.

Question 42

Raised up, extended, stretched.

Answer 42

Utthita

Question 43

Virabhadra

Answer 43

A powerful hero created out of Siva’s matted hair (warrior)

Question 44

Hero, Warrior

Answer 44

Virabhadra

Question 45

Utkata

Answer 45

Powerful, fierce. Example Pose: Utkatasana (Awkward pose, Awkward chair)

Question 46

Powerful, fierce.

Answer 46

Utkata Example Pose: Utkatasana (Awkward pose, Awkward chair)