
Decoding the Sanskrit Names of Yoga Asanas
Parivrtta Ardha Chandrasana is not a random string of syllables — it is a description. Learn around forty Sanskrit words and most pose names decode themselves.
Thoughts on yoga, mindfulness, and living well

Parivrtta Ardha Chandrasana is not a random string of syllables — it is a description. Learn around forty Sanskrit words and most pose names decode themselves.

Ashtanga passed from Krishnamacharya to Pattabhi Jois to a handful of Westerners in Mysore, and from them to the world — a guide to the teachers of that lineage, generation by generation.

From the Vedic rishis to the teachers filling studios today — a guide to the sages, gurus and personalities who shaped yoga, listed by era with a line on what each contributed.

Explore arm balances and inversions from Chaturanga to Headstand — postures that build upper body strength, shift perspective and cultivate concentration and trust.

Explore backbend asanas from Sphinx to Wheel — postures that open the front body, strengthen the spine and cultivate courage and vitality.

Explore forward bend asanas from Standing Forward Bend to Tortoise Pose — postures that cultivate surrender, spinal length and introspective calm.

Explore hip opening asanas from Bound Angle to Monkey Pose — postures that release tension in the hips and pelvis, improve mobility and invite emotional openness.

Explore restorative asanas from Cat-Cow to Savasana — gentle postures that calm the nervous system, release held tension and invite the body into deep rest.

Explore seated asanas from Easy Pose to Heron Pose — postures that cultivate stillness, core strength and meditative attention.