List of Ashtanga Yoga Asana Names
Meaning of the yogasana poses of the primary series
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Ashtanga yoga asanas names and sequences
List and meaning of yoga poses of primary series of the Ashtanga yoga
The names of the yoga postures come from the Sanskrit language. With its complex pronunciation, this holy language was spoken thousands of years ago in the Indian subcontinent and is still used in the Hindu religion and by some schools of spirituality.
Yoga asanas names that make up the primary series of Ashtanga yoga give clues to their ability to promote health in the physical body. Many Ashtanga yoga postures are named after an animal or natural phenomenon that symbolises the essence of a specific life force quality. Take Navasana, for example. Visually speaking, the boat posture imitates a ship on the water. Symbolically, the practitioner of Navasana is making a journey through the troubled waters of samsara to the other shore.
The practice of yogasanas is excellent for promoting physical strength and inducing emotional, energetic and spiritual healing. It is common and tedious to accumulate a lot of stress in our bodies and mind. Releasing these tensions through the correct yoga practice becomes a profound and enlightening experience. Great masters have illuminated this path. Among them was the sage Pantanjali, who traced the path to enlightenment through yoga in 8 stages: 1. Yama, 2. Nyama, 3. Asana, 4. Pranayama, 5. Pratyhara, 6. Dharana, 7. Dhyana, 8. Samadhi. These steps include returning to virtuous attention and physical and spiritual practices, such as asana and meditation. The diligent and dedicated practice of yoga and its values has the power to bring about an awareness of this mind-body relationship to the whole, without division or duality — the ultimate goal of yoga.
What are the poses and sequences of the primary series of Ashtanga yoga?
1) STANDING POSES
- Samasthiti
Standing still - Surya Namaskara (A & B)
Sun salutation - Padangushtasana
Thumb to foot pose - Pada hastasana
Hand to foot pose - Utthita Trikonasana
Extended triangle pose - Parivritta Trikonasana
Revolved extended triangle pose - Utthita Parshvakonasana
Extended sideway angle pose - Parivritta Parshvakonasana
Revolved extended sideway angle pose - Prasarita Padottanasana (A, B, C & D)
Spread feet stretching pose - Parshvottanasana
Sideways stretching pose - Utthita Hasta Padangushtasana
Extended triangle pose - Ardha Baddha Padmottanasana
Half bound lotus stretching pose - Utkatanasana
Uneven pose - Virabhadrasana (A & B)
Warrior pose
2) SITTING POSES
- Dandasana (Chaturanga Dandasana)
Four-Limbed Staff Pose (staff means spine, body support) - Paschimattanasana (3 types)
West-Back (extended-intense) stretching pose - Purvatanasana
Est-Front (extended-intense) stretching pose - Ardha Baddha Padma Paschimattanasana
Half bound lotus forward pose - Trianga Mukhaekapada Paschima
One foot transversely facing back forward stretch - Janu Shirshasana (A, B & C)
Head to knee pose - Marichyasana (A, B, C & D)
Marichya (Ray of light (of sun or moon)) pose - Navasana
Boat pose - Bhujapidasana
Arm pressure pose - Kurmasana
Tortoise pose - Supta Kurmasana
Sleeping tortoise pose - Garbha Pindasana
Embryo in the womb pose - Kukkutasana
Roster pose - Baddha Konasana
Bound angle pose - Upavishta Konasana
Seated angle pose - Supta Konasana
Sleeping angle pose - Supta Padangushtasana
Lateral sleeping thumb to foot pose - Ubhaya Padangushtasana
Both thumbs to feet pose - Urdhva Mukha Paschimattanasana
Upward facing forward stretch pose - Setu Bandhasana
Bridge configuration (construction) pose - Urdhva Dhanurasana
Elevated bow pose - Paschimattanasana
West-Back (extended-intense) stretching pose
3) FINISHING POSES
- Salamba Sarvangasana
All limbs pose - Halasana
Plow pose - Karnapidasana
Ear pressure pose - Urdhva Padmasana
Elevated lotus pose - Pindasana
Embryo pose - Matsyasana
Fish pose - Uttana Padasana
Extended foot pose - Shirshasana
Head standing pose - Baddha Padmasana
Bound lotus pose - Yoga Mudra
Yoga gesture - Padmasana
Lotus pose - Uth Pluthi (Tolasana)
Sprung up - Shavasana
Corpse pose
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