In yoga class, you may hear both Sanskrit and English names for yoga poses. At first, this may seem a bit confusing, but over time it will be much easier to recognize Sanskrit terminology. This article provides a basic primer to help your yoga education.
Usage Varies by Instructor

If the yoga style you practice stems from classical yoga, then every pose should have a Sanskrit origin. However, there's not a wrong or right way to refer to yoga poses. It's all a matter of preference and, for some instructors, intention. Many classical yoga instructors choose only to refer to yoga postures in Sanskrit. Other teachers may want to make practice more accessible to beginners, and feel that the English names help with this approach.

Teachers of Kids' Yoga may prefer to introduce children to each posture and naming convention gradually. English names such as Downward Dog or Triangle Pose paint a better picture in a child's mind as to what the posture should be like. Then, the proper Sanskrit name and story behind each pose can enhance the child's knowledge of yoga.

A List of Sanskrit and English Names for Yoga Poses

During yoga class, many yoga instructors interchange Sanskrit and English names throughout a routine. This repetition helps individuals remember the long and sometimes hard-to-pronounce Sanskrit terminology.

Many of the lists that outline Sanskrit and English names for yoga poses start with the Sanskrit version, then the English. To make it easier, this list of many popular asanas puts the English variation first:

Boat Pose - Paripurna Navasana
Bow Pose - Dhanurasana
Bridge Pose - Setu Bandha Sarvangasana
Camel Pose - Ustrasana
Cat Pose - Marjaryasana
Child's Pose - Balasana
Cobra Pose - Bhujangasana
Cow Pose - Gomukhasana
Cow Face Pose - Bitilasana
Corpse Pose - Savasana
Crow Pose - Bakasana
Downward-Facing Dog Pose - Adho Mukha Svanasana
Eagle Pose - Garudasana
Fish Pose - Matsyasana
Firefly Pose - Tittibhasana
Hero Pose - Virasana
Locust Pose - Salambhasana
Lord of the Dance Pose - Natarajasan
Lotus Pose - Padmasana
Mountain Pose - Tadasana
Pigeon Pose - Eka Pada Rajakapotasana
Plow Pose - Halasana
Prayer Twist - Parsvokonasana
Scorpion Pose - Vrischikasana
Side Plank Pose - Vasisthasana
Staff Pose - Dandasana
Standing Forward Bend - Uttanasana
Supported Headstand - Salamba Sirsasana
Tree Pose - Vrksasana
Triangle Pose - Trikonasana
Upward Bow Pose - Urdhva Dhanurasana
Upward Facing Dog Pose - Urdhva Mukha Svanasana
Warrior Pose - Virabhadrasana
Wheel Pose - Urdhva Dhanurasana
Wide-Angled Seated Forward Bend - Upavistha Konasana
Wide-Legged Forward Bend - Prasarita Padottanasana
Common Yoga Poses in English

You won't learn Sanskrit and English names for yoga poses all the time. Some postures are most often referred to in English only. Here are some examples:

High Lunge - Part of the Sun Salutation Sequence, there doesn't seem to be a Sanskrit name variation for this posture.
Inclined Plane - Purvottanasana is the Sanskrit origin of this pose, but Inclined Plane is far more common to hear.
Knee-to-Chest Pose - This posture is rarely called by its Sanskrit name, Apanasana. However, if you practice Bikram Yoga, this posture may be called Pavanamuktasana, which means Wind-Relieving Pose.
Plank Pose - Introduced as part of various yoga styles, it is sometimes known as Kumbhaka, but not often.
Sun Salutation Sequence - In Sanskrit, this is Surya Namaskar, but most instructors refer to the English variation.
Spinal Twist - This posture's Sanskrit name honors the yogic sage Matsyendrasana, but is frequently referenced in English.