The Language of Yoga: Common Sanskrit Terms Explained

Walk into your first yoga class in the UK and you may find yourself surrounded by unfamiliar words. The teacher calls out “Adho Mukha Svanasana” and twenty people fold themselves forward whilst you stand there wondering whether you misheard a sneeze. This is entirely normal. Sanskrit, the ancient Indian language from which most yoga terminology derives, can feel impenetrable at first – but it is far more learnable than it appears, and understanding even a handful of key terms will transform your experience on the mat.

This guide is written for absolute beginners attending classes at local leisure centres, independent studios, or community halls across the UK. Whether you are joining a lunchtime session at a David Lloyd club in Manchester, a village hall class in rural Somerset, or following along with an online teacher based in Edinburgh, the same Sanskrit vocabulary will greet you. Learning it now means you can focus on your body, your breath, and your practice rather than decoding words mid-pose.

Why Does Yoga Use Sanskrit at All?

Yoga originates in ancient India, with its earliest written references appearing in texts known as the Vedas, composed roughly 1500-1200 BCE. Sanskrit was the scholarly and ritual language of that tradition, and the terminology embedded in these texts was carried forward through centuries of teaching. When yoga spread to the West during the twentieth century, many teachers chose to preserve the original Sanskrit names as a mark of respect for the tradition and to maintain consistency across cultures and languages.

Today, most UK yoga teachers use a mixture of Sanskrit and English. A responsible teacher will always offer both the Sanskrit name and an everyday English description – “Tadasana, or Mountain Pose” – but the Sanskrit term tends to stick, partly because it is precise and partly because hearing it repeated across classes helps students build an intuitive sense of what it means. There is also a practical advantage: if you travel to a class in Barcelona, Berlin, or Brisbane, the Sanskrit names remain consistent even when the spoken language around you does not.

None of this means you are obliged to memorise Sanskrit. Many experienced practitioners never bother with the linguistics at all. But if language interests you, or if you simply want to feel less lost in your first few weeks, a working knowledge of the most common terms is genuinely useful.

The Building Blocks: How Sanskrit Yoga Names Work

Sanskrit compound words are built from smaller root words, and understanding a few of these roots unlocks a surprising number of pose names. The word “asana” (pronounced ah-SAH-nah) simply means “seat” or “posture.” You will find it at the end of almost every pose name. Knowing this immediately tells you that any word ending in “-asana” is a physical position.

Here are some of the most common Sanskrit roots you will encounter in class:

• Adho – downward
• Ardha – half
• Baddha – bound or locked
• Dvi / Dwi – two
• Eka – one
• Mukha – face or mouth
• Parivritta – revolved or twisted
• Prasarita – spread out or extended
• Supta – reclined or supine
• Urdhva – upward
• Utthita – extended or raised
• Viparita – inverted or reversed

Once you know that “adho” means downward and “mukha” means face, “Adho Mukha Svanasana” – Downward Facing Dog – begins to make perfect sense. “Svana” means dog, and the pose is literally a downward-facing dog shape. This kind of pattern recognition makes the vocabulary much less daunting than it first appears.

Essential Pose Names Every Beginner Should Know

UK yoga classes at the beginner level tend to draw on a core set of poses that appear repeatedly across almost every style. Learning their Sanskrit names early means you will recognise them regardless of which studio, teacher, or online platform you use.

Tadasana (Mountain Pose) – “Tada” means mountain. This is simply standing upright with intention: feet together or hip-width apart, weight evenly distributed, spine long, arms at the sides. It looks deceptively simple but forms the postural foundation for nearly every standing pose.

Balasana (Child’s Pose) – “Bala” means child. Kneel, sit back towards your heels, and fold your torso forward with arms extended or resting at your sides. It is a resting pose, and your teacher will often offer it as a safe option whenever you need a break. Do not feel self-conscious about taking it.

Adho Mukha Svanasana (Downward Facing Dog) – As discussed above. From hands and knees, you press the hips up and back, forming an inverted V-shape with the body. This is one of the most-used poses in yoga globally and will appear in almost every class you attend.

Virabhadrasana I, II, and III (Warrior One, Two, and Three) – Named after the mythological warrior Virabhadra. These three poses are distinct from one another. Warrior One has both hips facing forward with arms raised. Warrior Two opens the hips to the side with arms extended. Warrior Three involves balancing on one leg with the body forming a T-shape. Teachers typically number them in English, so “Warrior Two” is perfectly standard.

Trikonasana (Triangle Pose) – “Trikona” means triangle. Standing with legs wide apart, you extend one arm down towards the front foot and the other arm straight up, forming a long triangular line through the body.

Savasana (Corpse Pose) – “Sava” means corpse. This is the final relaxation at the end of class where you lie completely still on your back. Despite being the least physically demanding pose in the room, many beginners find it genuinely difficult – the instruction to do absolutely nothing, with no phone to check and no task to complete, can feel quite alien. It is, however, considered one of the most important parts of the practice.

Bhujangasana (Cobra Pose) – “Bhujanga” means serpent or cobra. Lying face down, you press the palms into the mat and lift the chest, mimicking the raised hood of a cobra. It is a gentle backbend that strengthens the spine and opens the chest.

Shavasana – An alternative spelling of Savasana. Both are correct; you will see both in print and hear both spoken.

Beyond Poses: Other Sanskrit Terms You Will Hear

Yoga vocabulary extends well beyond pose names. A number of other Sanskrit terms appear regularly in UK classes, and knowing them in advance will help you feel at home more quickly.

Pranayama – “Prana” means life force or breath; “ayama” means extension or control. Pranayama refers to breathing exercises and techniques. Your teacher might guide you through a pranayama practice at the start or end of class. Common examples include Ujjayi breathing (a soft, ocean-like breath through the nose), Nadi Shodhana (alternate nostril breathing), and Kapalabhati (rhythmic, forceful exhales). None of these require any prior experience; your teacher will explain the technique clearly.

Namaste – Pronounced nah-mah-STAY. This greeting is typically offered at the end of class, with the palms pressed together at the heart and a slight bow of the head. It is often translated as “the light in me honours the light in you,” though its everyday use in India is simply a respectful greeting, much like saying good morning. In a UK yoga class, it marks the close of the session and is a moment of collective acknowledgement between teacher and students.

Om (or Aum) – A sacred syllable considered in several Indian philosophical traditions to represent the fundamental sound of the universe. In yoga classes, it is often chanted together at the beginning or end of practice. If chanting feels uncomfortable to you, you are under no obligation to join in – sitting quietly and respectfully is entirely acceptable. Many UK teachers acknowledge that students come from a wide range of backgrounds and cultural or religious perspectives, and will not pressure anyone to participate in chanting.

Drishti – A focused gaze point used during poses to aid concentration and balance. In Tree Pose, for example, a teacher might tell you to find your drishti on a fixed point on the wall in front of you. Fixing your gaze helps still the mind and stabilise the body.

Mudra – A symbolic hand gesture. Chin Mudra, where the thumb and index finger form a circle with the remaining fingers extended, is one of the most common and is often used during meditation or pranayama. Mudras are a more advanced concept for many beginners, but you may encounter the term even in introductory classes.

Vinyasa – Both a style of yoga and a specific sequence of movements. As a style, Vinyasa yoga links poses together with breath in a flowing sequence. As a specific movement, “a vinyasa” typically refers to the sequence of Plank, Chaturanga (a low push-up position), Upward Facing Dog or Cobra, and Downward Facing Dog. Teachers often say “take a vinyasa” as an invitation to move through this sequence between other poses. Beginners are always encouraged to skip or simplify it.

Chakra – Meaning “wheel” or “circle,” chakras are energy centres described in yogic and Ayurvedic philosophy, said to run along the central channel of the body. There are traditionally seven main chakras, from the base of the spine to the crown of the head. Not all yoga styles place emphasis on chakras – a vinyasa flow class in a London gym may never mention them – but they will appear in more philosophically oriented classes and in much yoga literature.

Bandha – An internal “lock” or muscular engagement used to direct energy within the body. Mula Bandha refers to a gentle engagement of the pelvic floor muscles; Uddiyana Bandha involves a drawing in of the lower abdomen. These are intermediate concepts, but UK teachers may mention them as a way of encouraging core engagement.

Styles of Yoga: The Names Explained

When you search for classes online – through directories such as the British Wheel of Yoga’s teacher finder, Yoga Alliance Professionals UK, or local listings on platforms like ClassPass – you will encounter a range of style names that can be confusing for newcomers. Here is a brief guide.

• Hatha – Broadly speaking, any yoga that involves physical postures. In practice, a class
  labelled “Hatha” in a UK timetable tends to be slower-paced and focused on foundational alignment, making it a sensible starting point for beginners.
• Vinyasa – A flowing style that links movement to breath. Sequences are dynamic and vary from teacher to teacher, so two Vinyasa classes at the same studio can feel quite different.
• Ashtanga – A structured, physically demanding practice built around a fixed sequence of postures. The Mysore format, in which students work through the sequence independently at their own pace while a teacher circulates, is widely available in UK cities.
• Iyengar – Developed by B.K.S. Iyengar and particularly strong in Britain, where he had a devoted following. Classes emphasise precise alignment and make extensive use of props such as blocks, belts, and blankets. Iyengar teachers in the UK must complete a rigorous certification process.
• Yin – A quiet, floor-based practice in which postures are held for several minutes to target connective tissue. It is very different in character from more active styles and pairs well with a regular Vinyasa or Ashtanga practice.
• Restorative – Even more passive than Yin, Restorative yoga uses props to support the body completely so that muscles can release without any effort. It is often recommended for stress, fatigue, or recovery from illness.
• Kundalini – A practice that combines physical exercises (called kriyas), breathwork, chanting, and meditation. It has a distinctly spiritual character and can feel unlike other styles to newcomers.
• Bikram and Hot Yoga – Bikram follows a fixed sequence of 26 postures practised in a room heated to approximately 40°C. Hot yoga is a broader term for any yoga practised in a heated room and is not tied to a specific sequence.

It is worth noting that style names are not always applied consistently across the industry. A class called “Flow” at one studio might closely resemble what another calls “Vinyasa,” and some teachers blend elements from several traditions without advertising the fact. Reading the class description carefully, and if necessary contacting the teacher directly, will give you a clearer sense of what to expect than the style name alone.

A Note on Pronunciation

Sanskrit pronunciation can feel daunting, but most UK yoga teachers are encouraging rather than prescriptive about it. As a rough guide, the “a” at the end of words such as asana and chakra is pronounced as a short, unstressed sound, similar to the final syllable in “sofa.” The “sh” in words like Savasana is sometimes rendered as “sh” and sometimes as a harder “s” depending on the transliteration system used. Do not be concerned if you hear slight variations between teachers; this is entirely normal, and no teacher worth attending will correct a student for mispronouncing a Sanskrit term in good faith.

Conclusion

Sanskrit terminology is a thread that runs through yoga classes worldwide, and understanding even a handful of common terms can make your experience of classes in the UK considerably more comfortable. You do not need to master the language to benefit from the practice. Over time, words that once seemed foreign become second nature, absorbed through repetition in studios, online classes, and your own reading. If a term ever leaves you uncertain, ask your teacher after class; explaining the language of yoga is something most teachers genuinely enjoy doing.