SANSKRIT ASANA GLOSSARY

Transcription

1 SANSKRIT ASANA GLOSSARY (source: wikipedia.org and my memory) Sanskrit transliteration Sanskrit English Image Classification Adho Mukha Śvānāsana Downward Facin g Dog Pose Arm Balance and Forward Bend. Adho Mukha Vṛkṣāsana Downward Facin g Tree (Full Arm Balance) Arm Balance Ākarṇa Dhanurāsana Bow posture up to ear Forward Bend (Paschima Pratana Anantāsana Ananta's pose. Ananta was a beast that would transport lord Vishnu Supine Leg stretch

2 Anjaneyasana Honorable Pose, Crescent Moon, Crescent Lunge Standing asana (Hip opener) Ardha Candrāsana Half moon Standing asana Ardha Matsyendrāsana Half lord of the fishes pose Twisting (Parivrrta Ardha Navāsana Half boat posture Abdominal asana (Udara Akunchana Aṣṭāvakrāsana Astavarkra's pose. Astavakra was a sage that appears in the Mahabarata Arm Balance

3 Baddha Koṇāsana Bound angle Sitting asana/forward Bend (Upavista Sthiti/Paschima Pratana Bakāsana Crane Arm Balance Bālāsana Child's Pose Kneeling forward bend Bharadvājāsana Bharadvaja's twist Twisting (Parivrrta Bhekāsana Frog Backbend (Extension) Bhujaṅgāsana Cobra Backbend

4 Bhujapīḍāsana Arm pressing posture Arm balance Bidalasana Cat Pose Kneeling Caturaṅga Daṇḍāsana Four Limbed Staff Arm Balance Daṇḍāsana Staff pose Sitting asana (Upavista Dhanurāsana Bow Backbend Dvi Pāda Sirsāsana Both feet behind head (lit: two footed head stand) Forward Bend (Paschima Pratana

5 Dvi Pāda Viparīta Daṇḍāsana Two Legged Inverted Staff Pose Backbend Eka Pada Koundinyāsana I Twisted one legged arm balance / Koundiya was the name of a sage Arm balance Eka Pada Koundinyasana II one legged arm balance with straight legs / Koundiya was the name of a sage Arm balance Eka Pāda Rājakapotāsana I One Legged King Pigeon Backbend Ekapādaśīrṣāsana Foot behind Head Pose Forward Bend (Paschima Pratana

6 Eka pāda śīrṣāsana One legged supported behind head Inverted asana (Viparita Garbhāsana Fetus Garuḍāsana Eagle pose Standing asana Gomukhāsana Cow faced pose Sitting asana (Upavista Guptasana also known as siddhasana or muktasana Sitting asana (Upavista Halāsana Plough Inverted asana (Viparita

7 Hanumanāsana Monkey Pose Leg Stretch Jānuśīrṣāsana Head to Knee Forward Bend Forward Bend (Paschima Pratana Jaṭharaparivartanāsana Belly revolving posture Karṇapīḍāsana Ear pressing Inverted asana (Viparita Krāuñcāsana Heron Kukkuṭāsana Cockerel Arm Balance

8 Kūrmāsana Tortoise Forward Bend (Paschima Pratana Lolāsana Pendant Mahāmudrā The great seal posture Forward Bend (Paschima Pratana Makarāsana Crocodile Maṇḍalāsana Circle Marjaryasana Cat pose Matsyāsana Fish Supine backbend Matsyendrāsana Lord of the Fishes Twisting (Parivrrta Mayūrāsana Peacock Arm Balance

9 Muktahastaśīrṣāsana Head stand Inverted asana (Viparita Muktasana The liberated Pose Naṭarājāsana Dancer or Lord of the Dance Backbend Nirālambasarvāṅgāsana Unsupported shoulder stand Inversion (Viparita Pādahastāsana Standing Forward Bend Standing asana Padma Pinyamayurasana Peacock Feather Pose with legs in Padmasana/Elbo w Balance Arm Balance

10 Padmāsana Lotus Sitting asana (Upavista Paripūrṇanāvāsana Full Boat Abdominal asana (Udara Akunchana Parivṛtta baddhapārśvakoṇāsana Revolved Bound Side Angle Asymmetrical standing twist with hand lock Parivrtta Pārśvakonasana Revolved Side Angle Twisting (Parivrrta Parivṛttatrikoṇāsana Revolved Triangle Twisting (Parivrrta Parsvottanāsana Intense stretch to the side Standing asana Paryaṅkāsana Couch Pose Sitting asana (Upavista

11 Pāśāsana Noose Twisting (Parivrrta Paścimottānāsana Paccimasana Paschima tana Extension of the posterior (western) part of the body Forward Bend (Paschima Prattana Prasāritapādottānāsana Wide Stance Forward Bend Standing asana Rajakapotāsana King Pigeon Backbend Śalabhāsana Locust Backbend

12 Salamba Sarvāṅgāsana I Shoulder Stand Inversion (Viparita Salamba Śīrṣāsana I Supported Headstand Inversion (Viparita Samakoṇāsana Straight angle Samasthitiḥ Equal Standing Standing asana Sasangasana Rabbit

13 Śavāsana Shavasana Sarvasana Mrtasana Corpse Pose Resting asana (Visranta Karaka Asana) Sethubandasana Bridge Pose Backbend Setubandhasarvāṅgāsana Shoulder supported Bridge Backbend Siddhāsana Siddhi's Pose Sitting asana (Upavista Siṁhāsana Lion Sukhāsana Auspicious (Easy) Pose Sitting asana (Upavista

14 Suptabaddhakoṇāsana Reclining Bound Angle Resting asana (Visranta Karaka Asana) Suptakoṇāsana Angle Inversion (Viparita Supta Padangustasana I Catching the big toe supine pose Supine Leg stretch Suptavajrāsana Thunderbolt Suptavīrāsana Reclining Hero Resting asana (Visrana Karaka Asana) Svastikāsana Cross Pose Sitting asana (Upavista Tāḍāsana Mountain Pose Standing asana

15 Tiṭṭibhāsana Firefly Pose Arm balance Trikoṇāsana Triangle Standing asana Tulāsana Balance posture Arm Balance Uḍḍīyānabandha The abdominal lock Upavesāsana Sitting Down Pose Standing asana Upaviṣṭakoṇāsana Open Angle Forward Bend (Paschima Pratana Urdhva Dhanurasana Upwards facing bow Backbend

16 Ūrdhvamukhaśvānāsana Upward Facing Dog Backbend Uṣṭrāsana Camel Backbend Utkaṭāsana Awkward Pose/Powerful pose Standing asana Uttanakūrmāsana Inverted Tortoise Uttānāsana Standing Forward Bend Standing asana Utthitahastapādāṅguṣṭhāsana Standing Big Toe Hold Standing asana

17 Utthitapārśvakoṇāsana Extended Side Angle Standing asana Uttihita Pārśvakonasana Extended Side Angle Pose Standing asana Vajrāsana Thunderbolt Sitting asana (Upavista Vasiṣṭhāsana Vasista's pose/vasista is the name of a sage Arm Balance (Side Plank Pose) Vātāyanāsana Horse Standing asana Viparītakaraṇi Legs up the Wall Inverted asana (Viparita Vīrabhadrāsana I Warrior I Standing asana

18 Vīrabhadrāsana II II Warrior II Standing asana Vīrabhadrāsana III III Warrior III Standing asana Vīrāsana Hero Sitting asana (Upavista Vṛkṣāsana Tree Standing asana Vṛścikāsana scorpion Backbend

19 QUIZ Name that Pose a. three angle pose b. reclining bound angle pose c. the pose where you take your head to one knee d. the pose where you hold the body stiff like a rod, with only your four limbs touching the floor e. downward face dog pose f. the pose where you put pressure on the ears g. the pose where the whole body is supported h. headstand or head balance i. one leg out to the side in supported shoulderstand j. spreading the feet intensely pose

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21 APPENDIX C: ADDITIONAL INFORMATION WHAT ARE THE FIVE ELEMENTS and HOW DO THEY APPLY TO YOGA? (source: The 5 Elements (bhutas) in Ayurvedic philosophy are Earth, Water, Fire, Air and Ether (light, life, consciousness, space). They are found in all aspects of life and in all things. They are wonderful to explore both physically, mentally and spiritually while in the asanas (postures). Interestingly, many other cultures integrate a concept of the 5 Elements, such as the Celtic tradition and the Chinese (although slightly different: wood, fire, earth, metal and water). Not much is actually written about the 5 Elements in Yoga, but they are believed to be represented in the first 5 chakras (energy centres or "wheels of light"), climbing in order from the root chakra to the throat chakra. The Earth Element (Prithvi) in the body refers to our connection with the earth, the place where the raw elements for our bodies came from. We may bring more "earth" awareness into our yoga practice when we focus on grounding, building a firm base of support, connecting with the earth beneath us. Many times in our lives we become too "lofty" in our thoughts and need to come down to Earth to feel grounded and secure. In balancing postures, for instance, our stability is facilitated through deepening our connection with the Earth. Sometimes the Earth also refers to the Planet that we call home exploring our connection with our Planet and the beauty and wonders that it holds... which we are all responsible to preserve. The Earth element is represented in the 1st/Root Chakra of the body. The Water Element (Apah, Jala) in the body refers to the water that flows through our veins, or the circulatory system in the body. Health is only possible as the water element remains flowing in the body. While in our yoga postures, we may need to consciously increase the flow of blood into a particular area of the body. In vinyasa the practice takes on a flowing action, with one movement fluidly moving into the next. Water has almost magical properties and is essential to life (our bodies are 70% water), with incredible healing and cleansing powers. Water is a universal symbol for the soul and is the element representing the 2nd/Sacral Chakra, the area where new life is generated. The Fire Element (Agni) in the body refers to the internal warmth and heat that is generated in certain postures, especially standing postures, and provides the energy and "will" to go on even when we want to quit. It is the source of light and creates and destroys, symbolizing the soul in many beliefs. In our yoga practice, fire is of particular focus in standing postures and in our vinyasa flows, or in any posture where we wish to generate heat, power and resolve. Sometimes your hand (or your mental focus) may need to be placed in specific areas on your body to generate heat in those areas (i.e. your sacrum). It is the element representing the 3rd/Solar Plexus Chakra...the brain for our body. The Air Element (Vayu) in the body refers to both the breath and creating space in the body. The breath is the basis of all yoga, since without breath; yoga (or life, for that matter) does not exist. Air is what carries the vital energy or "prana" ("chi" in Chinese philosophy) throughout the body and the universe. It is the essence of all life and can be focused on in yoga practice by literally bringing space or air into specific areas of the body in the postures (such as increasing the spaces between the vertebrae of the spine...lengthening). Pranayama, or breath control, sometimes means prolonging or restraining breath, but always requires a mindful awareness and all encompassing focus on the breath. To practice breathing techniques is to initiate changes in the psychological, physical, neural and cerebral areas, increasing memory and creativity. It will strengthen your willpower and steady your mind. Air is the element

22 representing the 4th/Heart Chakra. The Ether Element (Akasha) is truly remarkable. Some describe it as a "hypothetical medium supposed to fill all space". Its adjective is "ethereal", meaning: "light, airy, spiritual". Typically in our yogic community, we refer to it as "consciousness" or space. As we progress in our practice, we become increasingly conscious. Conscious of our true self, our connection or honesty with our thought patterns and motivations. Sometimes connecting to Akasha is achieved by bringing a keen awareness on a particular aspect that we need to become mindful of, conscious of or enlightened about. Bringing light where there was darkness. This is when we take our yoga practice "off the mat" and begin to live our yoga practice in everything we do. We become aware of our true selves in all situations, not just "on the mat". Internalizing the Yamas and Niyamas (please refer to "What is Yoga?") and making them part of our life and lifestyle. Ether is not a destination, but rather a life long process of progress and evolution. In our physical practice, we may bring the Ether element into the postures through focusing our awareness into very specific aspects of the posture or the body in the asana (posture). Bringing a focused awareness to, for instance, the internal massage of organs and glands deep inside the body that yoga helps to produce. Like a massage from the inside out. Ether is the element representing the 5th/Throat Chakra. WHERE CAN I HEAR THE SUTRAS?