Here are the Asana Sanskrit Names and pronunciations organised STANDING poses.

Standing Asanas

English	Sanksrit	Pronounce	Category
Dancer Pose	Natarajasana	nah-tah-RAH-jah-suh-nah	Backbend
Crescent Lunge Pose	Anjaneyasana	uhn-jahn-AY-uh-suh-nah	Backbend
Reversed Warrior Pose	Viparita Virabhadrasana	vee-pah-REE-tah veer-ah-bah-DRAHS-uh-nah	Backbend
Standing Backbend Pose	Anuvittasana	ah-noo-vee-TAH-suh-nah	Backbend
Upward Bow Pose	Urdhva Dhanurasana	OORD-vuh DAHN-yur-AHS-uh-nah	Backbend
Crow Pose	Bakasana	bah-KAH-suh-nah	Balance
Dancer Pose	Natarajasana	nah-tuh-RAH-jah-suh-nah	Balance
Eagle Pose	Garudasana	gah-roo-DAHS-uh-nah	Balance
Extended Hand-To-Big-Toe Pose	Utthita Hasta Padangusthasana	oo-TEE-tah HA-stuh puh-DANG-goosh-TAHS-uh-nah	Balance
Half Moon Pose	Ardha Chandrasana	ARE-duh chan-DRAHS-uh-nah	Balance
Side Plank Pose	Vasisthasana	vah-sish-TAHS-uh-nah	Balance
Tree Pose	Vrikshasana	vrik-SHAH-suh-nah	Balance
Warrior I, II & III Pose	Virabhadrasana	veer-uh-buh-DRAHS-uh-nah	Balance
Bound Triangle Pose	Baddha Trikonasana	Bah-dah Try-koh-NAH-suh-nah	Forward Bend
Dolphin Pose	Ardha Pincha Mayurasana	ARE-dah PEECH-ah myoor-AHS-uh-nah	Forward Bend
Downward Facing Dog Pose	Adho Mukha Svanasana	AH-doh MOO-kah shvah-NAH-suh-nah	Forward Bend
Extended Side Angle Pose	Utthita Parsvakonasana	oo-TEE-tah parsh-vah-ko-NAH-suh-nah	Forward Bend
Gorilla Pose	Padahastasana	pah-dah-hahs-TA-suh-nah	Forward Bend
Halfway Lift Pose	Ardha Uttanasana	ARE-dah ooh-tuhn-AHS-uh-nah	Forward Bend
Intense Side Stretch Pose	Parsvottanasana	parsh-voh-tahn-AHS-uh-nah	Forward Bend
Revolved Half Moon Pose	Parivrtta Ardha Chandrasana	pah-reev-RIT-tah ARE-dah chan-DRAHS-uh-nah	Forward Bend
Revolved Wide-Legged Forward Bend	Parivrtta Prasarita Padottanasana	pah-reev-RIT-tah prah-sah-REE-tah pah-doh-tahn-AHS-uh-nah	Forward Bend
Squat Pose	Malasana	mah-lah-SAH-nah	Forward Bend
Standing Forward Bend	Uttanasana	oo-tuhn-AHS-uh-nah	Forward Bend
Standing Head to Knee Pose	Dandayamana Janushirasana	don-dah-yah-MAH-nah juh-noo-shee-RAHS-uh-nah	Forward Bend
Standing Split Pose	Urdhva Prasarita Eka Padasana	OORD-vuh prah-suh-REE-tah EH-kah puh-DAH-suh-nah	Forward Bend
Wide-Legged Forward Fold Pose	Prasarita Padottanasana	Pra-sa-REE-tah pah-doh-tahn-AHS-uh-nah	Forward Bend
Extended Side Angle Pose	Utthita Parsvakonasana	oo-TEE-tah parsh-vah-koh-NAHS-uh-nah	Side Bend
Extended Triangle Pose	Utthita Trikonasana	oo-TEE-tah tree-koh-NAHS-uh-nah	Side Bend
Gate Pose	Parighasana	par-ee-GO-suh-nah	Side Bend
Revolved Triangle Pose	Parivrtta Trikonasana	par-ee-VRR-tah tree-koh-NAHS-uh-nah	Side Bend
Triangle Pose	Trikonasana	tree-koh-NAHS-uh-nah	Side Bend
Boat Pose	Navasana	nah-VAHS-uh-nah	Twist & Ab Toners
Boat Pose Twist	Ardha Navasana	ARE-duh nah-VAHS-uh-nah	Twist & Ab Toners
Chair Pose Twist	Parivrtta Utkatasana	par-ee-VRR-tah ut-kah-TAHS-uh-nah	Twist & Ab Toners
Low Lunge Twist	Parivrtta Anjaneyasana	par-ee-VRR-tah uhn-jahn-AY-uh-suh-nah	Twist & Ab Toners
Revolved Chair Pose	Parivrtta Utkatasana	par-ee-VRR-tah ut-kah-TAHS-uh-nah	Twist & Ab Toners
Revolved Half Moon Pose	Parivrtta Ardha Chandrasana	par-ee-VRR-tah ARE-duh chan-DRAHS-uh-nah	Twist & Ab Toners
Seated Twist Pose	Bharadvajasana	bah-ruhd-vah-JAHS-uh-nah	Twist & Ab Toners
Supine Twist Pose	Supta Matsyendrasana	soop-tah maht-see-en-DRAHS-uh-nah	Twist & Ab Toners

 

 

Here are the Asana Sanskrit Names and pronunciations organised by the SEATED & FLOOR poses.

Note: The syllable to put the emphasis on is CAPITALISED (e.g. Setu Bandha Sarvangasana which is pronounced “say-too BAHN-duh sar-vuhn-GAHS-uh-nuh” has the emphasis on the fourth and sixth syllable).

 

Seated & Floor Asanas

English	Sanksrit	Pronounce	Category
Bridge Pose	Setu Bandha Sarvangasana	say-too BAHN-duh sar-vuhn-GAHS-uh-nuh	Backbend
Bow Pose	Dhanurasana	DAHN-yur-AHS-uh-nuh	Backbend
Camel Pose	Ustrasana	OOS-truh-suh-nuh	Backbend
Cat Pose	Marjaryasana	mahr-jahr-ee-AHS-uh-nuh	Backbend
Cat Cow Pose	Marjaryasana Bitilasana	mahr-jahr-ee-AHS-uh-nuh bee-tee-LAHS-uh-nuh	Backbend
Cobra Pose	Bhujangasana	boo-jahn-GAHS-uh-nuh	Backbend
Crocodile Pose	Makarasana	mah-kah-RAHS-uh-nuh	Backbend
Fish Pose	Matsyasana	maht-see-AHS-uh-nuh	Backbend
Half Bow Pose	Ardha Dhanurasana	ARE-dah don-your-AHS-uh-nuh	Backbend
King Pigeon Pose	Rajakapotasana	rah-JAH-cuh-poh-TAHS-uh-nuh	Backbend
Locust Pose	Salabhasana	sah-LAHB-hah-suh-nuh	Backbend
Sphinx Pose	Salamba Bhujangasana	suh-LAHM-buh boo-jahn-GAHS-uh-nuh	Backbend
Upward Dog Pose	Urdhva Mukha Svanasana	oord-vuh MOO-kuh shvah-NAHS-uh-nuh	Backbend
Wheel Pose	Chakrasana	chuck-ruh-suh-nuh	Backbend
Wild Thing Pose	Camatkarasana	chah-maht-kahr-AHS-uh-nuh	Backbend
Boat Pose	Navasana	nah-VAHS-uh-nuh	Balance
Bound Angle Pose	Baddha Konasana	BAH-duh cone-AHS-uh-nuh	Balance
Bridge Pose	Setu Bandhasana	say-TOO bahn-DHAHS-uh-nuh	Balance
Crane Pose	Bakasana	bah-KAHS-uh-nuh	Balance
Crow Pose	Kakasana	kuh-KAHS-uh-nuh	Balance
Firefly Pose	Tittibhasana	tit-tee-BAHS-uh-nuh	Balance
Garland Pose	Malasana	mah-LAHS-uh-nuh	Balance
Half Boat Pose	Ardha Navasana	ARE-duh nah-VAHS-uh-nuh	Balance
Half Lotus Pose	Ardha Padmasana	ARE-duh pahd-MAHS-uh-nuh	Balance
Happy Baby Pose	Ananda Balasana	uh-NAHN-duh buh-LAHS-uh-nuh	Balance
Head to Knee Pose	Janu Sirsasana	JAH-new shear-SHAHS-uh-nuh	Balance
Legs up the Wall Pose	Viparita Karani	vip-uh-REE-tuh kuh-RAHN-ee	Balance
Lotus Pose	Padmasana	pahd-MAHS-uh-nuh	Balance
Plough Pose	Halasana	hah-LAHS-uh-nuh	Balance
Reclining Big Toe Pose	Supta Padangusthasana	SOOP-tah pah-dang-goosh-TAHS-uh-nuh	Balance
Seated Forward Bend	Paschimottanasana	pah-schim-oh-tan-AHS-uh-nuh	Balance
Seated Wide Angle Pose	Upavistha Konasana	oo-pah-VEESH-tuh cone-AHS-uh-nuh	Balance
Shoulder Stand	Sarvangasana	sar-vun-GAHS-uh-nuh	Balance
Supine Spinal Twist	Supta Matsyendrasana	SOOP-tuh maht-see-en-DRAHS-uh-nuh	Balance
Wide-Legged Forward Bend	Prasarita Padottanasana	prah-suh-REE-tah pah-doh-tan-AHS-uh-nuh	Balance
Bound Angle Pose	Baddha Konasana	BAH-dah koh-NAH-suh-nuh	Forward Bend
Child’s Pose	Balasana	bah-LAHS-uh-nuh	Forward Bend
Head-to-Knee Forward Bend	Janu Sirsasana	JAH-noo shear-SHAHS-uh-nuh	Forward Bend
Seated Forward Fold	Paschimottanasana	PAH-she-moh-tuhn-AHS-uh-nuh	Forward Bend
Wide-Legged Forward Fold	Upavistha Konasana	oo-puh-VISH-tuh koh-NAH-suh-nuh	Forward Bend
Forearm Stand Pose	Pincha Mayurasana	PEEN-chah my-your-AHS-uh-nuh	Inversion
Handstand Pose	Adho Mukha Vrksasana	AH-doh MOO-kuh vrik-SHAHS-uh-nuh	Inversion
Headstand Pose	Sirsasana	shear-SHAHS-uh-nuh	Inversion
Legs-Up-The-Wall Pose	Viparita Karani	vee-puh-REE-tah kah-RAHN-ee	Inversion
Plough Pose	Halasana	hah-LAHS-uh-nuh	Inversion
Shoulder Stand Pose	Sarvangasana	sar-vuhn-GAHS-uh-nuh	Inversion
Supported Headstand Pose	Salamba Sirsasana	suh-LAHM-buh sheer-SHAHS-uh-nuh	Inversion
Supported Shoulder Stand	Salamba Sarvangasana	suh-LAHM-buh sar-vuhn-GAHS-uh-nuh	Inversion
Tripod Headstand Pose	Sirsasana II	shear-SHAHS-uh-nuh	Inversion
Gate Pose	Parighasana	puh-REE-guh-suh-nuh	Side Bend
Seated Side Bend	Parsva Sukhasana	PARS-vuh soo-KAH-suh-nuh	Side Bend
Extended Side Angle Pose	Utthita Parsvakonasana	OOT-thee-tah PARSH-vah-KOH-nah-suh-nah	Side Bend
Boat Pose	Navasana	nah-vah-suh-nuh	Ab Toner
Crow Pose	Bakasana	bah-KAH-suh-nuh	Ab Toner
Dolphin Pose	Ardha Pincha Mayurasana	ARE-duh PEEN-chuh my-YOO-ruh-suh-nuh	Ab Toner
Plank Pose	Phalakasana	phuh-luh-KAHS-uh-nuh	Ab Toner
Seated Twist	Ardha Matsyendrasana	ARE-duh maht-see-en-DRAHS-uh-nuh	Ab Toner

Next up, learn to pronounce Asana Sanskrit names organised by their animal name.

Here is a list of yoga asanas names organised by their animal name:

English	Sanksrit	Pronounce
Cow Face Pose	Gomukhasana	go-moo-KAHS-uh-nah
Cow Pose	Bitilasana	bee-tee-LAHS-uh-nah
Crab Pose	Catuspadapitham	cha-thoosh-pa-da-PEET-ham
Crow Pose	Bakasana	bah-KAHS-uh-nah
Deer Pose	Mrigasana	mree-GAHS-uh-nah
Dolphin Pose	Ardha Pincha Mayurasana	ARE-dah PEEN-chah my-your-AHS-uh-nah
Dragonfly Pose	Maksikanagasana	mock-see-KAN-uh-gah-suh-nah
Eagle Pose	Garudasana	gah-rue-DAHS-uh-nah
Firefly Pose	Tittibhasana	tiht-tihb-BAHS-uh-nah
Fish Pose	Matsyasana	maht-see-AHS-uh-nah
Flying Crow Pose	Galavasana	gah-lah-VAHS-uh-nah
Frog Pose	Bhekasana	BAY-kah-suh-nah
Gorilla Pose	Padahastasana	pah-dah-hah-stuh-suh-nah
Grasshopper Pose	Maksikanagasana	mock-see-KAN-uh-gah-suh-nah
Heron Pose	Krounchasana	kroun-CHAHS-uh-nah
Horse Pose	Vatayanasana	vah-tah-yah-NAHS-uh-nah
Lion Pose	Simhasana	sim-HAHS-uh-nah
Lizard Pose	Utthan Pristhasana	OOTH-un prish-TAHS-uh-nah
Locust Pose	Salabhasana	sha-la-BAHS-uh-nah
Monkey Pose	Hanumanasana	hah-new-mahn-AHS-uh-nah
Pigeon Pose	Kapotasana	kah-poh-TAHS-uh-nah
Rabbit Pose	Sasangasana	shah-SANG-gah-suh-nah
Scorpion Pose	Vrischikasana	vrik-SHEE-kah-suh-nah
Seal Pose	Balasana	bah-LAHS-uh-nah
Turtle Pose	Kurmasana	koor-muh-SAH-nah

Here is a list of yoga asanas organised by anatomy (Anga, Bhuja, Hasta, and Janu).

 

English	Sanksrit	Pronounce	Category
Cobra Pose	BhujANGAsana	boo-jahn-GAHS-uh-nah	Anga (Limb)
Four-limbed Staff Pose	ChaturANGA Dandasana	chuh-tur-ANG-uh dahn-DAHS-uh-nah	Anga (Limb)
Shoulderstand Pose	SarvANGAsana	sar-vuhng-GAHS-uh-nah	Anga (Limb)
Rabbit Pose	SasANGAsana	shah-suhng-GAHS-uh-nah	Anga (Limb)
Cobra Pose	BHUJAngasana	boo-jah-ang-gah-suh-nah	Bhuja (Arm)
Shoulder-pressing Pose	BHUJApidasana	boo-jah-pee-dah-suh-nah	Bhuja (Arm)
Grasshopper Pose	BHUJA Dandasana	boo-jah-dahn-duh-suh-nah	Bhuja (Arm)
One-arm Staff Pose	Eka BHUJA dandasana	ay-kuh boo-jah dahn-duh-suh-nah	Bhuja (Arm)
Side Arm Staff Pose	Parsva BHUJA dandasana	parsh-vuh boo-jah dahn-duh-suh-nah	Bhuja (Arm)
Extended Hand to Big Toe Pose	Utthita HASTA Padangusthasana	oo-TEE-tuh hah-stuh puh-dahn-goosh-TAHS-uh-nah	Hasta (Hand)
Hand to Foot Pose	HASTA Padasana	HAHS-tuh puh-DAH-suh-nah	Hasta (Hand)
Hand Under Foot Pose	PadaHASTAsana	puh-duh-HAH-stuh-suh-nah	Hasta (Hand)
Raised Arms Pose	HASTA Uttanasana	HAHS-tuh oo-tuhn-AHS-uh-nah	Hasta (Hand)
Upward Salute Pose	Urdhva HASTAsana	OORD-vuh hahs-TUH-suh-nah	Hasta (Hand)
Head-to-Knee Forward Bend Pose	Janu Sirsasana	jah-new shear-SHAHS-uh-nah	Janu (Knee)
Knee Bending Pose	Janu Namanasana	jah-new nah-muh-NAH-suh-nuh-suh-nah	Janu (Knee)
Revolved Head-to-Knee Pose	Parivrtta Janu Sirsasana	pah-ree-VREE-tah jah-new shear-SHAHS-uh-nah	Janu (Knee)

When you learn the “single word translations”, the longer names of asanas start to become decipherable.

The names of asanas derive from six main categories:

1. Anatomy
2. Animals
3. Distinguishing Feature Of The Pose
4. Deities & Sages
5. Numbers
6. Objects

Sanksrit	Pronounce	English	Category
Anga	AHN-gah	Limb	Anatomy
Anguli	AHN-goo-lee	Fingers	Anatomy
Anghusta	AHN-goo-shtah	Big Toe	Anatomy
Bhuja	bhoo-jah	Arm	Anatomy
Hasta	huh-stah	Hand	Anatomy
Janu	jah-noo	Knee	Anatomy
Karna	kar-nuh	Ear	Anatomy
Mukha	moo-khuh	Face	Anatomy
Pada	pah-dah	Foot	Anatomy
Paschima	pah-shee-mah	West direction (backside of body)	Anatomy
Prana	prah-nah	Breath (life-force)	Anatomy
Purva	poo-rvah	East direction (front of body)	Anatomy
Sarvanga	sar-vahng-gah	Whole body	Anatomy
Sava	shahv	Corpse	Anatomy
Sirsa	sheer-sha	Head	Anatomy
Baka	bah-kah	Crow	Animal
Bheka	bhe-kah	Frog	Animal
Bhujanga	bhoo-jang-gah	Snake	Animal
Go	goh	Cow	Animal
Kapota	kah-poh-tah	Pigeon (dove)	Animal
Kurma	koor-mah	Tortoise	Animal
Matsya	mahts-yah	Fish	Animal
Shalabha	sha-lah-bhah	Locust (grasshopper)	Animal
Shvana	shvah-nah	Dog	Animal
Ustra	oosh-trah	Camel	Animal
Adho	ah-dhoh	Downward	Feature
Ardha	ardh	Half	Feature
Baddha	buh-dhah	Bound	Feature
Kona	koh-nah	Angle	Feature
Nirlamba	neer-lahm-bah	Without support	Feature
Parivrtta	par-ee-vrit-tah	Revolved	Feature
Pida	pee-dah	Pressure	Feature
Prasarita	prah-sah-ree-tah	Spread out	Feature
Salamba	saah-lahm-bah	With support	Feature
Sthiti	sthi-tee	Stability	Feature
Supta	soop-tah	Reclining (sleeping)	Feature
Upavistha	oo-pah-vees-thah	Seated	Feature
Urdva	oor-dh-vah	Raised (upward)	Feature
Uttana	oot-tah-nah	Intense stretch	Feature
Utthita	oot-thee-tah	Extended (stretched)	Feature
Bharadwaja	buh-ruhd-wah-jah	Sage (Father of the archer, Drona)	Deities & Sages
Garuda	guh-roo-dah	King of the eagles	Deities & Sages
Hanuman	hah-noo-mahn	Chief of the monkey army	Deities & Sages
Matsyendra	mahts-yen-drah	Lord of the fishes	Deities & Sages
Marichi	mah-ree-chee	Son of Brahma	Deities & Sages
Nataraja	na-tah-rah-jah	Lord of the dance	Deities & Sages
Surya	soo-rya	Sun god	Deities & Sages
Virabhadra	vee-rah-bhah-drah	Great warrior	Deities & Sages
Ashta	ahsh-tah	Eight	Numbers
Chatur	chuh-tur	Four	Numbers
Dwi	dvee	Two	Numbers
Eka	eh-kah	One	Numbers
Tri	tree	Three	Numbers
Agni	uhg-nee	Fire	Objects
Asana	ah-suh-nah	Pose (posture)	Objects
Bala	bah-lah	Child	Objects
Chandra	chuhn-drah	Moon	Objects
Danda	dahn-dah	Rod (staff)	Objects
Dhanu	dhah-noo	Bow	Objects
Hala	hah-lah	Plough (plow)	Objects
Mudra	moo-drah	Seal	Objects
Nava	nah-vah	Boat	Objects
Parigha	pah-ree-gha	Gate latch	Objects
Setu	say-too	Bridge	Objects
Tada	tah-dah	Mountain	Objects
Tola	toh-lah	Scales	Objects
Vira	Vee-ra	Hero	Objects
Vrksa	Vruk-sha	Tree	Objects

There are six well-known memory techniques that can be used to learn and remember Sanskrit words:

Memory Technique 1: Visualization
Creating vivid mental images of the meaning of a Sanskrit word can make it easier to remember.

Memory Technique 2: Word Association
Associating a new Sanskrit word with a familiar word in your own language can help you remember it more easily. For example, associating “Gomukha” (cow face) with the image of a cow’s head can help you remember the meaning of the word.

Memory Technique 3: Repetition
Repeating a Sanskrit word several times, either out loud or in your head, can help commit it to memory.

Memory Technique 4: Grouping
Grouping Sanskrit words by themes, such as anatomy or animals (like I’ve done for you in this blog post), can make them easier to remember together.

Memory Technique 5: Acronyms
Creating an acronym or a sentence using the first letter of each Sanskrit word can help you remember a list of related words.

Memory Technique 6: Mnemonics
Creating a mnemonic device, such as a rhyme or a song, to remember the meaning of a Sanskrit word can make it easier to recall.

This course uses the first four memory techniques, but I wanted to include acronyms and mnemonics in the list above in case you wanted to give them a try.

“I highly recommend the MEMORY PALACE language learning technique used by the world-famous memory champion, Dominic O’Brien because it uses Visualization, Word Association, Repetition & Grouping.”

Below is the Memory Palace technique:

Step 1: Choose a familiar TOWN

The perfect way to store Sanskrit vocabulary is by using a detailed map of a town or village. Think of the sort of words you will be learning in Sanskrit: child, moon, staff, bow, plough, seal, boat. A town can have all these words.

Step 2: Use your IMAGINATION & ASSOCIATION

Let the Sanskrit “pronounced” word suggest a key image to you. For example, the Sanskrit for Cow Face Pose is Gomukhasana which is pronounced go-moo-KAHS-uh-nuh. Your key image might be a cow “go” ing “moo” because “kahs” he thinks your Cow Face pose is sensational. Concentrate on the pronunciation (phonetic sound) of the Sanskrit word, rather than the way it is spelt.

Step 3: Place your Key Image in an Appropriate Location

Place your key image in an appropriate location, as suggested by the English pose name (cow). You are likely to find a cow in a field, so think of a particular field in your chosen town.

Step 4: Combining your Key Image & Location 

Imagine practising Cow Face Pose on the farmer’s field in your town. You unfurl your yoga mat and lots of cows start milling around you observing your technique. Imagine the cows “go” ing “moo” because “kahs” they think your Cow Face pose is sensational.

Pretty cool, heh!

The advantage of using a mental map of your TOWN as a filing system is that you can group various types of words together in different places. For example, all the animal poses can go on the farm, and all the anatomy poses (e.g. “anga” which means limb) can go in your town’s church graveyard, and all the numbers (e.g. “ashta” which means eight) can go outside the town’s accountancy firm

Your town can expand if you need to include areas that don’t exist on the real town map. No planning permission is required. If there isn’t an accountancy firm (for the numbers), add one, or transfer one you know from somewhere else.

Usually, the first association that comes to mind (see step 2 above) is the best one. The more exaggerated and weird the scene is, the more likely you are to remember it.

Okay, let’s get the show on the road. You can use my associations for each pose (see the Memory Palace Cards below), but if you want to ingrain the Sanskrit into my brain even deeper, then I recommend coming up with your own associations.

Boat Pose (Navasana)

 

English	Boat Pose
Sanskrit	Navasana
Meaning	Nava = boat Asana = pose Navasana = Boat Pose
Pronunciation	nah-VAHS-uh-nuh
Memory	Nah-VAHS creates a key image in my mind of the Navy. I imagine that I’m sailing a boat in my town (on a river near my house) while practising Boat Pose. All of a sudden the British (“navy”) show up commanded by Admiral Nelson wearing a silly pointed hat. He’s in the HMS Victory and starts firing cannon shots at me.

 

Bound Angle Pose (Baddha Konasana)

 

English	Bound Angle Pose
Sanskrit	Baddha Konasana
Meaning	Baddha = bound Kona = angle Asana = pose Baddha Konasana = Bound Angle Pose
Pronunciation	BAH-dah cone-AHS-uh-nuh
Memory	BAH-dah con creates a key image in my mind of a bad cone of ice cream. The location for my bound poses is outside the front door of the large red-bricked Broadmoor local lunatic asylum (which I transported to my town after Googling famous lunatic asylum) because that creates a strong image of my mind of a Victorian patient bound up in a straitjacket. Remember, the more bizarre the imagery, the more likely your recall will be. I imagine practising Bound Angle Pose outside the front door of a large red-bricked Broadmoor local lunatic asylum and being given a bad cone (“BAH-dah cone“) of ice cream. I say “Yuk, that’s a BAH-dah cone” in an Italian accent, and throw the cone to the ground. The guard then bounds me in a straightjacket for my insolence.

 

Cow Pose (Bitilasana)

 

English	Cow Pose
Sanskrit	Bitilasana
Meaning	Bitila = Cow Asana = Pose Bitilasana = Cow Pose
Pronunciation	bee-tee-LAHS-uh-nuh
Memory	bee-tee-l sounds like beetle. Imagine practising Cow Pose on the farmer’s field in your town. You’re doing the pose so well that you turn into a black cow and do a cow poop. A dung beetle (“bee-tee-l“) rolls it into a huge dung ball.

 

 

Cow Face Pose (Gomukhasana)

 

English	Cow Face Pose
Sanskrit	Gomukhasana
Meaning	Gomukha = Cow Face Asana = Pose Gomukhasana = Cow Face Pose
Pronunciation	go-moo-KAH-suh-nuh
Memory I	I imagine practising Cow Face Pose on the farmer’s field in my town. I look into the water trough and see that I’ve turned into a cow. I “go moo” because “kahs” I’m a cow and can’t speak human.
Memory II	I imagine practising Cow Face Pose on the farmer’s field in my town. A cow comes up to me and says: “I go moon cause (go-moo-KAH) I’ve heard the grass tastes better up there”.

 

Here is a glossary of Sanskrit terms from A to Z with memory cues to recall them effortlessly.

Each term has a memory cue where I let the Sanskrit “pronounced” word (e.g. AH-doh) suggest a key image to me (e.g. Ah, dough). The more vivid you make the visualisation, the better the recall. So, read the memory cue, then close your eyes and use all your senses (e.g. smell Homer Simpson’s doughnut breath when recalling Ad-doh, and seeing his doughnut fly out of his hand as he falls downward).

You will still need to use repetition – repeating the memory cue several times in your head to commit it to memory. And, if you really want to improve your recall, muster the discipline to practice the memory cues daily for the next 30 days.

I haven’t completed all the memory cues because they work best when you create your own. Use my memory cues as a guide for creating your own.

The syllable to put the emphasis on is CAPITALISED (e.g. “Asta” which is pronounced “AH-stah” has the emphasis on the first syllable).

Sanskrit	Pronounce	English	Memory Cue
Adho	AH-doh	Downward	Ad-doh sounds like Ah Doh. Imagine you're a 200-foot-tall yellow Homer Simpson saying "Ah Doh" as you trip over a half-eaten doughnut and fall "downward".
Agni	AHG-nee	Fire	AHG-nee sounds like agony. Imagine being in "agony" because your knee is on "fire".
Ananta	ah-NAHN-tah	Eternal	ah-NAHN-tah sounds like a nun. Imagine Mother Teressa, "a nun", floating up to "eternal" heaven and saying "tah" (thanks) when the gates to heaven are opened.
Ange	UHN-guh	Limb	UHN-guh sounds like hungry. Imagine you're so "hungry" that you start eating your own "limb" (e.g. arm).
Apana	ah-PAH-nah	Energy flow	Ah-PAH-nah sounds like a panda. Imagine "a panda" moving "energetically" (which they never do).
Ardha	AH-rduh	Half	AH-rduh sounds like harder. Imagine it's "harder" to eat "half" rations a day when you're on a diet.
Asana	uh-SAH-nuh	Pose	Uh-SAH-nuh sounds like sauna. Imagine practising Down Dog "pose" in a hot "sauna".
Asta	AH-stah	Eight	AH-stah sounds like what Arnold Schwarzenegger says in Terminator. Imagine Arnold saying "Hasta La Vista Baby" because you started your yoga practice at 8 pm.
Baddha	bah-dah	Bound	bah-dah sounds like bad day. Imagine having a "bad day" because a robber has snuck into your yoga class and "bound" you with rope.
Bheka	BAY-kah	Frog	BAY-kah sounds like baking. Imagine a frog baking in hot water.
Bhuja	bhoo-jah	Arm	bhoo-jah sounds like what someone would say when pulling the arm of a slot machine and winning the jackpot.
Bhujanga	boo-jahn-guh	Cobra	boo-jahn-guh sounds like jenga. Imagine a cobra saying "boo" when he removes a block from the tower (with his forked tongue) and it comes crashing down.
Chandra	chuhn-druh	Moon	chuhn-druh sounds like Chan. Imagine Jacky Chan in a drunken karate fight on the moon.
Chatur	cha-tuhr	Four
Danda	DAHN-dah	Staff
Dhanu	dhuh-noo	Bow
Dwi	dwee	Two
Eka	EH-kah	One, Single
Garbha	GAR-buh	Womb
Garuda	guh-ROO-dah	Eagle
Go	goh	Cow
Gomukha	go-MOO-kah	Cow Face
Goraksa	go-RAHK-sha	Cowherd
Hala	huh-luh	Plow, Plough
Hasta	HUH-stuh	Hand
Janu	jah-noo	Knee
Kapota	kuh-POH-tuh	Pigeon
Karna	KAHR-nuh	Ear
Kona	KOH-nuh	Angle
Kraunca	krown-CHA	Heron
Kurma	KUR-mah	Tortoise
Kukkuta	koo-koo-tah	Cock, Rooster
Lola	LOH-luh	Pendant, Swinging
Mala	MAH-luh	Garland
Matsya	maht-syah	Fish
Mayura	my-YOU-ruh	Peacock
Mukha	MOO-khuh	Face
Namaskar	nuh-muh-skuhr	Greeting
Nava	nuh-vuh	Boat
Nidra	NEE-druh	Sleep
Pada	puh-dah	Foot/Leg
Padangustha	pah-duhng-goosh-tuh	Big Toe
Padma	PUHD-muh	Lotus
Parigha	puh-REE-guh	Gate
Paripurna	pah-ree-POOR-nuh	Full
Parsva	PARSH-vuh	Sideways
Paschima	pash-chee-maa	Back, West
Pasa	PAH-suh	Noose
Pida	PEE-duh	Pressure
Pincha	Pin-cha	Tail feather
Prasarita	pruh-suh-REE-tuh	Spread, Stretched Out
Purvo	poo-roh	East, Front of body
Raja	RAH-juh	King, Royal
Sarva	SAR-vah	Whole
Setu	say-too	Bridge
Sirsa	sheer-SHAH	Head
Stambha	stuhm-bhuh	Log
Sukha	soo-KAH	Easy
Surya	soor-yah	Sun
Svan	svahn	Dog
Tada	tah-dah	Mountain
Tittibha	tit-tee-BAH-suh-nuh	Firefly
Tola	to-la	Scales
Tri	tree	Three
Upavista	oo-puh-VEES-tuh	Seated
Urdhva	oor-dvuh	Upward
Ustra	OOS-trah	Camel
Utkata	OOT-KAH-tuh	Awkward, Fierce
Uttana	oot-TAH-nuh	Intense, Stretch
Utthita	oo-TEE-tah	Extended
Vajra	VAHJ-ruh	Lightning bolt
Vatayana	va-ta-YAH-nuh	Horse
Viparita	vee-puh-REE-tuh	Inverted, Reverse
Vira	VEE-ruh	Brave, Hero
Vrksa	vrik-SHA	Tree
Vrschika	vrish-chi-kah	Scorpian