Yoga Pose Glossary

If you are looking for just the right yoga pose to mix up your routine, you could refer to a book, or you could find an online yoga pose index. There are many web sites that list the name of the pose in the original Sanskrit, then the English translation, and then an illustration of the pose.

Here is a basic glossary of a few yoga poses:

Yoga cat pose: Starting on all fours on your mat round the spine, drop your head down and gaze at your navel. This is a beginning yoga pose.

Yoga crescent pose: Also referred to as the Reverse Warrior pose. From Warrior II, bring the back hand down to rest on the back leg. Bring the front arm up next to the ear, keep the front knee bent and directly above the ankle, reach your back hand down as you bend back into a back bend. Gaze up at the front fingertips.

Yoga tree pose: Stand with your feet together and your arms by your side (mountain pose). Bend your right leg and bring the sole of the right foot up the inside of the left thigh as possible. Now while you are balancing on the left foot, raise both arms straight over the head and join the palms together. Hold this posture and breathe through the nostrils for several complete breaths. Lower your arms and right leg slowly, and stand with feet together and arms by your side. Repeat with your opposite leg. This is an advanced yoga pose.

Yoga warrior pose: Stand in mountain pose, and jump your feet out and sweep your arms out lining your ankles up under your wrists. Turn the left foot in 70 degrees and the right foot out 90 degrees. Line up the heel of your front foot with the arch of your back foot, hips facing forward. Inhale while bending the right leg keeping the knee directly above the ankle. Turn your head to look out over your right arm. Return to mountain pose and repeat for the other side. This is a power yoga pose.

A good yoga pose for diabetics is the sun salutation pose. A yoga pose for the back is the cobra pose.

Yoga chair pose: Standing in mountain pose, inhale and raise your arms keeping your arms parallel palms either facing each other or join the palms. Exhaling, bend the knees taking the thighs to as close to parallel to the floor as possible. Hold this pose for 30 seconds or up to a minute if possible. To come out of the pose straighten up lifting strongly through the arms. Return to mountain pose.