I’m Kayla, and I’m not shy to say this: the words in yoga once made me freeze. I’d be on my mat, the teacher would say a long Sanskrit name, and I’d look around like, “Uh… what now?” You know what? That changed when I started treating the words like tools, not tricks.
Here’s how I learned, what actually helped, and the exact phrases I hear and use in class.
How I learned the words without losing my cool
I used three things at home and in the studio:
- Pocket Yoga app for a simple pose dictionary. Clear names. Little drawings. Easy to tap through between sips of coffee.
- Yoga With Adriene videos for friendly cues. She mixes English and Sanskrit and keeps it gentle. (Curious about her approach? This Women’s Health profile breaks it down.)
- CorePower Yoga classes for live reps. Hearing the same words in real time helped the most.
If you want another trusty online reference, It’s All About Yoga breaks down every term with friendly visuals that feel like a pocket cheat sheet. For an even deeper dive, their in-depth guide on yoga terms walks you through real-life examples just like mine.
Prefer learning through chat? I sometimes jumped into Kik groups because rapid back-and-forth voice notes felt like having mini private lessons; a quick scroll through this directory of Kik girls connects you with real users who are happy to trade tips, pronunciations, and “nailed my Down Dog today!” victories in real time.
If you’re ever in Southern Utah for a desert yoga retreat and want to keep the social vibe going after class, pop over to St. George’s dedicated adult connection board where you can browse real-time local profiles, set up a green-juice meet-up, or plan a sunset stretch with fellow travelers.
I’d pause a video, say the word out loud, and stick a tiny note on my water bottle. Not fancy. But it worked.
The moment it clicked
First week, a teacher said, “From Tadasana, inhale Urdhva Hastasana; exhale Uttanasana.” I froze. Second week, I knew it meant: stand tall, arms up, fold forward. Same moves. New labels.
That’s the trick. The words sound new, but the shapes are familiar. Like learning menu terms at a taco truck. You already know what you like; now you know what it’s called.
Quick glossary I actually use (with real class cues)
I keep this in my phone notes. I touch it up after class when my hair is a mess and my legs are jelly.
- Asana = a pose. Example: “This asana builds leg strength.”
- Tadasana = Mountain Pose. Stand tall. Feet under hips. Arms by sides.
- Urdhva Hastasana = Upward Salute. Inhale, sweep arms up.
- Uttanasana = Standing Forward Fold. Exhale, fold over legs. So simple, so sweet.
- Ardha Uttanasana = Half Lift. Flat back, hands to shins. Hello hamstrings.
- Chaturanga Dandasana = Low plank “push-up” hold. Elbows hug ribs. I bend my knees to protect my shoulders when I’m tired.
- Urdhva Mukha Svanasana = Upward-Facing Dog. Chest lifts, tops of feet down. Thighs off mat.
- Adho Mukha Svanasana = Downward-Facing Dog. Hips up and back. Fingers spread. It’s a rest… kind of.
- Vinyasa = Link breath and movement. Example cue: “Exhale Chaturanga, inhale Up Dog, exhale Down Dog.”
- Ujjayi = Ocean breath. Soft “ha” sound with mouth closed. I use it to steady my nerves.
- Drishti = Gaze point. In Tree Pose, I stare at a scuff on the floor so I don’t wobble like Bambi.
- Pranayama = Breath work. My go-to is Sama Vritti (equal breath): count 4 in, 4 out. It calms my brain.
- Virabhadrasana II = Warrior II. Front knee bends; back leg strong. I feel like a comic book hero here.
- Balasana = Child’s Pose. Knees wide, big toes touch. Forehead down. My safe place.
- Savasana = Final rest. Flat on your back. Don’t sleep. Try not to make a snack list. I fail sometimes.
- Namaste = A kind thanks. Hands together, small bow. Feels good, even on a rough day.
A real sequence you’ll hear and how I translate it
Teacher says:
“Inhale Tadasana. Inhale Urdhva Hastasana. Exhale Uttanasana. Inhale Ardha Uttanasana. Exhale Chaturanga. Inhale Urdhva Mukha Svanasana. Exhale Adho Mukha Svanasana. Five breaths.”
My brain says:
Stand tall. Arms up. Fold. Half lift. Low plank hold. Up Dog. Down Dog. Breathe five slow counts.
Same thing. New rhythm. Once you see that, you relax.
Stuff that tripped me up (and how I fixed it)
- Pronouncing the words: I kept saying “Chata-RUN-ga.” My teacher said, “It’s CHA-tu-RUN-ga.” Close enough. Now I own it. If you want to see how a quick leap into Sanskrit can tighten up your practice, this honest story spells out what really helps.
- Mixed names: Some teachers use only English. Some use Sanskrit. I wrote both on mini flashcards. They live in my tote bag with my blocks and a crumpled granola wrapper.
- Chaturanga pain: My wrists got cranky. I dropped to my knees or swapped to a low plank hold. It’s not cheating; it’s smart.
Small pro tips that feel big
- Say the word as you move. “Ta-da-sa-na.” Your body learns faster than your brain, weirdly.
- Pick a drishti before a balance pose. A dot on the mat. The clock. Not the person wobbling next to you. Don’t do that.
- Keep one breath rule: move on the inhale; settle on the exhale. It cleans the noise in your head.
- Need a spark of creativity (or just happier hips)? Try a flow that targets your sacral chakra—I put one to the test in this slightly messy review.
My quick take on tools I used
- Pocket Yoga app: Great for fast look-ups. The drawings are clear. I wish the audio said the Sanskrit out loud, but the visuals got me 80% there.
- Yoga With Adriene: Gentle pace, kind tone. She says things like “soften your jaw,” which helps me feel rather than push.
- CorePower Yoga classes: Repetition helps. You hear the same set (Sun A, Sun B) and the terms stick like glue.
I tried printing a big poster once. It lived on my fridge for a week, then fell behind it. Notes on my phone? Those stuck.
Why the words matter to me now
The words make class feel like a song. When a teacher says “Savasana,” my whole body sighs. When I hear “Ujjayi,” I remember I can breathe when life is loud. It’s not about sounding fancy. It’s about feeling clear.
And hey, I still mix up two or three. That’s fine. I’m there to move and breathe, not win a spelling bee.
Final call
If yoga terms scare you, you’re not alone. Try one class, one app, one note in your phone. Say the words out loud. Use the simple translations. Move with them.
And when you bow and say “Namaste,” mean it. You showed up. That’s the real work.
— Kayla