Hatha Yoga Poses – Basic Positions for Beginners and Advanced Yoga Asanas

According to ancient texts there are 84,000 hatha yoga poses (also known as hatha yoga asananas). Fortunately you don’t need to learn all of these to get the benefits of yoga. We’ll look at some of the most popular ones on this page.

Hatha Yoga Poses GuideIf you’re looking for some motivation then check out the 7 reasons guys should do yoga. Often-times when we men practice yoga there can be a slight tendency to have a macho attitude and to base our self-image and sense of achievement on how far we can push ourselves in the postures. It’s best to leave this attitude to one side when doing your hatha yoga practice.

Yoga is best approached with an attitude of inquisitive innocence. Your job is to notice and explore the range of movement, breath and awareness you have as you practice. Just be with your body where it is at in the moment you are utilising the asanas, regardless of where you think it should be, and enjoy.

Want a pre-made routine?  Check out the Yoga Positions for Beginners routine

Hatha Yoga Poses Guide

Here you’ll find beginner yoga poses, as well as advanced yoga positions. Feel free to construct your own routines, ensuring you get a good balance of backward and forward bends.

Click on any of yoga positions listed for a full description of how to practice it, along with it’s benefits and any contra-indications you need to be aware of.

Asanas are listed in order of English name/Sanskrit name, and Sanskrit name/English name.

Hatha Yoga Poses – English / Sanskrit

Bow pose / Dhanurasana

Bridge pose / Setu Bandhasana

Camel pose / Ustrasana

Child Pose / Balasana

Cobra pose / Bhujangasana

Corpse pose / Savasana

Downward Facing Dog / Adho Mukha Svanasana

Fish pose / Matsyasana

Forward bend (seated) / Paschimottanasana

Half Spinal Twist / Ardha Matsyendrasana

Headstand / Sirshasana

Locust pose / Salabhasana

Lord Shiva’s pose / Natarajasana

Plough pose / Halasana

Shoulderstand / Sarvangasana

Sun Salutation / Surya Namaskar

Tree pose / Vrksasana

Triangle pose / Trikonasana

Warrior II pose / Virabhadrasana II

Yoga Mudra (variation)

Hatha Yoga Poses – Sanskrit / English

Adho Mukha Svanasana / Downward Facing Dog

Ardha Matsyendrasana / Half Spinal Twist

Balasana / Child pose

Bhujangasana / Cobra pose

Dhanurasana / Bow pose

Halasana / Plough pose

Matsyasana / Fish pose

Natarajasana / Lord Shiva’s pose

Paschimottasana / Forward Bend (seated)

Salabhasana / Locust pose

Sarvangasana / Shoulderstand

Savasana / Corpse pose

Setu Bandhasana / Bridge pose

Sirshasana / Headstand

Surya Namaskar / Sun Salutation

Trikonasana / Triangle pose

Ustrasana / Camel pose

Virabhadrasana II / Warrior II pose

Vrksasana / Tree pose

Yoga Mudra (variation)

Follow the link to check out different styles of hatha yoga

See musician Goldie talk about the benefits of hatha yoga poses on the BBC

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