Numbers in Sanskrit yoga poses: eka, tri, chatur, ashta and more
Yoga class is full of numbers in disguise. “Eka Pada” is not a mysterious phrase: it is “one foot”. “Chaturanga” is not a brand name: it is “four limbs”. A handful of Sanskrit number words show up in pose after pose, and once you can spot them, a long name stops being a wall of syllables.
The number words
| Sanskrit | Meaning | Where you meet it |
|---|---|---|
| eka | 1, one | Eka Pada Rajakapotasana (One-Legged King Pigeon) |
| dvi | 2, two | Dvi Hasta Bhujasana (a two-handed arm balance) |
| tri | 3, three | Utthita Trikonasana (Extended Triangle) |
| chatur | 4, four | Chaturanga Dandasana (Four-Limbed Staff Pose) |
| ashta | 8, eight | Ashtavakrasana (Eight Angles Pose) |
You will notice the list skips a few numbers. That is because yoga names do not use every number equally. In the app’s 190 poses, eka appears in 11 of them and dvi in only one.
Three words that are not numbers, but behave like them
- ardha: half. By far the most common, with 18 poses: Ardha Chandrasana (Half Moon), Ardha Uttanasana (Half Forward Fold), Ardha Bhujangasana (Half Cobra), Ardha Chakrasana (Half Wheel).
- paripurna: full, entire, complete. Paripurna Matsyendrasana is the full version of Matsyendra’s twist.
- ubhaya: both. Ubhaya Padangusthasana is “both big toes pose”, the one where you hold both big toes.
Decoding real names
Try reading these out, one piece at a time:
Eka Pada Rajakapotasana = eka (one) + pada (foot) + raja (king) + kapota (pigeon) + asana. One-footed king pigeon pose, and indeed one leg goes in front, one behind.
Utthita Trikonasana = utthita (extended) + tri (three) + kona (angle) + asana. Extended three-angle pose, which is the triangle you make with your legs and arms.
Chaturanga Dandasana = chatur (four) + anga (limb) + danda (staff) + asana. Four-limbed staff pose: the low plank, supported on both hands and both feet.
Ashtavakrasana = ashta (eight) + vakra (bent) + asana. Eight-bends pose, named after the sage Ashtavakra, whose name is said to refer to his eight physical bends.
Trianga Mukhaikapada Paschimottanasana looks impossible until you split it: tri (three) + anga (limb) + mukha (face) + eka (one) + pada (foot) + paschimottanasana (the seated forward bend). Three limbs, face to one foot. It is a tongue-twister that explains itself.
The “ashta” you already know
If you have ever heard of Ashtanga yoga, you have already met ashta. Ashtanga means “eight limbs”, from ashta (eight) + anga (limb). The same word appears in Ashtanga Namaskara, the “eight-limbed salutation” in which eight points of your body touch the floor: two feet, two knees, two hands, chest and chin.
Why this matters for learning
Number words are one of the best places to start building your vocabulary:
- There are only a few of them.
- They repeat constantly, so you get a lot of reward for little effort.
- They have a visual meaning you can check on the mat: one foot, four limbs, half the movement.
Try saying the pose name while you check: “eka pada, one foot” as you lift a foot, or “ardha, half” as you come halfway up.
If you would like a deeper method for remembering names, read how to learn yoga asana names.
Practice with the app
In Hey Asana, the Basics section has a Numbers category (eka, tri, chatur, ashta, ardha, paripurna and ubhaya) next to Body, Actions and Animals. You can learn the words with flashcards, then play the Puzzle exercise to rebuild long names like Trianga Mukhaikapada Paschimottanasana from their pieces.