Medieval Hatha Yoga asanas

cross-legged sitting meditation pose

thumb|An acro dancer pauses in a precision handstand before handwalking across the stage. A handstand is the act of supporting the body in a stable, inverted vertical position by balancing on the hands. In a basic handstand, the body is held straight with arms and legs fully extended, with hands spaced approximately shoulder-width apart and the legs together. There are many variations of handstands, all of which require the performer to possess adequate balance and upper body strength.

reclining back-bending posture in hatha yoga

thumb|upright=1.35|Shavasana Shavasana (; ), Corpse Pose, or Mritasana, is an asana in hatha yoga and modern yoga as exercise, often used for relaxation at the end of a session. It is the usual pose for the practice of yoga nidra meditation, and is an important pose in Restorative Yoga.

thumb|right|Gomukhasana

thumb|upright=1.4|Dhanurasana Dhanurasana () is a back bending asana in hatha yoga and modern yoga as exercise.

Shirshasana (, ) Salamba Shirshasana, or Yoga Headstand is an inverted asana in modern yoga as exercise; it was described as both an asana and a mudra in classical hatha yoga, under different names. It has been called the king of all asanas. Its many variations can be combined into Mandalasana, in which the legs are progressively swept from one variation to the next in a full circle around the body.

asana in yoga

thumb|Pashchimottanasana

thumb|upright=1.35|Siddhasana Siddhasana (; ) or Accomplished Pose is an ancient seated asana in hatha yoga and modern yoga as exercise suitable for meditation. The names Muktasana (, Liberated Pose) and Burmese position are sometimes given to the same pose, sometimes to an easier variant, Ardha Siddhasana. Svastikasana has each foot tucked as snugly as possible into the fold of the opposite knee.

standing balancing yoga asana

thumb|right|Utkatasana

thumb|Mayurasana

thumb |upright=1.35 |Matsyasana

thumb|upright=1.35|Tortoise Pose, Kurmasana

thumb|right|Simhasana

thumb|right|Virasana

thumb|upright=1.25|Makarāsana, Crocodile posture, used for relaxation Makarasana () or Crocodile pose is a reclining asana in hatha yoga and modern yoga as exercise.

inverted posture in hatha yoga

seated pose where the soles of the feet are pressed together and knees drop out to the sides. It primarily stretches the inner thighs and groin muscles

thumb|Bakasana, Crane pose, balancing with straight arms Bakasana (Crane pose) (, ), and the similar Kakasana (Crow pose) (, ) are balancing asanas in hatha yoga and modern yoga as exercise. In all variations, these are arm balancing poses in which hands are planted on the floor, shins rest upon upper arms, and feet lift up. The poses are often confused, but traditionally Kakasana has arms bent, Bakasana (the crane being the taller bird with longer legs) has the arms straight.

thumb|Kukkutasana

thumb|Paripurna Matsyendrasana Matsyendrasana (; ), '''Matsyendra's Pose or Lord of the Fishes Pose is a seated twisting asana in hatha yoga and modern yoga as exercise. The full form is the difficult Paripurna Matsyendrasana. A common and easier variant is Ardha Matsyendrasana'''. The asana has many variations, and in its half form is one of the twelve basic asanas in many systems of hatha yoga.

balancing posture in hatha yoga

Mandukasana (; ) or Frog pose is a group of seated asanas in Hatha yoga and modern yoga as exercise, all of which put the body in a shape like that of a frog.

thumb|A variant of Gorakshasana thumb|upright|"Bhadragorakhasana" in an illustrated 1830 manuscript of the Joga Pradipika Gorakshasana (, , Cowherd pose) is a seated asana in hatha yoga. It has been used for meditation and in tantric practice.