Image Source: miro.medium.com
Find Out Exactly How Many Postures Are There In Yoga Now
How many postures are there in yoga? There is no single, exact number. While old yoga books talk about 84 main yoga asanas, modern yoga uses many more. Experts believe the number of yoga poses today could be in the hundreds, or even thousands, counting all the small changes and variations.
Looking Back at Yoga’s Past
Yoga is very old. It comes from ancient India. We look at old books to learn about early yoga. These books are like guidebooks from long ago.
One important old book is the Hatha Yoga Pradipika. It was written a long, long time ago. This book talks about yoga asanas, which are the physical poses. It mentions some important poses but does not list a huge number. It mostly talks about a few main ones that help the body get ready for deeper yoga practices like breathing and meditation.
Another old book is the Gheranda Samhita. This book is like a step-by-step guide. It says that Lord Shiva, a very important figure in yoga stories, taught 84,000 yoga asanas. That is a very, very big number! But the book itself only describes 32 of them in detail.
Why 84 Was Special
The traditional yoga poses often come back to the number 84. Why 84? This number was special in old Indian thinking.
* It was seen as a number of wholeness or completion.
* Some ideas linked it to the human body or the universe.
* It sometimes showed a large but defined group.
So, when old texts talk about 84 yoga poses, it might not mean exactly 84 specific, named poses that everyone agreed on. It could mean a set of important, core, or main poses. It is like saying “a dozen” or “a handful” – it gives a sense of a group, but the exact contents might shift.
The idea of classical yoga asanas often points to the poses found in these older texts. These poses were usually held for a long time. They were meant to make the body strong and steady so the mind could become quiet for meditation.
Seeing Today’s Yoga
Modern yoga is much different from old yoga. Over time, teachers and students changed and added to the practice. Many new yoga asanas were made. Teachers invented new poses. People also found new ways to do old poses. This makes the number of yoga poses much higher now.
Think about yoga today. You see many different yoga poses. There are poses where you balance on your hands, poses where you twist your body, and poses where you stretch in new ways. Many of these were not in the oldest books.
The history of yoga postures shows this change. As yoga moved from small groups in India to a worldwide practice, it grew and changed. New styles of yoga came out. Each style might use types of yoga postures in a specific way.
For example:
* Hatha yoga often focuses on holding poses for a few breaths.
* Vinyasa yoga links poses together with breath, moving from one to the next quickly.
* Iyengar yoga uses props like blocks and straps to help people do poses correctly.
* Ashtanga yoga uses a set series of poses that you do in the same order every time.
Each of these yoga styles might use a slightly different set of poses, or teach them in a different way. This adds to the total number of yoga poses people practice today.
Small Changes, New Poses
How do we get so many poses? One reason is variations. A variation is a small change to a pose.
* Take Downward-Facing Dog. You can do it with straight legs. Or you can bend one knee, then the other. That is a variation.
* Take a Forward Fold. You can touch your toes. Or you can grab your ankles. Or you can put your hands on blocks. These are variations.
Sometimes, these variations are seen as completely new poses by some teachers or systems. This is why creating a single, final yoga poses list is almost impossible.
Imagine the pose Warrior II. Now imagine doing it with your front hand reaching up. That might be called Reverse Warrior. It is based on Warrior II, but it has a different name and feeling. Each small change can add to the count.
Also, teachers create entirely new poses. As people learn more about the body, they find new ways to stretch, strengthen, and move. These new moves can become accepted yoga asanas over time.
The Meaning Behind the Poses
So, if there is no exact number of yoga poses, does the number matter? For most people practicing yoga today, the exact count is not the most important thing. What matters is the practice itself.
Yoga asanas are tools. They help us:
* Make our bodies stronger.
* Make our bodies more flexible.
* Improve how we breathe.
* Help us feel calmer.
* Help us focus our minds.
Whether you know 10 poses or 100, the goal is often the same: to connect your mind, body, and breath. The poses are a path to feeling better and being more present.
The idea of the 84 yoga poses from tradition is still important. It reminds us of the history and the core practices. Many modern poses build on these older ones. But the practice has grown and changed to fit modern life and needs.
Exploring Different Yoga Poses
Let’s look at some different yoga poses. These are just examples. They show the variety of shapes the body can make in yoga. This is not a complete yoga poses list, but it gives you an idea.
Hatha Yoga Poses (often foundational)
These are some common yoga asanas you might find in Hatha classes or as part of other styles:
- Mountain Pose (Tadasana): Standing tall, feet together. Simple, but builds good posture.
- Downward-Facing Dog (Adho Mukha Svanasana): Hands and feet on the mat, hips lifted high, body making an upside-down V shape. Stretches the back and legs.
- Warrior II (Virabhadrasana II): Standing with one leg forward bent, the other leg straight back, arms out to the sides. Builds strength.
- Tree Pose (Vrksasana): Standing on one leg, the other foot on the inner thigh or calf. Works on balance.
- Child’s Pose (Balasana): Kneeling, torso folded forward over thighs, forehead on the mat. A resting pose.
Vinyasa Flow Poses (linking movement and breath)
Vinyasa often uses poses from Hatha, but links them smoothly. Sequences like Sun Salutations are common examples.
- Plank Pose: Body in a straight line, hands and toes on the mat, like the top of a push-up. Builds core strength.
- Chaturanga Dandasana: Lowering from Plank, keeping elbows close to the body. A challenging strength pose.
- Upward-Facing Dog (Urdhva Mukha Svanasana): Tops of feet on the mat, hands under shoulders, chest lifting forward and up. Opens the chest.
- Cobra Pose (Bhujangasana): Lying on belly, hands under shoulders, pressing chest up partway. A backbend.
Restorative Yoga Poses (for relaxation)
These types of yoga postures use props to support the body fully, helping deep relaxation.
- Supported Child’s Pose: Using bolsters or blankets under the chest and forehead.
- Legs-Up-the-Wall (Viparita Karani): Lying on the back, legs resting up against a wall.
- Supported Bridge Pose: Lying on the back, hips lifted and resting on a block.
Yin Yoga Poses (holding poses for a long time)
Yin targets deep connective tissues. Poses are held for several minutes.
- Butterfly Pose: Sitting with soles of feet together, knees out to the sides, folding forward. Stretches hips and inner thighs.
- Sphinx Pose: Lying on belly, propped up on forearms, shoulders over elbows. A gentle backbend targeting the spine.
This short list only shows a tiny fraction of the poses practiced today. If you count all the variations, the number of yoga poses quickly gets very large.
Compiling a Yoga Poses List
Could someone make a full yoga poses list of every single posture and variation? It would be extremely difficult, maybe impossible.
* New poses are still being created.
* Different teachers or styles might name the same pose differently.
* Variations might be counted as distinct poses by some, but not others.
Instead of trying to list every single one, it is more helpful to think about the main categories of poses:
* Standing poses
* Seated poses
* Forward bends
* Backbends
* Twists
* Inversions (like handstands or headstands)
* Arm balances
* Resting poses
Within these types of yoga postures, there are hundreds of examples and variations. The classical yoga asanas often fall into these main types, but modern yoga has greatly expanded them.
Fathoming the Evolution of Asanas
The history of yoga postures shows a journey.
* It started with a few poses meant to help meditation.
* These yoga asanas were often simple seats or basic postures to make the body steady.
* Over hundreds of years, the focus shifted.
* More complex poses were added.
* The physical practice became important for its own sake, not just as a step to meditation.
* Teachers explored what the body could do.
* This led to the creation of many different yoga poses.
* As yoga spread to new places, it continued to adapt and change.
The number of yoga poses grew because of this growth and exploration. The traditional yoga poses, like the original 84 yoga poses mentioned in texts, are like the roots of a tree. Modern poses are like the branches and leaves that have grown over time.
Deciphering the Numbers Today
When people talk about the number of yoga poses today, they are usually talking about the vast amount of shapes and movements available.
* Some estimate a few hundred common poses.
* Others say thousands if you count all variations.
There is no official world yoga body that keeps a count or a complete yoga poses list. Each yoga style or teacher might have their own set of poses they use.
The important thing is not the exact number of yoga poses, but how they are used.
* A good yoga class uses poses in a way that is safe and helpful for the students.
* Teachers learn about types of yoga postures to create balanced practices.
* Students explore different yoga poses to find what feels right for their bodies.
Grasping the Scope of Yoga
Looking at the potential number of yoga poses helps us grasp how rich and varied yoga is. It is not just one thing. It is a wide field with many paths and many practices.
The yoga asanas are a big part of yoga for many people. They offer a way to connect with the body and improve health. They also help calm the mind.
Whether you are doing the same few classical yoga asanas from an old tradition or trying a brand new pose invented last year, the heart of the practice is often similar: bringing awareness to your breath and body in the present moment.
The 84 yoga poses concept is a reminder of the foundational strength and tradition. The many, many poses available today show yoga’s ability to grow and stay alive across centuries and cultures.
Summing Things Up
So, to find out exactly how many postures are there in yoga now:
* There is no single, fixed number.
* Old texts mention 84 yoga poses as a significant traditional set.
* Modern yoga has greatly expanded the number of yoga poses due to new creations and variations.
* Counting all different yoga poses and variations, the number is likely in the hundreds or thousands.
* The exact number of yoga poses is less important than the quality of the practice.
* Yoga asanas are tools for physical and mental well-being.
* Different yoga styles use different sets or yoga poses list examples.
* The history of yoga postures shows a continuous evolution.
Yoga is a living practice. It changes and grows. The yoga asanas are a part of this growth. Focus on practicing, not counting!
Simple Answers to Common Questions
Here are some easy answers to questions people often ask about yoga poses.
What does “asana” mean?
“Asana” is a word from an old language called Sanskrit. It means “seat” or “posture.” In yoga, it means a body pose or position.
Are there really 84,000 poses like one book says?
An old book, the Gheranda Samhita, says Lord Shiva taught 84,000,000 poses. It then focuses on 32 main ones. This number is seen as symbolic of a very large number, maybe all possible forms. Not 84 million real poses people do every day! The number 84 is more often talked about for the main, important traditional poses.
Are new yoga poses still being made?
Yes! Teachers and practitioners sometimes create new poses or variations. Yoga is a practice that keeps growing.
Does every yoga style use the same poses?
No. Yoga styles like Ashtanga, Iyengar, and Vinyasa use different sets of poses, or teach them in different ways. Some styles use more poses than others.
Do I need to know many poses to do yoga?
No. You can start yoga by learning just a few basic poses. What is important is learning how to move your body and connect with your breath. Your knowledge of different yoga poses will grow as you practice.