16 Yoga Poses Named After Animals (and what they all represent)
Hello to all present and future yogis!
We just wrapped An Animal Series – The Pose. The Symbolism. The Meaning. on Hammer and Flow Yoga on Instagram. We took some yoga poses (asanas) named and inspired by animals of the land, air and sea to dive deeper not only into the physical benefits for each pose, but also to study how such poses/animals inspires us off our yoga mat. We broke down the pose, the symbolism and the meaning.
Here’s the recap, and see the conversation on Instagram @hammerandflowyoga!
An Animal Series at #hammerandflowyoga
THE POSE. THE SYMBOLISM. THE MEANING.
ANIMALS BY LAND:
Dog (downward facing) / Dog (upward facing)
Cat/Cow
Lizard
Tiger
Scorpion
Camel
ANIMALS BY SEA:
Tortoise
Dolphin
Fish
ANIMALS BY AIR:
Crow
Flamingo
Heron
Birds* of Paradise
Pigeon
__________________________________________________
DOG (UPWARD FACING & DOWNWARD FACING)
Sanskrit Name: Urdhva Mukha Svanasana & Adho Mukha Svanasana
THE POSE.
*Upward Facing
⁃ Improves your posture!
⁃ Helps relieve mild depression, fatigue & sciatica
⁃ Therapeutic for asthma
⁃ Strengthens spine, arms & wrists
⁃ Stretches chest, lungs, shoulders & abdomen
⁃ Stimulates abdominal organs
*Downward Facing
⁃ Strengthens arms, shoulders & back
⁃ Tones core & waist
⁃ Lengthens hamstrings, calves & spine
⁃ Brings blood flow to the brain, clearing your head
⁃ Encourages stability in your wrists
THE SYMBOLISM.
Dogs symbolize guidance, protection, loyalty, fidelity, faithfulness, alertness, and love.
THE MEANING.
It’s a known fact that a dog is a man’s best friend. A best friend is loyal, protective, and will guide you with unconditional love. Think about the type of best friend you are, because just as much as you treasure your best friend, someone else is treasuring you in the same way. You put in what you received. Tell your best friend how important they are to your life’s journey.
_____________________________________________________
CAT / COW POSE
Sanskrit Name: Bidalasana or Marjariasana / Bitilasana
THE POSE.
⁃ Improves posture, balance & coordination
⁃ Strengthens and stretches the spine & neck
⁃ Stretches the hips & abdomen
⁃ Massages/stimulates organs in the belly, such as your kidneys & adrenal glands
⁃ Creates emotional balance and release by relieving stress and calming the mind
THE SYMBOLISM.
A cat symbolizes all things sensual, curious, mysterious, and magical. A cat also symbolizes a desire for freedom.
A cow is a simple creature who gets their joy from life’s basic pleasures. They do not take things for granted and teach us lessons of gratitude and the appreciation.
THE MEANING.
The cat/cow movement in yoga should remind us to be mysterious, to be magical; yet enjoy all things around you. Come back to center, be grounded, be grateful. Live in the moment yet be curious about what’s to come.
______________________________________________________
LIZARD POSE
Sanskrit Name: Utthan Pristhasana
THE POSE.
⁃ Opens your hips by reducing stress & tension in your lower body
⁃ Strengthens and stretches leg muscles, particularly quads and hamstrings
⁃ It’s a great prep for diaper stretches such as the splits
⁃ Energizing creativity & releases emotion
THE SYMBOLISM.
A lizard is a true survivor. They are flexible and adaptive to their surroundings. They are a warrior who can withstand difficult circumstances and situations.
THE MEANING.
A lizard seeks to show us there are powers of survival within. Just like when the lizard loses its tail during battle, we should also learn to surrender what no longer serves us, so we can be open to the regenerative process ahead. Only then can your true transformation begin. Count your losses and move on.
______________________________________________________
TIGER POSE
Sanskrit Name: Vyaghrasana
THE POSE.
⁃ Lengthens front of legs
⁃ Stretches abdominal muscles
⁃ Strengthens the hips & thighs
⁃ Tones the spinal nerves
⁃ Relaxes the sciatic nerves & relives sciatica
⁃ Improves digestion
⁃ Even revives the vaginal passage post-delivery
THE SYMBOLISM.
It’s no surprise that a tiger symbolizes willpower, personal strength and courage. A tiger often yearns for adventure and there is little that can stand in the way when his/her mind is set on something.
THE MEANING.
A tiger can teach us patience. By channeling our inner tiger, we can learn when to move, when to remain still, and how to accomplish (and enjoy) a successful “hunt”. A tiger reminds us it’s important not to set forth important steps in our life simply on an impulse, nor to procrastinate when the time has come to make our move.
_____________________________________________________
SCORPION POSE
Sanskrit Name: Vrschikasana
THE POSE.
⁃ Strengthens the torso, back, arms & shoulders
⁃ Builds stamina & endurance
⁃ Improves your sense of balance
⁃ Improves flexibility of the spine
⁃ Allows blood to rush to the brain improving memory, concentration and vision
⁃ Stimulates the hair follicles in the scalp (hair loss prevention)
THE SYMBOLISM.
Scorpions symbolize passion, enthusiasm, transformation, dominance, defense and rebirth. A scorpion is highly emotional. Their entire lives are run by their feelings which can be both positive and negative.
THE MEANING.
A scorpion reminds us to re-establish our boundaries. Moreover, make clear decisions about which direction your next few months are headed and critically analyze if it’s the best path for YOU.
______________________________________________________
CAMEL POSE
Sanskrit Name: Ustrasana
THE POSE.
⁃ Opens up the hips by stretching deep into your hip flexors
⁃ Opens the chest, improving respiration
⁃ Stretches & strengthens the shoulders & back
⁃ Improves posture
⁃ Expands the abdominal region, improving digestion & elimination
⁃ Relieves lower back pain
THE SYMBOLISM.
A camel symbolizes obedience, stamina, self-sufficiency, and indeed, survival. The heart of a camel is that of a traveler. A camel also embraces the long, exhausting journey with dignity and impressive endurance.
THE MEANING
We should channel our inner camel to help us avoid pitfalls or the temptation to give up. To take on the journey ahead with endurance and grace no matter the rocky terrain ahead.
______________________________________________________
TORTOISE POSE
Sanskrit Name: Kurmasana
THE POSE.
⁃ Beneficial for building flexibility from the ground up
⁃ Stretches your posterior chain from thighs, hamstrings, hips, back to your shoulders
⁃ Opens your chests by lengthening your pectorals muscles
⁃ Activates the abdominal organs improving digestion
⁃ Reduces the stiffness around your lower back
⁃ Reduces symptoms related to sciatic nerve
THE SYMBOLISM.
The tortoise is a symbol of wisdom and knowledge, as well its ability to defend itself. A tortoise symbolizes independence, cautiousness and flexibility. A tortoise can roam the world always feeling at home, continually exhibiting an independent journey through land and water. A tortoise can set up his/her home anywhere.
THE MEANING.
Slow and steady wins the race. A tortoise is determined to do its daily work, and at the same time utilizes it wisdom to judge an unsafe situation. When needed and appropriate he/she pulls inward to regain its composure before trying again. We can learn a lot from this. We’re always talking about being brave and plowing ahead; however, sometimes we need to reset. We need to turn inward to regain our balance, prioritize our mission and plan how to best proceed based on what we’ve learned from the outside world.
_____________________________________________________
DOLPHIN POSE
Sanskrit Name: Catur Svanasana
THE POSE.
⁃ Stretches & strengthens shoulders, hamstrings, calves & arches
⁃ Strengthens the arms & legs
⁃ Improves digestion
⁃ Helps relieve the symptoms of menopause
⁃ Calms the brain relieving stress
⁃ Relieves headaches, insomnia, fatigue & mild depression
THE SYMBOLISM.
A dolphin represents harmony and balance. Dolphins are both highly intelligent and closely in tune with their instincts and striking agility. A dolphin lives peacefully with other species, including humans. It is common for dolphins to swim and play around swimmers, paddle boarders and boats. (I’ve experienced this firsthand on my SUP in the canals of the Gold Coast, Australia - it was magical).
THE MEANING.
A dolphin’s playful nature is a reminder that everyone needs to approach life with humor and joy. Their gentle nature reminds us to look for the good in everyone and strive to bring peace into our lives and to those around us - to live peacefully with all living creatures.
______________________________________________________
FISH POSE
Sanskrit Name: Matsyāsana
THE POSE.
⁃ Stretches your deep hip flexors and intercostals (ribcage)
⁃ Relieves tension in your neck, throat & shoulders
⁃ Stretches and tones the front of your neck & your abdominals
⁃ Stretches and stimulates the organs of your belly & throat
⁃ Improves spinal flexibility & posture
THE SYMBOLISM.
Fish symbolize independence and ferocity. They aren’t afraid to go up stream, to go against the flow for something they believe in. There’s a lot of symbolism and meaning for fish. They are also attached to many religious and spiritual symbols throughout time.
For instance:
Christian symbology, the fish is related to Christ. Jesus told Peter (the first apostle), a fisherman by trade, that he would become a "fisher of men" if he were to follow Christ. For its connection with Christ it has also come to embody resurrection and immortality, as well as the savior.
Native Americans of the Plateau regions were reliant on fish for their sustenance. Their religions have used the fish to symbolize life, spiritual change and motion. The meaning of the Many Fish symbol was to signify water and the flow of life from the earth.
Overall the symbol of fish has attached itself to life (eternal as well as on earth), and it’s closely associated with all corners of the magical world underwater. Most fish out there will see what we will never see, and experience beauty we will never experience.
THE MEANING.
When we think of fish we are connected to water. Water is an element we can’t live without. It is our life source and yet represents such wonder. There’s so much we have yet to discover under the surface, so much left to our imagination, inspiring our creativity. If nothing else, fish remind us there’s another world out there - under the sea and above it. There’s so much we have to put our faith into, because there’s too much we’ll never come to realize. We share this universe, and this life, with the great unknown….
______________________________________________________
CROW POSE
Sanskrit Name: Kakasana, or more commonly referred to as Bakasana
THE POSE.
⁃ Tones your abs & inner organs.
⁃ Strengthens & lengthens your lower back, easing any chronic pain.
⁃ Stretches & strengthens your inner thighs.
⁃ Strengthens your arms & wrists.
⁃ Opens your groin.
⁃ Aids indigestion.
THE SYMBOLISM.
A crow symbolizes personal integrity while embracing their mysterious nature. A crow can shift from one life change to another with effortless ease. If a crow wants something, he/she gets it. Crows are not only insightful but mindful of their actions and opinions. A crow has the biggest brain to body ratio among all bird species with a highly developed forebrain where intelligence is regulated.
THE MEANING.
As humans, we all have characteristics of a crow. We transform and adapt to the situations and circumstances put in front of us. We are all mysterious in our thoughts and actions and need to be reminded of how the crow acts with integrity and mindfulness in all they do. We stand up for what’s right. We are powerful. We are influential. We are honest and when we want something done, we get it done.
_____________________________________________________
FLAMINGO OR HUMBLE FLAMINGO
Sanskrit Name: Marichyasana (Variation)
THE POSE.
⁃ Strengthens your core & balance muscles.
⁃ Tones your leg muscles.
⁃ Stretches your shoulders, arms & wrists.
⁃ Open up your chest & shoulders
⁃ Massages your ascending & descending colon.
⁃ Improves your focus, balance & concentration.
THE SYMBOLISM.
A flamingo reminds you to get in touch with your emotions. This will enable you to grow through releasing the excess baggage you’re carrying. In other words, the Flamingo tells you to release your bottled-up feelings so that you can come into balance. Also, a flamingo symbolizes fun and relaxation.
THE MEANING.
As humans, we all carry too much. We need to drop what’s not serving us, what’s not benefiting us or others. Like a flamingo we need to let go so we can re-balance, allowing ourselves to be free. Releasing baggage frees up space for whatever else is knocking at our door. And of course, we all need to have a little more fun! Too many are too serious, too often. With a lightened load you can feel an easier bounce in your step, and with that bounce always comes a smile.
____________________________________________________
HERON POSE
Sanskrit Name: Krounchasana
THE POSE.
⁃ Stretches the front of your ankles, joints & leg muscles (on the folded leg).
⁃ Stretches your hips & hamstrings (on extended leg).
⁃ Stretches your back.
⁃ Stimulates your abdominal organs, which tones the core & improves digestion.
⁃ Stimulates your heart.
⁃ Therapy for flat feet & persistent gas.
THE SYMBOLISM.
A heron explores a curiosity in various activities and dimensions of life on Earth, successfully being a ‘Jack of all trades.’ A heron also symbolizes never being compelled to be traditional in life roles. They stand out in uniqueness, and they know how to take advantage of things someone else would leave untouched. A heron represents a gift of wisdom and good judgment, and puts a focus resourcefulness.
THE MEANING.
We all need to celebrate and expose our inner heron. We are all unique and have special offerings to give this world. Let that show. Acknowledge our true self and be proud to show it off for all to witness. In doing so, it will bring out your innate wisdom and you will become more self-reliant.
______________________________________________________
BIRDS* OF PARADISE
Sanskrit Name: Svarga Dvijasana
THE POSE.
⁃ Stretches your hips, hamstrings & groin.
⁃ Stretches your shoulders while opening your chest.
⁃ Strengthens your legs.
⁃ Massages your internal organs, including your amending & descending colon.
If standing in this pose you can add:
⁃ Improves balance & stability.
⁃ Improves your overall concentration.
THE SYMBOLISM.
Birds symbolize matters of higher knowledge. They are symbols of strength, freedom and unity of fellow creatures. Birds of Paradise in particular also symbolize ones extravagant and elaborate thoughts. They can symbolize lightness, closeness to God, and removal from worldly concerns. They have very big personalities, are social, confident, and generally very friendly. *There is also a plant “Bird of Paradise,” that’s another story for a future post.
THE MEANING.
We need to channel our inner birds of paradise to feel freedom, to feel light, to touch the sky. The word paradise is right in the title! Fly high everyone. Be quick to see the bigger picture and all the good in it.
_______________________________________________________
PIGEON
Sanskrit Name: Eka Pada Rajakapotasana
DOUBLE PIGEON
Sanskrit Name: Agnistambhasana
THE POSE.
⁃ Lengthens your hip flexors.
⁃ Opens your glutes & hip joint.
⁃ Relaxes your piriformis & psoas muscles.
⁃ Stimulates your abdominal organs.
⁃ Aids in digestion.
⁃ Challenges your ability to sit with uncomfortable situations.
THE SYMBOLISM.
A dove/pigeon’s gifts include – bringer of peace and love, understanding of gentleness, spirit messenger, purity, maternity, femininity, prophecy. Pigeons also represent sacrifice.
THE MEANING.
There is a reason I chose pigeon to be the last bird for this series. I want to leave you with this image. An image of peace, sacrifice, harmony and complete selflessness in supporting and uplifting yourself and everyone around you. An image of all humans feeding their inner pigeon. A chance to purify your thoughts. An opportunity to be gentle and giving.
Remember this mantra throughout your day.
I am gentle.
I am kind.
I am pure.
I am free.
With gratitude,
Namaste.