Pose names grouped by family, plus the equipment you’ll see around the studio. Use the buttons to show one family at a time, then follow a short class and finish with a quiz. Tap 🔊 to hear any name.
The one character to know
Almost every pose name ends in 式 shì, “style, form”. Take a picture word, add 式 shì, and you have the pose:
樹树+式
tree + pose → Tree Pose
貓猫+式
cat + pose → Cat Pose
橋桥+式
bridge + pose → Bridge
01
Standing Poses站姿體式站姿体式zhànzī tǐshì
拜日式
bàirìshì
Sun Salutation
lit. “greet-the-sun pose”
A sequence, not a single pose.
山式
shānshì
Mountain Pose
戰士一式战士一式
zhànshì yíshì
Warrior 1
In Taiwan also 英雄一式 yīngxióng yíshì, “hero pose 1”.
戰士二式战士二式
zhànshì èrshì
Warrior 2
In Taiwan also 英雄二式 yīngxióng èrshì.
三角式
sānjiǎoshì
Triangle
側角伸展式侧角伸展式
cèjiǎo shēnzhǎnshì
Extended Side Angle
lit. “side-angle stretch pose”
椅子式
yǐzishì
Chair Pose
Also 幻椅式 huànyǐshì, “imaginary-chair pose”.
02
Balance Poses平衡體式平衡体式pínghéng tǐshì
樹式树式
shùshì
Tree Pose
半月式
bànyuèshì
Half Moon
老鷹式老鹰式
lǎoyīngshì
Eagle Pose
烏鴉式乌鸦式
wūyāshì
Crow Pose
03
Core & Arm Support核心與手臂支撐核心与手臂支撑héxīn yǔ shǒubì zhīchēng
平板式
píngbǎnshì
Plank
lit. “flat-board pose”
下犬式
xiàquǎnshì
Downward Facing Dog
lit. “down-dog pose”
單腿下犬式单腿下犬式
dāntuǐ xiàquǎnshì
One-Legged Down Dog
lit. “single-leg down-dog”
貓式猫式
māoshì
Cat Pose
Often cued together as 貓牛式猫牛式 māoniúshì.
牛式
niúshì
Cow Pose
04
Backbends後彎體式后弯体式hòuwān tǐshì
橋式桥式
qiáoshì
Bridge
眼鏡蛇式眼镜蛇式
yǎnjìngshéshì
Cobra
lit. “eyeglasses-snake pose”
The cobra’s hood markings look like a pair of glasses.
The literal name 挺屍式挺尸式 tǐngshīshì exists, but most teachers avoid it.
EQUIP
Yoga Equipment瑜伽用品瑜伽用品yújiā yòngpǐn
瑜伽墊瑜伽垫
yújiā diàn
Yoga Mat
瑜伽磚瑜伽砖
yújiā zhuān
Yoga Block
lit. “yoga brick”
瑜伽帶瑜伽带
yújiā dài
Yoga Strap
lit. “yoga belt”
瑜伽枕
yújiā zhěn
Bolster
lit. “yoga pillow”
瑜伽輪瑜伽轮
yújiā lún
Yoga Wheel
瑜伽球
yújiā qiú
Yoga Ball
瑜伽毯
yújiā tǎn
Yoga Blanket
掛布挂布
guàbù
Aerial Hammock
lit. “hanging cloth”
Also 舞綢舞绸 wǔchóu, “dance silk”.
瑜伽毛巾
yújiā máojīn
Yoga Towel
眼枕
yǎnzhěn
Eye Pillow
lit. “eye pillow”
A fabric sleep mask is 眼罩 yǎnzhào.
FLOW
Follow a Mini Class
Nine poses in the order a teacher might cue them. Read the cue, tap 🔊 to hear it, then move to the next pose.
Pose 1 of 9
山式shānshìMountain
Teacher says
雙腳双脚並攏并拢，站直，深呼吸。
Feet together, stand tall, and take a deep breath.
Pose 2 of 9
站立前彎式站立前弯式zhànlì qiánwānshìStanding Forward Fold
Teacher says
吐氣吐气，身體身体慢慢往前向前彎弯。
Breathe out and slowly fold forward.
Pose 3 of 9
平板式píngbǎnshìPlank
Teacher says
雙手双手撐地撑地，雙腳双脚往後向后踩，身體身体保持一直線一条直线。
Hands on the floor, step your feet back, and keep your body in one straight line.
Pose 4 of 9
眼鏡蛇式眼镜蛇式yǎnjìngshéshìCobra
Teacher says
趴下，吸氣吸气，把胸口往上向上抬。
Lie on your stomach, breathe in, and lift your chest.
Pose 5 of 9
下犬式xiàquǎnshìDownward Dog
Teacher says
臀部往上向上推，腳跟脚跟往下向下踩。
Push your hips up and press your heels toward the floor.
Pose 6 of 9
戰士二式战士二式zhànshì èrshìWarrior 2
Teacher says
右腳右脚往前向前跨迈一大步，膝蓋膝盖彎曲弯曲，雙手双手打開打开。
Take a big step forward with your right foot, bend the knee, and open your arms.
Pose 7 of 9
樹式树式shùshìTree
Teacher says
把右腳右脚放在左大腿內側内侧，眼睛看著看着前面前方一個一个點点。
Place your right foot on the inside of your left thigh and fix your eyes on one point ahead.
Pose 8 of 9
嬰兒式婴儿式yīng’érshìChild’s Pose
Teacher says
跪坐，身體身体往前向前趴，額頭额头放在墊子垫子上。
Sit back on your heels, fold forward, and rest your forehead on the mat.
Pose 9 of 9
大休息dàxiūxíSavasana
Teacher says
平躺，閉上闭上眼睛，全身放鬆放松。
Lie flat on your back, close your eyes, and relax your whole body.
QUIZ
Which Pose Is It?
The teacher calls out a pose. Pick the matching English name.
Question 1 of 10
下犬式
xiàquǎnshì
下 xià means “down” and 犬 quǎn is a formal word for “dog”.
Question 2 of 10
嬰兒式婴儿式
yīng’érshì
嬰兒婴儿 yīng’ér means “baby”, so Chinese calls it the baby pose.
Question 3 of 10
眼鏡蛇式眼镜蛇式
yǎnjìngshéshì
眼鏡蛇眼镜蛇 yǎnjìngshé, literally “eyeglasses snake”, is the word for cobra.
Question 4 of 10
樹式树式
shùshì
樹树 shù is “tree”. Mountain Pose is 山式 shānshì.
Question 5 of 10
大休息
dàxiūxí
“The big rest”: teachers use this gentler name instead of the literal 挺屍式挺尸式 tǐngshīshì.
Question 6 of 10
戰士二式战士二式
zhànshì èrshì
二 èr is “two”. Warrior 1 is 戰士一式战士一式 zhànshì yíshì.
Question 7 of 10
平板式
píngbǎnshì
平板 píngbǎn means “flat board”, the same word as a tablet computer.
Question 8 of 10
鴿子式鸽子式
gēzishì
鴿子鸽子 gēzi is “pigeon”. Crow is 烏鴉乌鸦 wūyā, eagle is 老鷹老鹰 lǎoyīng.
Question 9 of 10
幻椅式
huànyǐshì
幻 huàn is “imaginary” and 椅 yǐ is “chair”: you sit on a chair that isn’t there.
Question 10 of 10
瑜伽磚瑜伽砖
yújiā zhuān
磚砖 zhuān means “brick”. The strap is 瑜伽帶瑜伽带 yújiā dài.
0 / 10
Nice work.
NOTES
Studio Culture Notes
“Corpse” sounds too negative in Chinese culture, so teachers usually say 大休息 dàxiūxí or simply “Savasana” instead of the literal translation.
Taipei has both chain studios and small private studios. Chain studios tend to run bigger classes (20–40 people) and offer a wider range of styles — hot yoga, Hatha, Aerial, Vinyasa, and more — at a more affordable price. Private studios keep classes small (4–8 people) with more individual attention.
Major Chinese cities like Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou have a similar mix of studios, often offering the same range of styles plus meditation and other wellness classes; some incorporate elements of traditional Chinese medicine as well.
