Ever wondered just how many yoga poses, or asanas, exist?
Perhaps not surprisingly, the number of yoga poses is almost endless, as the practice has evolved over thousands of years to include countless variations and styles.
Traditionally, there are 84 classic yoga asanas, the asana being the pose that the practitioner assumes.
These 84 postures represent the entire gamut of the human body’s potential for movement and flexibility.
In this article, we’ll explore the origins and evolution of asanas, giving you an overview of the most well-known poses and how they fit into the broader world of yoga.
What are asanas?
First, it’s important to understand what an asana is.
The word “asana” comes from Sanskrit and simply means “seat” or “posture.”
In the context of yoga, asanas are the physical postures you move into and hold, usually combined with mindful breathing and meditation practices.
Traditionally, yoga asanas were developed to prepare the body for meditation, making the body strong and flexible enough to sit for long periods of time.
Over time, the practice evolved, and asanas became a primary focus of many modern styles of yoga, such as Hatha, Vinyasa, and Ashtanga.
How many yoga poses are there in total?
There is no single, universally agreed-upon number of yoga poses, as the answer depends on the style of yoga and the teacher or lineage you follow.
However, several texts and traditions offer insight into the vast number of asanas.
1. Hatha Yoga Pradipika: 15 original asanas
One of the oldest written texts on yoga, the Hatha Yoga Pradipika, dates back to the 15th century and lists only 15 original asanas.
These poses focus primarily on seated postures used for meditation and a few others that emphasize flexibility and strength in the spine.
This reflects the early use of asanas for preparing the body for deep meditation.
2. The Gheranda Samhita: 32 asanas
Another classic text, the Gheranda Samhita from the 17th century, expands the number of asanas to 32.
This collection includes a mix of seated poses, forward bends, and standing postures. This shows how yoga’s physical practice began to expand over time.
3. Modern yoga: Hundreds of asanas
Fast-forward to modern yoga, and the number of recognized yoga poses has exploded.
Today, it’s estimated that there are over 300 to 400 standard yoga poses practiced across various styles.
Some modern traditions, like Ashtanga, have a set sequence of poses (Ashtanga’s Primary Series has 75 postures).
Unlike this, Vinyasa yoga flows creatively from one pose to the next, sometimes incorporating hundreds of different postures in a single practice.
In Iyengar Yoga, which focuses heavily on alignment, there are over 200 classical asanas, with many more variations.
Meanwhile, Hot Yoga or Bikram Yoga has a standard sequence of 26 poses repeated in each class.
Depending on the style you practice, the number of poses can vary dramatically.
Categories of yoga asanas
While the total number of poses varies, yoga asanas are typically grouped into categories based on the movement or effect they have on the body.
Understanding these categories can help you see the diversity of poses and the benefits they offer.
1. Standing poses
Standing poses form the foundation of many yoga practices, helping to build strength, stability, and balance.
Poses like Mountain Pose (Tadasana), Warrior Pose (Virabhadrasana), and Tree Pose (Vrksasana) are commonly practiced across most styles of yoga.
These poses help improve posture, build leg strength, and enhance overall balance.
2. Seated poses
Seated poses, such as Seated Forward Bend (Paschimottanasana) and Lotus Pose (Padmasana), are central to the traditional practice of yoga.
These postures calm the mind, stretch the legs and hips, and are often used for meditation or pranayama (breathwork).
3. Forward bends
Forward bends, like Standing Forward Bend (Uttanasana) and Child’s Pose (Balasana), focus on stretching the spine, hamstrings, and lower back.
These poses encourage introspection, helping to release stress and tension while improving flexibility.
4. Backbends
Backbends are known for opening the chest, heart, and shoulders while strengthening the back muscles.
Poses like Cobra Pose (Bhujangasana), Camel Pose (Ustrasana), and Wheel Pose (Chakrasana) fall into this category. Backbends can also help combat the effects of poor posture and sitting for long periods.
5. Inversions
Inversions are poses where the head is below the heart, such as Headstand (Sirsasana) or Shoulder Stand (Sarvangasana).
These poses increase blood flow to the brain, improve circulation, and offer a new perspective—both physically and mentally.
6. Twists
Twists, like Revolved Triangle Pose (Parivrtta Trikonasana) and Seated Twist (Ardha Matsyendrasana), help improve spinal mobility, detoxify the internal organs, and aid in digestion.
They also relieve tension in the lower back and shoulders.
7. Restorative poses
Restorative yoga focuses on relaxation and recovery, often using props like bolsters, blankets, or blocks to support the body.
Poses such as Legs-Up-the-Wall Pose (Viparita Karani) or Corpse Pose (Savasana) are often practiced at the end of a yoga session to promote relaxation and allow the body to integrate the benefits of the practice.
Modern adaptations and variations
As yoga has evolved and spread across the world, many teachers and practitioners have adapted traditional poses, creating new variations to suit different body types, fitness levels, and needs.
In today’s modern yoga studios, you’ll find poses modified with the use of props (blocks, straps, etc.) to make them more accessible or challenging.
For example, Chair Yoga adapts traditional poses like Warrior and Forward Bends to be performed while seated in a chair, making them ideal for seniors or individuals with mobility issues.
Similarly, Yin Yoga uses long holds in deep stretches to target connective tissues, and many poses are unique to this style.
Yoga’s adaptability is one of its strengths, allowing anyone—regardless of age, ability, or fitness level—to find a version of asanas that work for them.
Are new yoga poses still being created?
Yes! While the core set of yoga asanas has been established for centuries, modern yoga continues to evolve.
Yoga teachers today still create new poses or variations to meet the needs of their students.
Vinyasa flows, in particular, allow for creativity, and many instructors enjoy sequencing new combinations of poses that may not be traditionally listed in ancient texts.
The beauty of yoga lies in its flexibility and adaptability.
Whether you’re a beginner learning the basics or an advanced practitioner exploring complex poses, yoga continues to grow, offering endless possibilities for physical, mental, and spiritual exploration.
Final thoughts: How many yoga poses are there?
In conclusion, there’s no definitive answer to how many yoga poses exist, as the practice continues to grow and evolve.
Ancient texts point to dozens of core asanas, but today, there are hundreds—if not thousands—of recognized poses and variations.
These postures range from simple, foundational poses to complex and advanced ones, each offering unique benefits for the body and mind.
No matter how many asanas there are, the most important thing is finding the ones that resonate with you and helping you achieve your personal goals—whether that’s improving flexibility, building strength, or fostering a sense of inner peace.
Yoga is about progress, not perfection, and with so many poses to choose from, there’s always room to grow.
