Jooga - Finnish Yoga Vocabulary - Poses and Verbs

This article is all about Finnish yoga vocabulary. You can find the names of the typical yoga poses, verbs that are typically associated with them as well as phrases a Finnish yoga instructor might say.

If you want to hear some of these phrases in an authentic context, you could also check out my article on stretching as part of a yoga routine.

Asennot – Yoga Poses and Positions in Finnish

This section contains both the official names of yoga poses and (at the bottom) more general descriptions of positions. The Finnish translations of these poses aren’t generally written with capitals at the beginning of the words. Many of them also don’t generally contain the word “pose” in Finnish.

Finnish	English
asento	pose, position
alaspäin katsova koira	Downward-Facing Dog
ylöspäin katsova koira	Upward-Facing Dog
puolikas istuva selänkierto	Sitting Half Spinal Pose
käänteinen lankku	Reverse Table Pose
selän suoristus eteentaivutuksessa	Standing Half Forward-Bend
lapsen asento	Childspose
eteentaivutus istuen	Seated Forward Bend
eteentaivutus seisten	Standing Forward Bend
kuolleen miehen asento	Corpse Pose
sivuojennus suorakulmassa	Extended Side Angle Pose
soturi I	Warrior Pose I
syväkyykky	Garland Pose
hartiaseisonta	Shoulder Stand
päälläseisonta	Headstand
kobra	Cobra Pose
lehmä	Cow Pose
kissa	Cat Pose
heinäsirkka	Locust Pose
vene	Boat Pose
aura	Plow Pose
lankku	Plank Pose
vuoriasento	Mountain Pose
tuoliasento	Chair Pose
puu	Tree Pose
jousi	Bow Pose
silta	Wheel Pose
istuma-asento	sitting position
seisoma-asento	standing position
konttausasento	standing on all fours
vatsamakuu	laying down on belly
selinmakuu	laying down on back

Joogasanoja

Finnish	English
joogamatto	yoga mat
joogatunti	yoga session
aamujooga	morning yoga
tasapaino	balance
venytys	stretching
liike	movement
hengitys	breathing
keho	body
sisäinen rauha	inner peace
rentoutuminen	relaxation
meditaatio	meditation
taipuisuus	flexibility

Joogaverbejä – Finnish Yoga Verbs

The following table contains some basic Finnish yoga vocabulary verbs you will find useful during a yoga workout.

Finnish	English
seisoa	to stand
istua	to sit
maata	to lay down
aloittaa	to begin
hengittää	to breathe
syventää hengitys	to breathe deeper
rentoutua	to relax
rentouttaa	to relax something
asettua	to position, place oneself
asettaa	to position, place something
pysyä	to stay, remain
pysyä asennossa	to maintain a pose
pitää asento	to hold a pose
palata takaisin	to return, go back
pidentää	to extend, lengthen
venyttää	to stretch, elongate
kurottaa	to reach for
nostaa ylös	to lift up
laskea alas	to lower, bring down
vetää sisään	to pull in
halata jalkoja	to hug legs
painaa	to push, press
astua	to step
kääntää	to turn
koukistaa	to bend something
suoristaa	to straighten something
leventää	to widen
levittää	to spread, extend
jakaa paino	to distribute the weight
tuntea	to feel
löytää	find
toistaa	to repeat
kuunnella omaa kehoa	to listen to your body

Joogafraaseja – Yoga Phrases

This section is perhaps the most useful. It contains typical phrases that could be used during a yoga session. All these phrases have the verb conjugated in the imperative form because they’re instructions. I haven’t put these sentences in an order which makes sense in one yoga routine. They’re just randomly ordered.

Note how the English translation will in some cases include the word “your”, while the Finnish yoga vocabulary doesn’t contain sinä. It’s typical for Finnish yoga descriptions to not specify whose bodyparts are moving.

Finnish	English
Hengitä nenän kautta sisään!	Breathe in through your nose!
Hengitä nenän kautta ulos!	Breathe out through your nose!
Päästä hengitys virtaamaan!	Let your breath flow!
Tunne hengitys rintakehässä!	Feel your breath in your chest!
Seiso ryhdikkäästi!	Stand up straight!
Istu risti-istunnassa!	Sit cross-legged!
Asetu selinmakuulle!	Lie down on your back!
Makaa selälläsi!	Lay on your back!
Aloita vuoriasennossa!	Start in the Mountain Pose!
Löydä mukava asento!	Find a comfortable position!
Pysy asennossa!	Stay in the pose!
Pidä asento muutaman hengityksen ajan.	Hold the position for a few breaths.
Nosta lantio ylös!	Lift your hips up!
Pidä jalat koukussa!	Keep your legs bent!
Jännitä reisiä!	Tense your thighs!
Koukista polvia!	Bend your knees!
Tuo polvet kohti rintaa!	Bring your knees towards your chest!
Muuta jalkojen asentoa!	Change the position of your feet!
Jaa paino koko jalkapohjalle!	Divide the weight over the entire bottom of your foot!
Aseta vasen käsi lattiaan!	Pleace your left hand on the floor!
Paina kämmenet lattiaan!	Press your palms on the floor!
Nosta polvet ilmaan!	Lift your knees into the air!
Nosta oikea polvi ylös!	Raise your right knee!
Halaa oikeaa polvea vasemmalla käsivarrella!	Hug your right knee with your left arm!
Käännä oikea polvi sivulle!	Turn your right knee to the side!
Suorista vasen jalka!	Straighten your left leg!
Nosta kättä pään yli!	Raise your arm over your head.
Kurota käsiä kohti kattoa!	Reach your arms towards the ceiling!
Laske kädet alas!	Lower your arms!
Pyöristä selkää!	Round your back!
Pidennä selkää!	Stretch your back!
Kohota rintakehää ylös!	Raise your chest up!
Vedä leukaa rintaa kohti!	Pull your chin towards your chest!
Rentouta niska ja leuka!	Relax your neck and chin!
Toista sama vastakkaisella puolella!	Repeat the same thing in the other side!

That’s it for this page on Finnish yoga vocabulary. I hope this helps you a little bit when you’re trying to both stay fit and practice your Finnish! Please check out my article on stretching next!