Yoga Posture Crossword Clue: Answers by Letter Count
When a yoga posture crossword clue points to a blank of a few squares, the answer is almost always one of a small set of Sanskrit terms or English pose names. The most common answer by far is ASANA (5 letters), but crossword editors reach for TREE, CROW, LOTUS, COBRA, and WARRIOR regularly too. The single most useful habit is to count the squares first, then scan a list organized by length — that is what this guide does below.
ASANA vs ASANAS: the singular-plural trick
The 5-letter singular ASANA is the default answer to any "yoga posture" or "yoga position" clue. If the clue is plural — "yoga postures," "yoga poses," "yoga positions" — and the grid has 6 letters, the answer becomes ASANAS. The same logic shows up across editors: a singular clue with a confirmed S in position 6 is almost certainly ASANAS, not ASANA with a stray letter. Getting this pair right is what separates a clean solve from a stuck grid.
Yoga posture crossword answers by letter count
The table below is sorted by the length of the answer. Use it as the first pass after you have counted the squares. If a single crossing letter is already filled in, the right row usually jumps out.
| Letters | Answer | Why editors use it |
|---|---|---|
| 3 | COW | Bitilasana; pairs with CAT in Cat-Cow |
| 3 | CAT | Marjaryasana; pairs with COW |
| 4 | TREE | Vrksasana; recognizable balance pose |
| 4 | CROW | Bakasana; popular arm-balance |
| 4 | FISH | Matsyasana; occasional backbend clue |
| 5 | ASANA | Sanskrit for any yoga posture; the most common answer overall |
| 5 | LOTUS | Padmasana; seated meditation pose |
| 5 | COBRA | Bhujangasana; beginner backbend |
| 5 | CHILD | Balasana; resting pose |
| 5 | EAGLE | Garudasana; animal-themed clues |
| 5 | PLANK | Phalakasana; bridges yoga and fitness |
| 6 | ASANAS | Plural of ASANA; resolves plural clues |
| 6 | BRIDGE | Setu Bandha; widely practiced pose |
| 6 | PIGEON | Commonly Eka Pada Rajakapotasana; popular hip opener |
| 7 | WARRIOR | Virabhadrasana I/II/III |
| 7 | DOLPHIN | Ardha Pincha Mayurasana; less common but valid |
| 8 | SAVASANA | Corpse pose; appears in longer grids |
| 8 | DOWNWARD | Often split across two entries as DOWNWARD DOG |
| 9 | WARRIORII | Run-together form; rare, Sunday-style grids |
3-letter yoga posture answers
Only two answers show up regularly at 3 letters, and they almost always appear together. COW (Bitilasana) and CAT (Marjaryasana) are the two halves of the Cat-Cow warm-up sequence, so themed puzzles like to pair them. If you have a 3-letter slot and a confirmed W in the last square, COW is the answer; an M in the middle makes it CAT.
4-letter yoga posture answers
The 4-letter band has three realistic options. TREE (Vrksasana) is the most common, both because the pose is iconic and because the word doubles in non-yoga clues. CROW (Bakasana) is the standard pick for an arm-balance clue. FISH (Matsyasana) appears less often and usually pairs with a backbend or "chest opener" clue.
5-letter yoga posture answers
This is the deepest band. ASANA is the percentage play whenever you have no crossing letters yet. LOTUS, COBRA, CHILD, EAGLE, and PLANK round out the realistic options. A confirmed L in position 1 makes LOTUS very likely; a B in position 5 is a strong hint toward COBRA or PLANK.
6-letter yoga posture answers
Beyond ASANAS (the plural form that resolves plural clues), the 6-letter band is dominated by BRIDGE (Setu Bandha) and PIGEON (commonly Eka Pada Rajakapotasana). Both are common hip-and-back cues. If the clue has 6 letters and a confirmed A in position 6, ASANAS is the first thing to try.
7-letter yoga posture answers
WARRIOR (Virabhadrasana) is the standard 7-letter answer; it covers all three numbered variants unless the grid is explicitly 9 letters, in which case WARRIORII is the run-together form. DOLPHIN (Ardha Pincha Mayurasana) is rarer but valid, usually clued around shoulder opening or inversion prep.
8- and 9-letter yoga posture answers
At 8 letters, SAVASANA and the leading half of "DOWNWARD DOG" are the realistic picks. The 8-letter form DOWNWARD (without DOG) is what most constructors use when they split the phrase across two entries. At 9 letters, WARRIORII is occasionally seen in Sunday-style grids, but it is rare; the more typical 9-letter yoga answer is a longer Sanskrit name split out elsewhere.
Why editors pick these answers
Crossword constructors reach for a yoga posture clue when the puzzle has a yoga, fitness, or meditation theme, or simply when they need a five-letter word with the friendly pattern A-S-A-N-A. ASANA dominates because the alternating-vowel structure crosses cleanly with almost any common letter and the clue can be worded in dozens of ways. TREE and LOTUS work outside yoga-themed puzzles too, which makes them useful general-purpose fill. COBRA, EAGLE, CRANE, and the other animal names are go-to picks for animal-themed Sunday puzzles where a yoga clue is a natural fit.
Step-by-step: how to solve a yoga posture clue
- Count the squares exactly. A single off-by-one error eliminates half the table above.
- Note any confirmed crossing letters. Even one letter in a 5-letter answer usually identifies the word uniquely from the table.
- Check singular vs plural. A confirmed S in the last square of a 6-letter slot points to ASANAS, not ASANA.
- Read the full clue wording. Animal-themed puzzles favor CROW, EAGLE, COBRA, or PIGEON. Meditation or seated themes favor LOTUS or ASANA. Balance poses suggest TREE or EAGLE.
- Default to ASANA for any 5-letter yoga clue with no crossings. It is correct more often than any other single answer.
- Check the theme. Sunday themed puzzles sometimes use WARRIOR, SAVASANA, or DOWNWARD DOG split across entries.
Other frequently clued poses
TREE (4 letters)
Vrksasana, the one-legged balance pose where the raised foot rests against the inner thigh, is one of the most recognizable yoga images in popular culture. Constructors love it because TREE is an everyday English word that can serve double duty in non-yoga themed puzzles too.
LOTUS (5 letters)
Padmasana, the cross-legged seated pose associated with meditation, is immediately recognizable to non-practitioners. It clues easily as meditation position or seated yoga pose in addition to the direct posture clue.
WARRIOR (7 letters)
Virabhadrasana comes in three numbered variants. When a clue says yoga warrior stance with 7 letters, the answer is WARRIOR. If the grid has 9 letters and a numeral hint, look for WARRIORII. For a closer look at demanding yoga forms, see our guide to the hardest yoga poses.
COBRA (5 letters)
Bhujangasana is a prone backbend where the upper body lifts off the floor while the hips stay grounded. It is one of the first poses beginners learn and one of the first yoga words non-practitioners encounter, making it a reliable crossword choice.
SEATED poses
Clues like yoga seated position or floor pose may resolve to LOTUS, CHILD, or HERO (5 letters, Virasana). For more on grounded postures, see our seated yoga poses overview.
For a deeper look at yoga positions referenced in these clues, see our guide to three-legged dog yoga.
Frequently asked questions
ASANA (5 letters) is the most common answer by a wide margin. It is the Sanskrit word for any yoga posture and appears in crosswords far more often than any specific pose name.
The most common 4-letter yoga pose answers are TREE (Vrksasana) and CROW (Bakasana). FISH (Matsyasana) is a less frequent but valid 4-letter answer.
Yes. WARRIOR (7 letters) refers to Virabhadrasana and is used in crosswords, often clued as a yoga stance or a fighting pose. WARRIOR I, II, and III are also occasionally used in longer-grid puzzles.
COW (Bitilasana) and CAT (Marjaryasana) are the most common 3-letter yoga answers. They often appear together in the same puzzle since the Cat-Cow sequence is a standard yoga warm-up.
Yes. LOTUS (5 letters, Padmasana) is a frequent crossword answer, especially in puzzles clued around meditation or seated positions. It is the second most common 5-letter yoga answer after ASANA.
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