Etymology

shavasana

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Today it means: A resting pose in which one lies flat on one's back with the arms and legs slightly spread and eyes closed. Full definition →

First used 19th c.Sanskrit शवासन
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The story

  1. Sanskrit · derived fromशवासन
  2. English todayshavasana

From Modern Sanskrit शवासन (śavāsana), from शव (śava, “corpse”) + आसन (āsana, “asana”).

First known use, by meaning

  • from 19th c. A resting pose in which one lies flat on one's back with the arms and legs slightly spread and eyes closed.

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.