asana terminology

[Jo]

Are the postures; urdhva hastasana and urdhva vrikasana the same?

[InnerAthlete]

No actually they are not the same asana.
Both are standing poses.
Urdhva Hastasana (Upward Hands Pose) can be conceptualized as Tadasana with the arms extended together overhead. That same pose with a slight backbend can be referred to as Ardha Chandrasana. And "yes" it shares its name with another asana.

Urdhva Vrksasana (Upward Tree Pose) has one leg bent with the foot at the inner thigh and the knees 90º to each other; one facing forward, the other facing a side wall. Note also the spelling here of Vrksasana.

[Jo]

Thanks for your response. Do you think it's a mistake, I saw on the website (ashtangayoga.info) : In the section on Surya Namaskar A, the first pose they show in this sun salutation is called by them urdhva vrikasana, but the picture is not tree pose. I expect the pose to be tadasana. What do you think of this website? Is it correct?

[InnerAthlete]

Jo,

If you are an Ashtanga practitioner, teacher, or trainee, then it might be best to stick with that system's nomenclature. I've looked at the web site you mention. Do note that whomever has assembled it has spelled Urdhva in two different ways. Not only on the same site but right next to each other (on the SN page you mention)

As I do not practice within this sort of system I'm perhaps the wrong respondant. To that system that pose in SN might be Tree.

There are two issues here. One is the issue of different systems or schools (or both) and the second is transliteration of Sanskrit to English. Neither of these can I discuss intelligently enough to further explain.

What is your need for this information? Perhaps that might be a better jumping off point.

[Jo]

thanks, I was doing some ashtanga research and also trying to become familiar with the sanskrit terminology. I'm on the right track now, thanks.