Mayurasana (Peacock pose)
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Mayura means peacock in Sanskrit. According to yoga history it is
believed that like the peacock is formed to get rid of the venomous
snake, mayurasana is designed to cure bodily poisons.
One has to hold his whole body like a stick on both his elbows. We
assume the shape of a Peacock hence it is called Mayurasana. This is a
very important balancing pose. Full weight of your body remains on navel
and it is possible to lose the balance at any moment, hence practice it
with care. Jerks should be avoided at any stage.
Step 1 - Place your hands on the floor between the knees with
the palms down, fingertips pointing back towards the feet and keep the
hands touching together. Bring your elbows together and place them on
the abdomen. Try to keep the elbows close together throughout the pose.
Place your forehead on the mat in front of you. Straighten out both legs
behind you. The body is now resting on the head, hands and feet.
Step 2 - Lift your head. Keep the head up and gradually shift
the weight of your body forward and as you do this lift the feet. The
body should be parallel to the floor. In the beginning it is easier to
lift each foot one at a time until you get the feeling for shifting the
body weight forward and build up strength in the arms. The picture shows
a side view of the asana. In the beginning, hold the posture for 10
seconds, gradually working up to around 30 seconds. To come out of the
posture exhale and gradually lower the feet back down to the mat.
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Benefits of the asana
*Strengthens the shoulders, arms and wrists.
* Improves balance.
* Puts pressure on the abdomen improving digestion, and relieving
indigestion and constipation.
* Stimulates the abdominal organs.
* Stretches the muscles of the forearms, wrists and fingers.
* Beneficial for repetitive stress injuries like carpal tunnel
syndrome, and for people who spend a lot of time on the computer.
* Improves mental equilibrium and sense of calm.
* Improves concentration and determination.
Dip in yoga- India Model: Rukshan Pictures by Ranjith Asanka |
