PEACOCK (MAYURASANA)

Mayurasana

Introduction

The Peacock pose, Mayurasana (mayura = peacock), is a very powerful balancing posture to stimulate the digestive system. One of the characteristics of the peacock, the animal, lies in its ability to digest almost anything, even scorpions and venomous snakes, and to eliminate toxic substances from its organism. Likewise, Mayurasana allows to develop a very strong and efficient digestion, as colorfully noted in the Hatha Yoga Pradipika : “Mayurasana burns into ashes any food ingested, lightens up the gastric fire and helps to neutralize poisons.“ asana_matsyasana-2

Technique

Come on your knees, put your hands flat on the floor, fingers pointed towards the feet.
Position the elbows on both sides of the belly button.
Bring the forehead to the mat, straighten your legs and tuck your toes under while putting most of the weight on the hands.
Lift your head.
Slowly, transfer the body weight forward and lift your legs.
Hold the posture between 5 to 10 breaths, preferably in Ujayi.

Advanced variation

Lift your legs vertically and put your chin on the floor.

Benefits

Strenghten the wrists, arms, shoulders, abdomen, lumbar, buttocks, thighs.
Strongly stimulates the digestive system through the action of the elbows in the abdomen.
Prevents constipation.
Stimulates hepatic and renal functions.
Activates blood circulation and sends back into circulation blood stagnating in the viscera.
Increases self confidence.
Stimulates neuronal connections with areas of the brain handling balancing (cerebellum).