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Hatha Yoga

• Hathayoga Pradipike
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• Yogasana (Posture)
• Pranayama

Hatha Yoga>Asana>Mayurasana (Peacock Posture):

Procedure :

Sit on the ground on your knees. Foot should be joined and let there be distance between the knees. Bend forward and put the palms of your hands on the ground. Fingers should be turned towards the legs. Let the elbows and hands joined. Bend towards the ground. Place the stomach on the elbows and chest on the upper arm. Put the entire weight of your body on the elbows and upper arms. Extend the legs fully to the back. Foot should be joined. Slowly increase the pressure on the elbows and bend the head towards the ground. Then lift the legs from the ground. Balance the body so that it should be parallel to the ground. This is Mayurasana

In the initial stages it is very difficult to lift the legs in air. So first let the fingers of the feet touch the ground. Balance the body on hands and fingers of feet. After practicing this for some days move the head towards the ground as if touching the ground with the head. Then the legs can be easily lifted.

In the final position the total weight of the body should be on the elbows and not on the chest. Your body should be parallel to the ground in the final position. Stay in this position for some time and return to the initial position. This completes the one round of Mayurasana. You can do this again after breathing comes to normal course.

Breathing

Exhale while lifting the legs and inhale while lowering the legs. In the initial stages Bahya Kumbhaka (suspending the breath after exhalation) can be done. In advanced stages deep yogic breathing can be practiced

Duration of Asana

Succession:

Practice this Asana in the end the Asana session. Do not do this Asana before inversion such as Shirasana (Head stand pose). Mayurasana increases the blood circulation very much in order to purify the system. In this process unwanted chemicals in the body system are released into the blood. If inversions are done after Mayurasana, there is a chance of poisonous chemicals entering the brain. So it is advised by the ancient Yogis not to practice invert poses after doing Mayurasana.

Contraindications

Persons with cardiac problems, high blood pressure, hernia, intestinal ulcers should not do this Asana. Pregnants, physically ill and weak persons should avoid this Asana.

Meditation

For physical benefits bring your awareness on maintaining the equilibrium position. For spiritual purposes concentration should be on Manipura Chakra (solar plexus).

Benefits

This Asana is one of the greatest Asanas. It is said that peacock eats snakes and digests its poison. Like this, by practicing Mayurasana, all the poisonous chemicals in the system are burned. According to ancient Hatayoga texts those who have mastered this Asana has the capability to digest even the deadliest poisons. This is practiced for the purification of the circulatory system. Peacock pose increases the metabolic process. By increasing the metabolic process poisonous chemical are removed from the system. Digestive system becomes strong as this Asana gives massage to intestines. This Asana is helpful in maintaining balance between body and mind. Functions of liver, kidneys and stomach are greatly improved. This Asana cures Diabetes, constipation. Coordination is improved in the endocrine systems. This Asana increases the secretions in pineal, pituitary, thyroid, adrenal, pancreas, ovary and testis glands. Due to this entire system becomes strong. According to Hathayoga pradipike peacock pose brings balance between wind, bile and phlegm.