Mayurasana


Mayūrāsana or Peacock pose is a hand-balancing asana in hatha yoga and modern yoga as exercise with the body held horizontal over the hands.

Etymology and origins

The name comes from the Sanskrit words mayūra meaning "peacock" and āsana meaning "posture".
Mayurasana is one of the oldest non-seated asanas used in hatha yoga; it is first described in the 10th century Vimānārcanākalpa. The Vāsiṣṭha Saṁhitā 1.76-7 states that it destroys all sins.

Description

In this asana the body is raised like a horizontal stick holding the floor with both palms while the body is supported by the elbows.

Variations

Hamsasana is identical to Mayurasana except that the hands are placed with the fingers pointing forwards.
Padma Mayurasana has the legs crossed as in Lotus Position.

Claims

Twentieth century advocates of some schools of yoga, such as B. K. S. Iyengar, made claims for the effects of yoga on specific organs, without presenting any evidence.
Iyengar claimed that this pose "tones up the abdominal organs wonderfully", and that the elbow pressure on the abdominal aorta made blood circulate "properly in the abdominal organs". He claimed further that the pose improved digestion, cured stomach and spleen illnesses, and prevented "toxins" from accumulating. He stated also that it would be of benefit in diabetes.