How to Do the Peacock Posture

The Peacock Pose, or Mayurasana, is an advanced yoga pose that supports your whole body onto your arms. In yoga tradition, this pose is said to stimulate digestion, among other benefits.

Part 1 - Preparing for the Peacock

1

→ Identify risks. Do not attempt the peacock if you have injured arms or hands. Consult a doctor before trying this if you have a medical condition affecting your abdomen, digestive system, blood circulation, or heart, or if you are pregnant.

→ Some yoga students avoid this pose during menstruation.

2

→ Lead up to the peacock pose with other poses. The peacock pose is quite advanced. It requires strong arm and upper body muscles, flexible wrists, and excellent balance. Before you attempt the peacock, improve these attributes by perfecting the Four-Limbed Staff Pose and Upward Facing Bow Pose. Even the resting Child's Pose can help stretch out your back, especially if you roll up part of your yoga mat and place it in front of your hips.

→ The Salabhasana (Locust Pose) and Gomukhasana (Cow Face Pose) are also helpful.

3

→ Place a pillow under your head. If you lose your balance in this pose, you may fall forward onto your head or neck. For safety's sake, keep a pillow there to catch you if you fall.

4

→ Consider using a yoga strap. You may use a yoga strap to bind your arms together just above the elbows, to prevent them slipping to the side. Keep in mind that this may make it more difficult to catch yourself if you fall.

Part 2 - Performing the Peacock Pose

1

→ Kneel on all fours. When you are ready to attempt the peacock, kneel onto the floor and sit on your heels. Place your palms flat on the floor in front of you, with your fingers turned back toward you. Bring your hands just close enough together that your hands and forearms touch, bending your elbows slightly.

2

→ Bring your knees out and your elbows in. Bend your elbows to a right angle to bring them in close to your abdomen. Gradually slide your knees outward, until they are in front of your hands and to either side of them.

→ Stand on your toes with the rest of your feet off the ground, so you can move more easily.

→ The closer you get your elbows to your center of gravity (low on your torso), the easier this will be.

3

→ Lean onto your upper arms. Push your stomach down onto your elbows. Support your chest with your upper arms.

→ Women may place their arms further to the side if necessary for comfort.

4

→ Hold your stomach in. This pose requires you to form a "tripod" composed of your stomach and both shoulder blades. Pull in your stomach so it stays firm against your elbows and helps support your weight.

5

→ Rest your forehead on the ground and extend your legs. Keep your weight on your arms as you bring your head forward and onto the floor. Stretch out both your legs behind you and rest all your weight on your hands, toes, and forehead.

6

→ Draw your shoulders back and slightly down. Pin back your shoulders to make two sturdy legs of the tripod. Your shoulders and stomach will need to support most of the weight of your lower body.

7

→ Engage your glutes. This should help make your body as stiff as a plank. Try to keep your shoulder blades, stomach, and butt in a straight line. This is vital for achieving the strength and balance you need to support your feet off the floor.

8

→ Lift your head and legs. Lift your head and look forward, stretching the muscles in the front of the neck. Shift your weight forward onto your arms. If your body is stiff and straight, this should bring your legs and feet up off the ground. Rise until your legs are parallel with the floor. Bend your toes back behind you.

→ You must keep your weight forward to support yourself. If your elbows shoot backward, you will fall.

TIPS

→ Once you've perfected this pose, try advanced variations such as the pincha mayurasana (feathered peacock) and pungu mayurasana (wounded peacock).

→ The peacock pose is generally more difficult for women, as their center of gravity is lower. This makes it more difficult to support their weight forward on their elbows. You can bring your weight forward by placing your legs in the lotus position or the easier reclined bound angle position.

Warnings

→ This exercise can worsen symptoms of spondylosis, or a painful condition of the spine caused by degeneration of intervertebral disks. This yoga asana requires a lot of physical strength and balance. Since you make your navel the central point of balance, there’s a lot of pressure on it, and any imbalance can worsen your condition if you’re suffering from cervical spondylosis.

→ This pose can injure your wrists or shoulders if they are not strong enough to support your weight.