Kino MacGregor Explains How To Do Mayurasana
First things first, Kino MacGregor is a renowned Ashtanga Yoga teacher, writer and digital business woman. She received certification in Ashtanga Yoga from Sri K. Pattabhi Jois. She has several books under her belt, and is probably one of the youngest to have mastered Ashtanga Yoga. As a part of the yoga teacher training in Rishikesh, you must have often come across Mayurasana.
Most yoga students consider this to be an extremely hard asana. However, Kino realised that the key to doing this asana with ease is to strengthen the core area. Additionally, you must press through your arms to keep the collar bones broad. It is not about your spine, but more of your core strength. If you spread the elbows too far, you are softening your core. This leads one to fall. In this blog, we will look into how to do Mayurasana.
How To Do Mayurasana According To Kino
- You must be in the table top position first. Then rotate your wrists to place the fingers towards the lower body.
- Lean forward a bit and open the elbows a bit, while squeezing the elbows and put your chest in front of your arms.
- You will be balancing the legs on the toes all this while.
- Inhale and reach forward and lift the legs together. In the beginning, you can keep the chest low, but with practice you can also increase the spacing of the chest and the ground.
- Balance yourself in the pose, with the entire body parallel to the ground.
So there are three aspects that you must take care of. Firstly, your elbow placement, secondly your chest reach and thirdly body engagement.
Mayurasana is an advanced arm balance pose, which you can attain, only after doing arm balances like Kakasana and Bakasana. It is an intermediate to advanced level pose. Moreover, along with body strength, you also need mental focus. This is the asana, which experienced yogis have perfected today.
Etymology Of Mayurasana or Peacock Pose
The 300 hour yoga teacher training in Rishikesh covers this wonderful pose. You will find a mention of this ancient pose in Vimanarcanakalpa. It revolves around beauty and patience. Another spiritual text, Vasishtha Samhita explains Mayurasana as a pose that destroys all sins. Apart from boosting your physical wellness, it also gives you mental strength and stamina.
How To Prepare Your Body For Mayurasana?
There are several preparatory poses, which you can practice to be able to get into this pose. Moreover, you need to activate and tone the entire body.
- Plank Pose – To start with, you have to focus on all four limbs. You have to keep the hands on the mat and support yourself and place the legs stretched out. Squeeze the hands to lift the shoulders off the mat. Maintain a tight core, while stretching yourself, keeping the entire almost perpendicular to the ground. Look down between the hands. Hold the pose for at least 5-10 breaths.
- Swan Pose – This is another effective pose, which is for those who do not have a lot of wrist strength or core strength. You can take it forward from the plank pose, reversing the direction of your fingers on the mat. Slowly, rest your abdomen on your elbows. You have to ensure that the elbows are together, right below the rib cage. You do not need to lift your legs as in Peacock pose. Maintain a forward gaze while holding the pose for a few breaths.
Breath Awareness While Doing Mayurasana
As a part of the yoga teacher training in Rishikesh, you will learn the most important aspect of yoga, alongside asana. And that is navigating your breath.
- You have to hold your breath while you do the asana.
- Exhale when you are about to relax and come out of the pose.
- Inhale, when your palms are on the mat ahead of you.
- Thereafter inhale and exhale rhythmically.
Things To Remember While Doing Mayurasana
- You must have proper grip on the mat, while doing the arm balance. Press your fingers into the mat, so that you do not get hurt.
- Do not lower your legs too quickly, when you are ready to come out of the asana. Slowly lower the body, and then focus on your breath. All this time, keep the core area and upper body engaged. Slowly, release the legs.
- Do not lean forward too much, as some practitioners do. Your body becomes like a see-saw. You have to ensure that your body is parallel to the floor.
Conclusion
You will be able to learn Mayurasana in the best manner at the accredited yoga schools in India. So, choose wisely and enroll in the 300 hour yoga teacher training in Rishikesh. You will learn from the best, in the best manner possible.
