MAYURASANA AND VRCHIKASANA

Peacock, Peacock Feather Poses, and Scorpion Poses

Dolphin Ardha Baddha Padma Mayurasana Ardha Pincha Mayurasana Eka Hasta Mayurasana Mayurasana Padma Mayurasana Pincha Mayurasana Hamsasana Ardha Padma Vrchikasana II Eka Pada Vrchikasana Vrchikasana

Ardha Pincha Mayurasana

Dolphin, Half Peacock Feather or Peacock Feather Preparation

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Ardha Pincha Mayruasana Demonstrate d by Kia Meaux

Photo by David Martinez Yoga Journal, September 2001 Phone: 510841-9200 or eMail

Ardha Baddha Padma Mayurasana

Bound Half Lotus in Peacock Pose

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Ardha Baddha Padma Mayurasana Demonstrated by Simon Borg-Olivier

Yoga Synergy P.O. Box 9 Waverley 2024 Australia Tel. (61 2) 9389 7399

Eka Hasta Mayurasana

One Handed Peacock Pose

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This asana is also known as Pangu Mayurasana or Wounded Peacock Pose.

Eka Hasta Mayurasana Demonstrated by Simon Borg-Olivier

Yoga Synergy P.O. Box 9 Waverley 2024 Australia Tel. (61 2) 9389 7399

Mayurasana

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Peacock in Full Pose

In mayurasana the pressure of both elbows seals off the "prana channels" of the two nadis and thus forces an increased blood supply into those parts of the brain that are in most urgent need of it.
Hatha Yoga Pradipika

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Mayurasa na Demonstra ted by David Swenson

Authorized Ashtanga Teacher

Ashtanga Yoga: The Practice Manual: An Illustrated Guide to Personal Practice by David Swenson Ashtanga Yoga Productions ISBN 189125208 9

Mayurasana
Peacock Pose The following text is from Ashtanga Yoga: The Pratice Manual.

From Yoga Vidya in Germany Tel. 02685-8002-0

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We have not been able to identify this talented person. Please eMail me if you know the Yogi's name!

Steps 1 & 2 - Hands to the Floor

Start in a kneeling position, sitting on your heels with your knees wide apart. Place your arms between your legs, bringing your elbows in close to your abdomen. Next, lay your hands flat on the floor, with your wrists together and your fingers pointing back toward your body.

Steps 3 & 4 - Stretch Out Keep your hands directly under your abdomen. Put your forehead on the ground.

Next, stretch one leg and then the other straight out behind you. Your weight should now be resting on your hands, toes, and forehead.

Slowly try to lift the head, keeping the skull in line with the spine. Benefits:
o

o o o

This posture is very good for the digestive organs. The blood is concentrated and sent to the digestive organs, which also get toned up by the intra-abdominal pressure. This exercise has a good effect on the expelling action of the colon. It is very beneficial for obesity, piles, and constipation. It develops the chest. The exercise is very regenerative and quite stimulating.
Webmistress' Note: For years I'd been told to "nestle my elbows between my pelvic bones." I could never get both ends of myself off the ground at the same time! Recently in class, I whined about this. My teacher, Suzie Hurley, said, "It depends upon the length of your torso. Most men seem to be able to do that, and that's now many men teach the asana. However, that seems to be more difficult for women, particularly if they're bigger busted." I moved my elbows up to my lower abdomen and flew into the asana with a beautifully counterbalanced feeling. Go figure.

Padma Mayurasana
Peacock in Lotus Pose

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Padma Mayurasana

Demonstrated Glickstein

by

Bob

Demonstrated by Mr. Desikachar

Photographer and location unknown.

Pincha Mayurasana
Forearm Balance or Peacock (Feather) in Full Pose

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Pincha Mayurasana Demonstrated by Brian Monnier

Yogic Motion 1120 Pacific Ave San Francisco, CA 94133 Tel: 415-775-0570

Hamsasana
Swan Pose

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Hamsasa na Yogi Unknown

(eMail me if you know the Yogi's name!) From Yoga Vidya in Germany Tel. 026858002-0 This is very demanding on the wrists. The difference between Mayurasan a and Hamsasana is simply that the fingers are facing forward in Hamsasana rather than backwards as in Mayurasan a.

Hamsasana
Swan Pose
More precisely, this designation refers to the wild goose, whose flight has inspired the ancient Indians to make it the symbol of the sun and, later, of the luminous transcendental Self, as well as a certain type of renouncer (samnyasin) who has realized the Self.Encyclopedic Dictionary of Yoga Hamsa, Hansa (Sanskrit) The mystic swan or goose; representing divine wisdom beyond the reach of men. Exoterically, a fabulous bird which, when given milk mixed with water, drank only the milk and left the water, milk standing for spirit and water for matter. Anagrammatically, hamsa

"is equal to a-ham-sa, . . . meaning 'I am he' (in English), while divided in still another way it will read 'So-ham,' 'he (is) I' -- Soham being equal to Sah, 'he,' and aham, 'I,' or 'I am he.' In this alone is contained the universal mystery, the doctrine of the identity of man's essence with god-essence, for him who understands the language of wisdom. Hence the glyph of, and the allegory about, Kalahansa (or hamsa), and the name given to Brahma neuter (later on, to the male Brahma) of 'Hansa-Vahana,' he who uses the Hansa as his vehicle. The same word may be read 'Kalaham-sa' or 'I am I' in the eternity of Time, answering to the Biblical, or rather Zoroastrian 'I am that I am" (SD 1:78). Shambhala Encyclopedia of Yoga

Padma Hamsasana
Swan in Lotus, or Lotus on a Swan

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The Ashtanga 5th Series calls this Adho Mukha Padmasana.

Adho Mukha Padmasana Demonstrated by Bill Counter

Absolutely Ashtanga can be found at Shanti Yoga 907 Howe Avenue Sacramento, CA 95825

Vrchikasana I
Scorpion Pose

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Vrchikasana I Demonstrated by Kathleen Hogan

Suppose someone does Vrchikasana and touches the feet to the head and another person does Vrchikasana and there is a gap of six inches. What do you think? You say, "this person has done better," because he has touched. It is not necessary; the other person might have done better. Because touching the feet to the head is not essential in Vrchikasana. Getting the action on the kidneys or the organs, getting the action on the spine, getting the access to the mind is important. As a matter of fact, a simple thing is that the following: in the fellow who has not touched his head with the feet there is humbleness, which is positive; the other fellow, who has touched, will create room for pride. So he has done Vrchikasana but has not done yoga.

from Alan Little's Site

This asana is also known as Taraksvasana(A). Sva = internal power, Taraka = a demon who was slain by Kartikeya, the God of war. It's a handstand scorpion in the Ashtanga 5th Series known as Viparita Chakrasana. Iyengar would call the pose Vrisikasana II. This asana is also known as Urdhva Vrchikasana or Lifted Scropion Pose Pose.

Vrchikasana II Demonstrated by Vladimir Kalabin

Siberian Yoga.

Eka Pada Vrchikasana II

One-Legged Scorpion Pose II

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This asana is also known as Taraksvasana(B) in the Ashtanga 5th Series. It is also known as Urdhva Eka Pada Vrchikasana or Lifted One-Legged Scropion Pose Pose.

Eka Pada Vrchikasana II Demonstrated by Vladimir Kalabin

Siberian Yoga.

Ardha Padma Vrchikasana II

Scorpion Pose (Variation II)in Half Lotus

Ardha Padma Vrchikasana II and More

Demonstrated by Anatoly Zenchenko

Keiv, Ukraine Tel.: (+38044) 516 37 85 or (+38067) 969 18 71

And taking this asana yet a bit further... Demonstrated by Vladimir Kalabin
Siberian Yoga.

Created on ... September 21, 2001 by Yoga Dancer Designs. This page was last updated on Tuesday, 24-Apr-2007 10:07:18 EDT, and today is Wednesday, 28-May-2008 14:33:36 EDT. We've been blessed with visitors since April, 2002.

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