YogaPracticeYogaforBeginnersYogaSequencesbyAnatomyYogaSequencesbyTypeYogaforAthletesGetaccesstoeverythingwepublishwhenyousignupforOutside+.Armstrengthisn’teverything.ThesecrettomasteringPeacockPoseliesdeepinyourbellycenter.HarageiisaJapanesewordthat,whensimplydefined,means“bellyart.”Itdescribesaqualityofpresenceinwhichtheintelligenceofthebellyisfullyintegratedintoanyactivity,fromthesubtleprotocolsofatraditionalteaceremonytotheunwaveringintentionofanarcherdrawingherbowortheelegantstrokeofacalligrapher’sbrush.InthebookHara:TheVitalCenterofMan,philosopherandZenpractitionerKarlfriedDürckheimsaysthatwhenharageiiscultivated,“anall-aroundtransformationofallone’sfacultiestakesplace,unhinderedbythelimitationsofthefivesensesandtheintellect.Oneperceivesrealitymoresensitively,isabletotakeinperceptionsinadifferentway,assimilatesthemandthereforereactsdifferentlyand,finallyradiatessomethingdifferent…Thethreefundamentalreactionstolifeandtheworld—perception,assimilation,andresponse—changeinthedirectionofanexpansion,deepening,andintensifyingofthewholepersonality.”IfindthequalitiesofharageireadilyaccessibleinMayurasana,theposeofthepeacock,becauseitrequiresdeepbellywork.Whilethistypeofworkisnotexactlycomfortable,itcanbetransformative.Likemostotherarmbalances,Mayurasanaappearstorequireexceptionalstrength.Whatisactuallyneeded,though,ispatient,progressiveworktodevelopamoreintimaterelationshipwithgravity.Tobegindoingthis,you’llneedtocreateasturdyfoundationfortheposeusingyourhands,yourforearms,and—youguessedit—yourbelly.Thinkofthehandsasyourfeetandtheforearmsasyourlegs.Onceyousetupasolidbase,you’llneedtopressyourelbowsdeepintoyourbelly,whichmightinitiallymakeyouflinchandtightenyourgut.Itwillfeelcounterintuitivetosoftenyourbellyaroundyourelbowsanddigyourelbowsintothatflesh,butthat’sexactlywhatyou’llneedtodoinordertocompletethepose.Onceyou’reabletodothis,you’llfindastrongsetofdeepabdominalmusclesunderneaththeoften-overusedrectusabdominus(akayourwashboardabs);thesewillkeepyoustable.Tofinishthe