STARTYOURFREETRIALSignInYoga|PracticePeacockPoseSandraAnderson5min.AreyouHarryPotterastrideyourflyingbroomstickinpursuitofthegoldensnitchintheQuidditchgames?No,you’reapeacock,flyingfast,likeastickwithitsownvolition,barrelingheadfirstthroughspaceindefianceofgravity.AndinsteadofbeinginthemagicallandofHogwarts,youareflyinghighonyouryogamat.Okay,maybethat’sanexaggeration.But,oh!Thedesiretofly!Inyogapractice, mayurasana notonlyresemblesthepeacock,italsoinvokesthepeacock’sspecialpowers.Tobalanceitslongneckandextravaganttailfeathers,whicharecarriedstraightoutbehinditbothinflightandontheground(unlessit’sfanningthemforamatingritual),thepeacock’sstoutlegsaresituatedatthecenterofitstorso,exactlywhereweplaceourarmsandhandsatthenavelcentertobecomethe“feet”ofmayurasana.Accordingtotheyogatradition,thenavelcenteristhehomeofdigestivefire,responsibleforradianthealth.Imbalancesatthenavelcenterresultindigestiveproblemsandaretherootofmanyillnesses.Mayurasanastronglyaffectstheliver,gallbladder,pancreas,intestines,kidneys,andcirculatorysystem,aswellasthenerveplexusintheabdomen.Asaresult,thepeacockposestrengthensandtonesdigestion,invigoratestheentirebody,andisparticularlytreasuredforcleansingandeliminatingtoxins.Inadditiontoitssignaturetailfeathers,thepeacockisnotedforitsabilitytoeatpoisonoussnakes,scorpions,andotherodiousreptilesandinsects.Itsdigestionissostrongthatitturnspoisonintonourishment.Andthisisexactlywhatthe HathaYogaPradipika saysofmayurasana:Even kalakuta,thearchetypaldeadlypoison,canbedigestedbyonewhopracticesthepeacockpose.Onthesubtlelevel,apowerful“digestion”allowsustohandlemorethanjustadinnerofpizzaandcheesecake.Greed,anger,jealousy,anxiety,insecurity,sadness,andspiritualignorance—thesearethemoresubtletoxinsneedingdigestionorelimination.Theenergeticessence(orprana)ofthedigestivefireinvokesenthusiasm,courage,vitality,willpower,self-confidence,andself-mastery.Thisfireistheforceoftransformation,notonlyoffoodtoenergyandheat,butofthebasemetalofinstinctandlimitedself-awarenesstot