By Atul Vyas
The bioenergy in kapha consists of elements of water and earth. These elements take care of the structural integrity of the body. The characteristics are heavy, cold, stable, mucous and sweet.
Kapha is responsible for lubrication, for holding the skeletal structure together (particularly joints) and for supporting stability and weight. It also influences emotional capacities such as patience, inner strength and lack of desire.
When kapha is out of balance it leads to coldness, anemia, excess sleep, lethargy, excess salivation, pain in chest weight gain, poor hearing and diminishing sense of taste.
When kapha is balanced, it is very nurturing, and makes a person well organized, committed and trustworthy.
There are many yogic practices which help bring kapha into balance and one of them is ‘Mayurasana’ or the peacock pose.
It is called the peacock pose as one has to assume a peacock like posture by raising the entire body parallel to the ground supported by the arms pressed hard on either side of the torso.
Technique
- Sit on the ground with bent knees and place palms on the ground at some distance away from the knees on either side
- Make sure that fingers point towards the toes
- Bend the elbows and place them pressed on either side of the naval with simultaneously straightening of the legs together along the ground
- With lever action of the bent arms, raise the lower part of the body from the ground
- Make the entire body straightened horizontally parallel to the ground
- Breath normally and hold pose for 5 seconds
Benefits
- Relieves constipation
- Increases gastric fire thus reduces kapha and/or balances it
- Cures gastro-intestinal diseases
- Reduces gas formation in stomach and intestines
- Efficacious in diabetes
- Improves functioning of liver
- Increases peristalsis
Note of Caution
Those suffering from gastric ulcer and hernia conditions should avoid this pose.
Atul Vyas likes to be called a “Yoga Scientist”. He is a celebrity yoga trainer and has trained several top Hollywood and Bollywood stars. He has trained for years under many eminent yoga gurus including his illustrious mother Daya Vyas, the first lady yoga guru of India.
