“At the approach of the rainy season, peacocks dance. When they start, they lift up their trailing tail feathers and spread them to form fans… This pose resembles that of a peacock starting his dance.” – BKS Iyengar, Light on Yoga
Pincha Mayurasana (Feathered Peacock Pose) is commonly known as Forearm Stand and registers 12* on the 60* scale of difficulty in Light on Yoga. Getting your legs up to the wall and your head off the ground comprises the first challenges of this yoga pose. The second challenge of Pincha Mayurasana comes when you attempt to balance in the center of the room.
Personally, I struggle with the second of these two challenges. If the wall is nearby, I can easily come into Forearm Stand with legs not touching the wall. If I back completely away from the wall, fear takes over and I topple over myself. For me, the key to balancing in Pincha Mayurasana without the wall is to slowly back away from the wall, one inch at a time. Every step away from the wall take you one step further away from your comfort zone, but perhaps one step closer to enjoying the pose in the center of the room.
Today, I still have a wall nearby when I practice Forearm Stand. Someday, perhaps, my journey away from the wall will take me into the middle of the room. But, for now, it’s an inch-by-inch journey.
How do you explore Pincha Mayurasana away from the wall? What physical or mental preparations help you in your path toward this inversion?
Tags: arm balances, arm balancing yoga poses, asana, BKS Iyengar, inversions, Light on Yoga, Pincha Mayurasana, yoga
Kat, your pose looks so similar to Mr. Iyengar’s! Beautiful.
Thank you, Laura! Appreciate your support.
Lovely! You have an EXCELLENT Pinca!
Hi Kat!
I am like you, I like the security of the wall near by. I’ve been slowly inching away.
A dear teacher friend told me a great story about a student in takes her classes who happens to be a known actor; this actor will go up into pincha in the middle of the room but their legs are just kind of there with no energy. So now every time I do the pose I think of that person and shoot energy up right through my toes. It really has helped me! And it always makes me smile.
OM Shanti
beautiful!!!
Thanks! Meredith, your comment actually helped me balance in the center of the room today. I am conjuring up all sorts of known actors
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