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body and develops muscular control. In particular, the toxins already accumulated in the body are burnt, bringing the three doshas or humours: vata, wind; kapha, phlegm; and pitta, bile, into balance and harmony. People who are advised to speed up the body purification processes and eliminate toxins should prepare for this practice by observing the following instructions: a) Eliminate milk products, meat, fat, spices and any
other foods which are difficult to digest from the diet. b) For one month take fruits, vegetables, rice, wholewheat
chapattis or bread, buttermilk and other simple foods
which are easy to digest. c) After two weeks of this restricted diet, begin the practice
of mayurasana, or hamsasana if mayurasana is too
difficult. Within a month the entire system should be purified, both internally and externally. If not, the diet and practice
of mayurasana should be continued. Practice note: As women have a different muscular system to
men in the abdomen and chest areas, they may find mayurasana difficult to perform. It is very easy to fall forward from the final position and crush the nose on the floor. So, be careful and, if necessary,
place a small cushion on the floor under the face. Note: Just as a peacock can kill and digest snakes without being affected
by the poison, this asana enables the practitioner to digest and metabolise the residual toxins and poisons in the body. According to hatha yoga texts, mayurasana speeds up the digestive fire and those adepts who have mastered this pose are able to digest anything, including the most deadly poisons.
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