Do you want strong abdominal muscles,
as well as shapely arms
and shoulders?
If so, then you may want to give the Peacock
posture a try. Not only will it work your abdominal muscles, but it
will exercise your arms and shoulders as well. The Peacock is a yoga
pose. All yoga emphasizes natural movement, and is often based on the
movement of animals. This posture demands great strength and
flexibility, particularly in the wrists. Although it is an intermediate
to advanced exercise, with practice and patience, anyone can do it. 
If an 81 year
old can do it ...
I actually came across this
article on Harold Rosen, who is literally a rocket scientist.
He helped design the first geosynchronous satellite, and is currently
working on the Google X Prize in his retirement. What does he do to
stay in shape (his goal is to break the 100 meter dash record for 100
year olds!) Well, he does yoga poses like the Peacock! This is a
picture of him below. If an 81 year old man can do this, I think you
can too!
Here's how you perform The Peacock
- Support your body on the floor, with your hands
directly under your shoulders and your knees directly under your hips;
keep your back straight and parallel to the floor.
- Bend your arms, touching your forehead to the
floor.
- Move your hands so that your fingers face your
toes and your palms touch the floor; bend your elbows toward your
abdominal muscles, trying to place your elbows below your navel and as
close to your pubic bone as you can.
- Push with your bent legs to move some of your
weight forward toward your shoulders and take some of the tension off
your wrists. As you shift your weight forward, you will begin to
balance, with your hands, wrists, and forearms supporting more and more
of your weight.
- Lift your head, and support yourself on your
forearms; straighten your legs completely, and rest on your toes and
your hands; direct your vision forward.
- Continue shifting your weight forward, and try
to lift your feet off the floor as you balance your entire body
parallel to the floor. You must tighten your abdominal muscles, and use
your back and arm muscles to hold this pose. If you find this too
difficult on your wrists, you can turn your hands slightly outward with
your fingers pointing to the sides rather than pointing at your toes.
- Hold this position for five very slow, deep
breaths.
- Lower your legs to the ground, bend your knees,
sit back into a kneeling posture, and shake out your wrists a bit to
release the tension; exhale, and relax.
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