Do You See What I See | Drishti

Look Forward, Not Back

Taking the first step on a new journey can be daunting and even taking a step again in amongst all the other steps we’re taking can sometimes feel like it’s too much. Even if we know we’ll feel better for doing it!

That’s when I know I’ve got my YOGA practice to retreat to! To step onto the mat and then see what unfolds as I connect inward more mindfully and see where the journey on the mat takes me!

Moving around tiredness, soreness, injuries, overworked, overtired, over stretched, tense muscle fibre and surrendering into poses requiring no effort at all only the breaths – and even that can sometimes feel all too much! At the other end we’ve got energy and vitality and feeling energised and then we have this spectrum all the way through. Do we need to build some core strength, do we need to destress, what’s the purpose for you?

So whatever the journey is for you, see it as 30 Days to re-energise, re-cover, re-connect, re-verberate, re-invigorate, re-charge, re-member, re-invent, re-establish, re-distribute, re-live!

Focus on the NOW!

Take the Present moment to see there are changes you can make to feel and live a life more full of well-being. The practice of yoga as we all know centres around our breaths and helps us to maintain this presence of being in the now.

So step onto your mat once more and join me for 30 days of YOGA.

Drishti – your focus points

Drishti is the yogic practice of focused gaze, used as a means of developing concentration. It can help to enhance focus during asana, pranayama or meditation, and aids in the withdrawal of the senses for a heightened sense of self-awareness. The term drishti is Sanskrit for “eyesight” or “vision”, and the practice is believed to help cultivate insight and inner wisdom through the third eye. – YOGAPEDIA

“Where our attention goes our energy flows.” – James Redfield

…and where our eyes go our attention goes!

DRISHTI
Our focus points – Drishti through class help is to keep our attention in the one place. If we’re looking around the room and focusing else where our energy and attention will also go out to where our eyes are going.

Ever driven a car and as you’re looking out to the side noticing the car you’re steering is starting to head that way too! Keep your eyes on the road is one of the first instructions when learning to drive. In the ocean, do you turn you back on the waves or do you keep an eye on the surf if you’re in it so you’re prepared to dive under or ready to surf that wave. Playing golf, tennis, football and sport do you keep your eyes on the ball, there’s no use watching the other players or competitors.

It’s the same in YOGA, where you’re usually looking to is where your energy is going. We have hand positions and we look to them, we have body and feet and leg positions and turning of the head to look in directions we’re moving towards; all to help keep us focussed and attentive to the moment. Navel gazing and 3rd eye focusses help us to turn our focus inward, calming the nervous system.

“Through drishti, you can cultivate a deeper level of concentration, improve your alignment, and tune into the inner sensations of the body in every pose, so that you’re practicing the way the ancient sages intended — with full awareness.” As yoga expert David Frawley writes in Inner Tantric Yoga.

In balances we focus in front of us to maintain our balance and stability. We can also challenge ourselves by changing the drishti points – i.e.: looking up or closing the eyes will challenge our balances, focusing down on a spot on the floor in line with the nose will make the balance easier. In a bound, deep high lunge twist we begin by looking down and as we become more proficient in the pose, then we turn to look up to the ceiling. Then a slight shift of the gaze and it can be all over for you!

GUIDELINES

Avoid strain and force.
In asana, look generally in the same direction as the stretch.
In a difficult pose, generally change the drishti to a more challenging postiion.
Mindfully choose, from external to internal focus.

 

“Tristhana: This means the three places of attention or action: posture, breathing system and looking place. These three are very important for yoga practice, and cover three levels of purification: the body, nervous system and mind. They are always performed in conjunction with each other.” – Pattabhi Jois as quoted by Anthony Grim Hall.

LOOKING WITHIN HELPS TO KEEP US CALM AND BALANCED ESPECIALLY WHEN THE OUTER WORLD CAN BE SO INCONGRUENT WITH OUR INNER WORLD.

Stay focussed this week through practice and notice if it helps keeping you more centred and calm too. All aspects of our practice culminate to bring us to feel connected and well.
I know that can be a challenge if there are family members around too, but let’s play with it, as in life – keep it FUN! …and what did you last week that was fun???

Namaste Lou xo