Drishti: Cultivating a Calm Mind and the Yoga Practice
DRISHTI: SINGLE POINTED FOCUS
Drishti is the sanskrit term for focused gaze. It is a part of every yoga pose, or asana. Focusing ones’ eyes helps calm the mind and bring confidence to the posture.
Petri Raisanen in Virabhadrasana II (Warrior II), exemplifying Parshva (Side) Dristhi.
THE DRISHTI CUES IN YOGA
There are cues in yoga class such as “gaze over your pointer finger” in Virabhadrasana II, Warrior II, or “look up towards the ceiling” in Trikonasana, Triangle Pose. This eye gazing cue helps to foster single-pointed focus.
Every asana, physical posture, is accompanied by a drishti cue. This is accomplished by moving the head, focusing on an inanimate object with both eyes and gazing in a specific direction.
During a yoga class, the body is challenged to hold poses that focus on strength, flexibility, and overall optimal anatomical alignment. With the addition of a drishti cue, both eyes slowly rest and the focus becomes single-pointed.
THE DRISHTI: QUIETING THE MIND TO CALM THE BODY
Research estimates that human adults make 35,000 decisions each day. Getting reps in to calm the mind helps to relieve tension and relax the sympathetic, fight or flight, nervous system.
Here are a few examples of reaching one’s Drishti during a yoga practice. Bakasana, or Crow pose, asks us to focus our gaze is to the tip of our nose, providing us with bravery and strength to do things we may not have done before or often, like balancing on our two hands. In Balasana, or Child’s pose, the forehead rests on the mat with the third eye making contact with Earth.
Finding Balasana, child’s pose, and incorporating Bhrumadhya (Third Eye) Dristhi.
THE DRISHTI CHALLENGE TOWARDS A CALM MIND
Explore single pointed focus one day, whether it’s during a yoga asana practice, a meditation, or a walk. Pick one activity. Pick one object. Allow the eyes to focus on one thing in front of you. Complete the activity with the eyes fully resting on that one space ahead.
