by Tina Russo Lancey, CYT, R-AYF, R-CYAMT
The primary time a yoga teacher informed me to search out my Drishti, I used to be confused, to say the least. Nobody had ready me for any of the Sanskrit phrases I heard. Utilizing logic, I figured something ending in “asana” was the pose we had been going to maneuver towards. This was a easy deduction. A Drishti although? I had no thought the place or what to search for within the room. It could take a number of extra lessons earlier than I understood what we had been doing, the place to search out my Drishti, and the way essential this is able to be in my observe.
So allow us to begin with the phrase itself. In its easiest kind, Drishti means sight. The concept behind “discovering your Drishti” is to focus your gaze. In yoga, we attempt to use a delicate gaze to assist us focus. So does one simply look wherever and focus earlier than softening the eyes? Effectively, you possibly can, nonetheless, there are 9 forms of Drishti’s in Ashtanga yoga and eight acknowledged in Hatha yoga.
- Angushthamadhye Drishti gazes on the center of the thumb. It’s utilized in Solar Salutations, Chair Pose, and Warrior.
- Bhrumadhye Drishti gazes on the third eye (between the forehead). It’s used on an inhale as you come out of Standing Ahead Bend and used throughout Downward Dealing with Canine and Upward-Dealing with Canine.
- Nasagre Drishti gazes on the tip of the nostril. It’s utilized in Mountain Pose, 4-Limbed Workers Pose, Warrior Pose, and Standing Ahead Bend. Wheel Pose and Handstand are additionally poses the place we use this Drishti.
- Hastagrahe Drishti gazes on the palm of the hand or the ideas of the fingers. It’s utilized in Prolonged Triangle Pose.
- Parshva Drishti gazes to the facet (left or proper). It’s utilized in Seated Twist Pose, and Standing Hand to Toe Pose.
- Urdhva Drishti gazes upwards. It’s utilized in Extensive-Angle Seated Ahead Bend, Warrior II Pose, and Boat Pose.
- Nabhicakre Drishti gazes towards the navel. It’s typically utilized in Downward Dealing with Canine.
- Pādayoragre Drishti gazes towards the toes and is utilized in Seated Ahead Bend (and any twisting variations.
After we are centered on our gaze, we are able to settle the thoughts, and never lose focus when issues are shifting and altering within the room round us. This improved focus can join us deeper in our observe with thoughts and physique. Whereas every Drishti mentioned right here has an related point of interest utilized in sure poses, you should use different objects as nicely. Be conscious of your eyes when practising any of those Drishti’s, and know closing the eyes can also be a solution to join and focus.
For a deeper understanding of using a Drishti, here’s a ebook we advocate. It’s one in all my most well-liked Ashtanga Yoga books and it’s by David Swenson: Ashtanga Yoga: The Follow Handbook Hardcover – Illustrated, August 20, 2007*
*Disclosure: A number of the hyperlinks on this article are affiliate hyperlinks. Which means that, at zero price to you, I’ll earn an affiliate fee in the event you click on by way of the hyperlink and finalize a purchase order.
