Drishti: What is it and what can we gain from it?
Today I want to tell you about a funny little thing called Drishti. Yes, I know, another one of those crazy sanskrit yoga words that has no meaning to you. Let's change that ;)
Drishti is essentially your gaze - that being where you look while you're in a yoga pose. But with practice and awareness, it becomes so much more than that.
I like to explain Drishti as your 'eye energy.' The easiest way to explain this is the feeling when you are really angry and if feels like you are shooting lasers out of your eyes - that is an eye energy.
A lot of the time we think of it as something useful for when we are in balancing poses like Vrkasana (tree pose) when we set a strong gaze forward to help us to balance. But Drishti is something we can apply to any yoga pose, or even just every day life, to allow us to attain better focus and become more aware.
And yes, I know, 'becoming aware' is such a weird phrase that doesn't really make too much sense to everyone, but you really will understand this when you practice and feel it. You actually do become more aware, both outwardly and inwardly.
I have been using Drishti in my classes a lot recently because I am currently teaching a yoga class for actors and performers. By practicing Drishti in yoga, the performers are learning a subtle way to project emotional energy.
For example, in Virabhadrasana II (Warrior 2) you can send all your strong, powerful, warrior vibes shooting out your eyes and down the length of your front arm, and this makes the pose feel oh so much better. It boosts your confidence as you feel the strength surging through you and it allows you to really get a feel of what you body is doing. You can feel the Prana (energy) moving through your body and it adds a whole new element to your practice.
So, if you want to take your practice to a new level, or you want to learn how to really focus, try using your Drishti in every pose you can!
Comment what you think and what you want from me next!
Namaste x
