In yoga-asana and in South Indian meditation techniques, there is a term; “Drishti”…it means, “steady gazing.” Having and holding a steady gaze while performing postures is an ancient mental training tool. Drishti can be internal (such as closing one’s physical eyes and fixing an inner gaze upon the ‘third eye,’ the spot between the eyebrows) or external. When performing snowshoe hill repeats through the deep snow, I lock my gaze like a wolf upon some object uphill, such as the dead limb of a cedar tree pictured above. Then, I’ll often visualize the object as a Buddha or one of my Spiritual Teachers…then, I allow that object to help ‘pull me up the hill’. Each breath is linked with a syllable of my Sacred Mantra to further focus my mind and keep my chattering ego quiet as fatigue increases. Physical training is a misnomer in the sense that the body always follows the mind. So for me, and how I teach my work of Wholistic Fitness®? That’s right…what others see as ‘physical fitness’ training, we see as yet another opportunity to train the mind.
pic by ilg during Snowshoe Hill Repeats at Ski Hesperus last month
These teachings are the "Rasas" or "sap" of Wholistic Fitness. You’ll find insights to ponder, student chi to keep your own chi topped off, and plenty of proven training techniques to test on your own body, mind, and spirit! Also, you’ll find my very popular Race Reports, and news of our Sangha’s (community’s) latest transpersonal fitness adventures!
I must say I’ve never (consciously) used drishti during athletic activities, although maybe when I’m ‘in the zone’ my gaze is definitely somewhere inward. I look forward to trying it out. I’ve got my eye on a hill to start running up!
Hmmm, this was playing though my mind during this morning’s practice and run afterwards.
Doing ashtanga next to all the running machines in the rec. centre certainly gives a good opportunity to practice focus, and part of my mind was mulling over the question of drishti.
It seems I was fooling myself, as having done so much asana where drishti is integral, I find that it now comes as second nature to me, like the bandhas.
However, when I’m off the mat following athletic pursuits my drishti turns naturally inwards. I’d never even really been aware, or thought of turning it outwards, so thanks for giving me another experience to practice and savour :o)
Most Precious Yogi J-M E!
thou art welcome!
ec