Drishti
A drishti is a point towards which the gaze should be directed during the practice of an
asana. For every asana, this point is as well-defined as the breathing rhythm.
There are several reasons for this:
- The most important one is to support concentration. A wandering gaze distracts
from the exercise and diminishes it, physically as well as mentally.
- A drishti may help you remind yourself of something very important, e. g. by
directing the gaze toward the navel during a forward bend and thus reminding
yourself to hold the bandhas.
- Keeping drishti is an eye exercise.
- Another reason can be to support the asana, e. g. by directing the gaze to the toes
during a forward bend and thus supporting the stretching of the upper back.
There are nine drishtis in total:
Ajna chakra or broomadhya - Between the Eyebrows
Angustha ma dyai - Thumbs
Hastagrai - Hand
Nabi chakra - Navel
Nasagrai - Tip of the Nose
Padhayoragrai - Toes
Parsva drishti - Far to the Right
Parsva drishti - Far to the Left
Urdhva drishti - Up to the Sky
Usually, the drishti is in the direction of the stretch.