So where is your gaze?

One of the best phrases I have ever heard while on the mat “look down, go down” and so maybe it doesn’t apply to everything, but it could. First time I heard this was setting up for crow (bakasana if you will. A quick little tangent, as I understand it, Crow pose is slightly bent elbows, knees drawn towards the armpits and booty lifted… Crane is straight arms, although not locked out elbows and the rest of the body the same as crow. If i have this wrong, I’m open to being corrected). If you’ve ever done crow, you’d know that you have to look forward otherwise you’e bound to be doing somersaults instead of floating. Same thing with tree pose (vrksasana), it may seem like a good idea to look at the floor, but keeping your eyes forward, soft, and letting that drishti (your gaze either sightless/eyes closed or external on your hands or a point in front of you) not be forced or willful, but easy and kind to yourself. Your drishti whether on the mat or off, internal or external, should be soft, taking everything in, and letting it all just come in.

So where is your gaze?

What is it you see?

What are you looking for?

Are you searching with your eyes or using them to willfully hold you in place? Or perhaps you’re scanning the horizon on the look out for a new job, a new adventure, or a new life? So where is your drishti? Do you need to keep your eyes on the floor in half-moon pose to keep balance? Ok, build strength in your leg and use your core to find balance so you can look forward or up…. Do you go from computer, to phone, to television always staring at a glowing rectangle in hopes that something will change? Perhaps you really want to just close your eyes for a little bit. Sit still, breathe, and let the gaze be inside you.

If the eyes are the windows into the soul, then what are you feeding your soul? Is it the beautiful world around you, the trees, the clouds, or the spring flowers? Is it sweet words, your yoga mat, or your loved ones? Is it a glowing box, a book, or a mechanical board?

Your gaze, that soft sweet drishti.. my gaze is staring at you, watching you breathe, move, and find what ever it is you need on the mat… my gaze is looking forward but being present… and my gaze is on the smile in your heart and in mine as we yoga.

what do you see?

xx

Liz