Healthy happy you.
Your drishti, quite simply put, is your gaze, or where you look. When you focus your eyes on a fixed, non-moving, single point, your attention naturally follows, making it easier to concentrate (during meditation) or balance (during yoga). Your drishti will help you block out distraction, so you can draw your awareness inward. When using your drishti, don't squint or strain your eyes - the Read more
Just as you can build your upper body strength in order to hold Forearm Stand, or increase your flexibility so you can do Wheel Pose, you can also improve your balance in order to master poses like Tree. The best way to feel confident is to practice poses that challenge your sense of balance: here's a yoga sequence that involves mostly one-legged standing poses. Bonus — this yoga sequence will Read more
Yoga is supposed to be all about serenity and bliss, but there's no way you'll feel relaxed and at peace with the world if you're making these major no-nos on the mat. Not connecting breath with movements: For every movement in your yoga practice, there is a breath pattern that goes along with it. For example, to start a Sun Salutation, you inhale to raise your arms up, and exhale to fold Read more
We rely on our eyes so much when we exercise that if you take your sight away briefly, it forces your body to tap into its senses of hearing and touch, which can help you become more aware of your body and how it's moving. Doing certain exercises with your eyes closed is also more difficult when it comes to balance, not to mention a little scary, so it can bring new life to boring exercises Read more
Summertime heat means practicing yoga in an extremely hot and humid room that can make breathing unbearable — especially when the guy next to you forgot his deodorant. Who can focus on their drishti when sweat is pooling in their eyes? If you're not used to practicing in super high temps, you'll need to take some precautions to get through the 60- to 90-minute class without passing out. First, Read more
When you're new to yoga, balancing poses offer an excellent challenge. On your first attempt you may end up falling over, but once you learn to focus your drishti (your gaze), you'll be able to balance on one leg for a long, long time – or at least five breaths. The Dancer pose stretches your shoulders and chest, increases flexibility in your hips and spine, and is also an amazing hamstring Read more
