Understand
What Is Drishti (Gaze) in Yoga?
Drishti is a focused gaze — a fixed point where you softly rest your eyes during a pose or meditation. Steadying the gaze steadies the mind and improves balance
Drishti is a focused gaze — a fixed point where you softly rest your eyes during a pose or meditation. Steadying the gaze steadies the mind and improves balance and concentration. Each pose has a traditional drishti (like the thumb, the nose or the horizon), giving attention somewhere to settle.
'Drishti' means view or gaze. Where the eyes go, the attention tends to follow — so resting the gaze on a single point quiets mental wandering and helps you hold a pose with more steadiness.
In balancing poses a fixed gaze is the difference between wobbling and staying put. In seated practice, a soft inward or lowered gaze supports meditation.
Frequently asked questions
- Where should I look in balancing poses?
- Fix your gaze on a still point at eye level or on the floor ahead — a steady gaze steadies the balance.
- Is drishti the same as meditation?
- It's a tool that supports meditation and focus by giving the eyes and attention a single resting point.
Related reading
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- How Do You Improve Balance in Yoga?You improve balance in yoga by practising regularly, fixing your gaze on a still point (drishti), engaging the core, and…