This week we are exploring the importance of our attention and focus on and off the mat. We explore where we are leaking energy, where we are putting our attention and the impact that can have in our daily lives. Lets see why yoga for focus is so rewarding.
The Philosophy – Yoga for Focus
In yoga philosophy, we use two concepts to explain attnetion and focus: Pratyahara and Dharana. While they sound complex, the idea behind them is simple:
- Pratyahara (The Withdrawal): This is your Sacred Filter. It’s the ability to pull your energy back from things that drain you—like doom-scrolling, comparison, or unnecessary noise.
- Dharana (The Focus): Once you’ve pulled your energy back, you aim it at one single thing that nourishes you.
Think of your attention like a flashlight. If the beam is wide and shaky, it’s hard to see the path. But if you steady your hand and narrow the beam, it becomes a laser that can cut through the darkest fog. Power without focus is just a wildfire; power with focus is a tool.
The Physical Practice: Hips & Repetition
This week, our physical focus moves into the hips. Why the hips? Because they are the “junk drawer” of the body. We store a lot of old tension and emotional “noise” there. When we hold deep hip openers like Pigeon Pose or Lizard Lunges, our mind naturally wants to escape the discomfort.
We will also use repetition. By doing the same sequence multiple times, we move past the “novelty” and into a moving meditation. When the body knows what’s coming next, the mind can finally turn inward.
We will also be exploring Drishti – a soft gaze. We can practise this by:
- Picking one unmoving spot on the floor or wall.
2.Rest your gaze there with soft eyee’ – don’t stare intensely, just let your vision rest.
3. When a thought or a distraction pops up, notice it, but don’t follow it. Just return to your spot.
Weekly Reflections
The Morning No-Input Window
Before you check your phone, news, or email, give yourself 15 minutes of no-input. This is your Sacred Filter in action. By not letting the world’s noise in first thing, you decide what your internal weather looks like before someone else does.
The Single-Task Challenge
Pick one routine activity today, like washing the dishes, walking to your car, or drinking your coffee and do it without multitasking. No podcasts, no scrolling, no planning the next task. Use your Focused Gaze to stay entirely with the sensations of that one moment.
Energy Leak Audit
At the end of the day, identify one thing that leaked your energy (e.g a stressful social media thread, a cluttered workspace, or a circular thought). Tomorrow, consciously choose to withdraw your gaze from that one thing and redirect it toward a book, a breath, or a person that nourishes you.
Why This Matters Off the Mat
This isn’t just about balancing on one leg. It’s about being the gatekeeper of your own peace. When you practice The Focused Gaze on the mat, you’re training yourself to stay steady when life gets loud. You’re learning that you don’t have to react to every ping on your phone or every stray thought in your head.
You have the power to choose what you feed – Let’s make it something that helps you grow and leads to more peace and joy. Hope to see you on the mat…
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