Watch as the golfer focuses on his putt.
Watch as the golfer is about to putt for a birdie on the 18th hole. If he sinks this putt he will win the tournament. Does he look around at all of the people watching? Is he distracted or is he focused on what he is doing?
You can develop the same focus with your yoga practice.
There are three factors that help you to develop the same kind of focus that a golfer has.
These three factors are:
- Your Gaze
- Your Breath
- Your Edge
I will be using Paschimottanasana as an example of how to develop your focus.
Start seated on the floor with your legs together and straight out in front of you. From here you exhale and move the tops of your hips forward, bring your torso forward and reach your hands forward towards your toes.
Paschimottanasana a forward fold.
Now let’s look at each of the three factors above as we do Paschimottanasana. First we look at the gaze.
1. Your Gaze
Each pose has a unique focal point. In Paschimottanasana the focus is on the big toes.
When you focus your gaze you focus your mind. It is more difficult for your mind to wonder when you are focusing your gaze on a particular point
Focus your attention on a particular point to get the maximum benefit from your yoga pose. Next you check out your breath.
2. Your Breath
Each pose is done to the breath. A certain part is done on the inhale and the next part is done to the exhale.
In Paschimottanasana you exhale as you fold forward into the pose. You hold the pose for 5 full breaths and then you inhale and lift up out of the pose.
While you are holding in Paschimottanasana for 5 breaths you observe the quality of the breath. If the breath is flowing freely and fully then you are performing the pose correctly.
Focus your attention on your breath to get the maximum benefit from your yoga pose.
Now that you have fixed your gaze to a particular point and you are monitoring your breath it is time to check out the state of your muscles.
3. Your Edge
Observe the stretching sensations from your muscles. The stretching in Paschimottanasana is in the hamstrings and in the lower back. The stretch should be comfortable but challenging.
Your edge is that comfortable but challenging place where your stretching muscles are being challenged, but they are not in danger of being injured.
When you find the edge you need to stay at that point, not going beyond or falling back from it.
Focus your attention on your edge to get the maximum benefit from your yoga pose.
Summary
During a yoga pose such as Paschimottanasana you focus your mind in three ways by using your gaze, your breath and your edge. These 3 factors will completely absorb your mind and you will find that you are completely focused on your yoga pose.
Just like the golfer focusing on their putt, you will find that your mind is completely focused on the yoga pose and not one stray thought will disturb you.
Next Steps
Ask your teacher to check out your focus the next time you do Pashimottanasana or any other pose.
