In the first article in this series about the Inner Practice of Yoga we discussed ways to help the Yogi get less distracted and more focused on the practice.
In this article, we will dive deeper into the Inner aspect of Hatha Yoga. We will explain the use of a focus point to achieve stillness of the mind, and some of the benefits you will gain from this upgrade to your practice.
How to Focus Inward While Practicing Hatha Yoga? Practice Drishti!
Some of you are already familiar with the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali (we quote his definition of Yoga in this article). In his book, Patanjali gives us a practice of Dhāraṇā – the constant concentration of the mind on a single object. This is achieved by Drishti – the practice of focus.
The idea is to start collecting our focus, slowly mastering it, by being constantly aware of our focus object. It could be a part of the body, such as the thumb or the tip of the nose. In some practices, it could be a mantra or a burning flame (like in Trataka Meditation). A drishti can also be set on the breath itself, as often is the case in Hatha Yoga.
Thus, to maintain our inner growth in Yoga, we should try our best to keep a focus point throughout the practice. One of the most effective ways to keep our focus is by practicing Ujai Breath. This breath perfectly aligns with the practice of Asana Yoga and is bound to improve our practice in countless ways.
Why Should I Focus? The Benefits of Yoga Inner Practice:
When we manage to collect our attention inward during Asana Practice, we get many benefits:
A quiet and peaceful mind – thoughts cease to harass our mind almost immediately
Emotional relief – old stagnated feelings may finish their movement and leave us at peace
Deep connection with the body – discovering our borders, strength and flexibility
A wider perspective of reality – we begin observing the mind and not identifying with it
No injuries – while being present in the Asana, we don’t take our body over its limits
Nourishing self-trust – when we listen to the body and work with it, we develop inner trust
The above list is a short one of course, but it reflects many of the immediate benefits students in Yoga Hub Berlin experience. These are also signs you are getting connected, entering a state of Yoga.
If you want to practice Yoga in Berlin, join us in one of our studios! You can see the schedules here:
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