As a yoga teacher, I’ve always believed in the importance of starting a practice with mindfulness, paying attention to how the body feels, and warming up slowly. So, you can imagine my surprise when, in a recent class, the teacher – a 60+ year-old seasoned practitioner – asked us to start in handstand.
We were in an all-levels class, and I remember looking around at the other students, a mix of beginners and experienced practitioners, all thinking the same thing: Is he crazy?
But sure enough, without any warm-up, he instructed us to get to the wall or the center of the room and get into handstand. There was no time to waste. And while it was intimidating at first, there was something unexpectedly powerful about the experience.
From there, we moved through a sequence of backbends, headstands, and splits – again, with plenty of options and modifications. The teacher kept us challenged the entire time, guiding us through each pose and encouraging us to push our limits while being mindful of our bodies. Despite the intensity, it kept me fully awake and engaged, which made me think deeply about the role of drishti in our practice.
Drishti – the focused gaze – is a tool we often use in yoga to help anchor our attention and enhance our concentration. It brings us back to the present moment, keeps us grounded, and improves our alignment. When we focus our gaze in a particular direction during a pose, we can avoid distractions, stabilize our posture, and deepen our connection to both body and breath.
In that class, drishti became even more essential. It wasn’t just about the physical poses; it was about staying mentally present, especially as we were pushed to try things we may not have been comfortable with. With each new challenge, I found that focusing on drishti gave me a sense of stability, allowing me to be more present and to let go of the discomfort of uncertainty.
Drishti helps guide us through moments of challenge, both on and off the mat. It invites us to stay grounded in the present moment and to direct our attention where it matters most – not just to the pose, but to the mind, the breath, and the experience as a whole. And this is something I bring into my own classes, encouraging students to use drishti as a tool to stay focused and aware.
Even though I still have hesitations about teaching handstands to a group of beginners...just not my style, the experience reminded me of the importance of creating space in our practice to try new things, to be present in moments of discomfort, and to challenge ourselves in ways that keep us connected to the essence of yoga: mindfulness, presence, and self-awareness.
So, the next time you find yourself facing a challenging pose or practice, remember to find your drishti. It may not make the handstand any easier, but it will help you stay present, focused, and grounded – even in the most unexpected moments.
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