The 9 Drishtis

The 9 Drishtis.
http://www.elephantjournal.com/2013/05/the-9-drishtis/
Via Yoga Comicson May 5, 2013
D s i means gazing poin. Thee ae nine d s is in he sana pacice. If

he d s i indicaed fo he sana is oo difficul, one may always eve o
nsga d s i. Wih ime and pacice, he pope d s i fo each posue
will be possible. D s i impoves concenaion and bings abou a
ealizaion of oneness duing he pacice. Wih he gaze focused in one
place duing ou pacice, we can be moe pesen in he posues. This
focus and awaeness can cay ove ino ou daily life.
~ Shaah Jois
By pacicing hese dishi (d s i) poins he mind no longe looks aound,

obseving o judging, bu insead becomes focused and sof. In he vinyasa
sysem, dishi is one of he vial componens o daw pana inwads. Pana
follows awaeness. If ou awaeness is scaeed hen ou pana will mio
hose same qualiies and i will be eviden in ou behavio and life choices
on and off he ma.
~ Magnolia Zuniga
The nine Dishis:
1 Tip of he nose Nasaga Dishi
2 Up o space Udva Dishi
3 Thid Eye Bumadya Dishi
4 Tip of he middle finge Hasaga Dishi
5 Tip of he humb Angusha Dishi
6 Righ Side Pashva Dishi
7 Lef Side Pashva Dishi
8 Navel Nabi Dishi
9 Tip of he big oe Padaga Dishi
Guuji: Yoga is an internal practice, the rest is just a circus.

***
Cedis, Refeences, Noes:
Please consul you eache egading coec dishi. Fo ease in eading fo non-Sanski
speakes, we have chosen o spell sanski wods phoneically ahe han using diaciic
maks.
R. Shaah Jois, AST
GA YOGA ANUST HNA.
Magnolia Zuniga hp://on.fb.me/17EBEyF
The Yoga Comics
Awesome Edio: Jessica Walden and Elise Espa(Albuqueque Ashanga Yoga Shala
Caoon guy: Boonchu Tani , Ashanga Illusaions by Boonchu
http://www.elephantjournal.com/elephant-yoga/
THOUGHTS ON DRISHTI
By Inna Costantini
http://blog.yoga.in/tag/ashtanga-yoga/
Inna has been practising yoga for over a

decade and teaching since 2008. With a background in media, anthropology and
a stint in PR, she experimented with a variety of yoga paths, before deciding to
trade her desk for a yoga mat, and embark on an intensive yoga training course
in India. Inna is fascinated by yoga in all its forms, its effects, and the intricate
links between physical and mental well-being. As a teacher, she loves seeing the
changes in people, being a witness, an observer and sometimes a guide, and
inspiring students and friends to practice, evolve and grow stronger on so many
levels. Inna is also a freelance writer and loves sharing her passion for yoga,
travel and the environment both off the mat and across the globe.
In the practice of yoga, drishti is a technique, broadly speaking, of focusing attention, using
the eyes to gaze steadily at one point, thus increasing concentration, quietening thoughts
and ultimately calming the mind.
On an average day we spend so much time looking there is a constant stimulus of the
senses and nerve connections, which can be both a source of energy and fatigue. The
nervous system can become tired and saturated, and this is especially true when we are
bombarded with information, data, lights, people and screens essentially anything that
comes our way on a daily basis in modern society.
Drishti in the context of ashtanga yoga

The ashtanga system is based on a progressive sequence of postures (asana),
synchronised with the breath, bandhas (energy locks) and drishti. The union of these
three places of attention is trishthana: performed in conjunction with each other they form a
powerful practice that increases energy, purifying the body, mind and nervous system.
Asanas are there to purify, strengthen and give flexibility to the body. The breath connects
postures to each other through steady, even inhalations and exhalations: this creates heat
and further purifies the nervous system. Drishti is the point of gaze in the asana.
There are nine drishtis (see below): the nose, the space between the eyebrows, the navel,
the thumb, the hands, the feet, up, right and left. This practice calms the mind and
generates a sense of focus and stability.
According to Sharath Jois of the Ashtanga Yoga

Research Institute (the grandson of its founder, late Shri K Pattabhi Jois), the drishtis or
focal points are there to develop concentration in ones practice: Gazing will help you in
many ways also inpranayama (breath control) it will help you focus and
in dhyana (meditation) it is very important to focus the attention in one place. (Souce:
Shala conference, 26/01/2014) In fact, Mark Darby, a certified teacher and student of late
Shri K Pattabhi Jois, notes: If drishti cannot be done inasana it will also not be possible
in pranayama and meditation.
Usually, when teachers speak of drishti, they refer to it as a technique to keep the gaze
steady and the mind focused. The different gazing points are used as tools to keep one
anchored in the present moment, along with the practice of bandhas andujjayi breath. But
by looking deeper, one may uncover other layers of meaning.
Reasons to practice drishti:
To maintain focus and concentration both on and off the mat.
To guide the directionality of the pose the gaze often relates to a line
of energy in the asana, and makes the practice fluid. Directionality lies both
in the alignment of muscular strength, as well as in the intention of the
mind.
To create awareness staying still, steady and connected to the

moment.
To have an internal gaze: its not so much about where one looks, but on
more subtle levels about looking inwards, so that ones concentration will
not be troubled by outside influences. This is very important in asana as
well aspranayama and meditation.
To create a meditative state and deepen the connection to different

parts of the brain: different drishtis may affect different parts of the brain.
and some precautions
Seek to understand the true meaning of drishti. Beyond the simple

gaze, there is a way of seeing. It is more about how we are seeing: the
visual part of the brain is at the back of the head, so one point is to
encourage a feeling that we are actually seeing from that place.
Switch on dont switch of. Once in the asana, it can be so easy

especially if youre proficient in that pose to simply hang out in a shape,
whilst blankly looking at a steady point. This is switching off. The whole
point of an asana practice is to tune in and practice fine-tuning those
elements that need refining. Whether it is a muscular engagement (or disengagement), breath awareness, or making space for the body to be at
ease, there are always ways to stay present and active in the asana.
Failing that, we are just making shapes and looking at our toenails.
Alignment look with the eyes not the head and neck. Awareness
comes into play once again. As much as we seek to understand the
directionality of a pose, and look steadily at a point, can we maintain a
sense of openness and space? The eyes may focus, but the neck should
remain free and the shoulders broad, hopefully creating space rather that
tightness. [1]
Relax the eyes. Looking cross-eyed or zombie-eyed is not, as far as I

understand, drishti. Quiet eyes is a perfect description of a manner to
practicedrishti.
Go beyond the gaze. Do not assume you have achieved a pose just by
looking in that direction drishti could be a gateway to a deeper
connection with the self. A practice, perhaps of pratyahara (withdrawal of
the senses). While we gaze at the tip of nose (nasagra drishti) we are not
simply looking at a place, but we are perhaps using the eyes as a window
into our soul
Interestingly however, some have offered other views on the concept of drishti. Manju Jois
(Shri K Pattabhi Joiss son) highlighted that ashtanga yoga was originally taught to young
children, and the gazing points were given to stop them from looking around the room. For
instance, in adho mukha svanasana (downward dog), they would be instructed to look at
their navel as a way to keep them focused.
Besides, it is important to note that specific drishtis in asana have altered slightly over
time. For instance, in the current system of ashtanga yoga, the gazing point
for pachimottanasana (forward bend) is the toes, but Krishnamacharya (in the Yoga
Makaranda) said it was the tip of the nose, while the late Shri K Pattabhi Jois is said to have
added the following direction: Face down, look at nose centre.
So as much as drishtis are there to help us focus and bring us deeper within the practice,
one must be able to understand the effects of the eyes on overall posture and alignment. A
simple shift of the gaze may be so much more than just mere looking.
The 9 drishtis of the ashtanga yoga system

Urdhva Drishti looking up.
Brumadhya Drishti third eye
Nasagra Drishti tip of nose
Parsva Drishti right side
Parsva Drishti left side
Nabhi Drishti navel
Hastagra Drishti tip of middle finger
Angusta Drishti tip of thumb
Padagra Drishti tip of big toe

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The 9 Drishtis.

Via Yoga Comicson May 5, 2013

D s i means gazing poin. Thee ae nine d s is in he sana pacice. If

By pacicing hese dishi (d s i) poins he mind no longe looks aound,

The nine Dishis:

1 Tip of he nose Nasaga Dishi

2 Up o space Udva Dishi

3 Thid Eye Bumadya Dishi

4 Tip of he middle finge Hasaga Dishi

5 Tip of he humb Angusha Dishi

6 Righ Side Pashva Dishi

7 Lef Side Pashva Dishi

8 Navel Nabi Dishi

9 Tip of he big oe Padaga Dishi

Guuji: Yoga is an internal practice, the rest is just a circus.

Inna has been practising yoga for over a

Drishti in the context of ashtanga yoga

According to Sharath Jois of the Ashtanga Yoga

Reasons to practice drishti:

To maintain focus and concentration both on and off the mat.

To create awareness staying still, steady and connected to the

To create a meditative state and deepen the connection to different

and some precautions

Seek to understand the true meaning of drishti. Beyond the simple

Switch on dont switch of. Once in the asana, it can be so easy

Relax the eyes. Looking cross-eyed or zombie-eyed is not, as far as I

The 9 drishtis of the ashtanga yoga system

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