Hey Girls! This week we are going to talk about focusing. Everybody loses their focus at times. When sitting through math class in 7th period, you lose focus. You doodle, or almost fall asleep. When the homework is due and you'd rather be watching TV, you lose focus. But, there is a way to prevent this from happening-yoga can help!
In yoga, creating focus is all about the DRISHTI. The drishti is especially helpful when trying to balance - like in tree pose. The idea is to find a point on the floor and place your mind there and only there. Don't let it wander - only see that point! Balancing in a pose involves the strength of the muscles needed, your proprioception (a big word meaning our ability not to fall over, bang into things, or make klutzes of ourselves) and your focus. All three combine to allow us to stand on one leg, steady and strong. However, keeping the mind focused is the most important part of balancing.
If you are standing on one leg and your mind wanders toward a feeling of doubt, "Oh no, I can't do this!" or thoughts about others, "Look at her..." or "I wish I could....", "I'm not good enough." "I'm too...." You get the idea, right? This is how we talk to ourselves and when this happens during a balance pose, you fall out of the pose!
The same is true off the mat - when you are in math class, doing your homework, or any task at all! When we constantly let our minds wander to thoughts, distractions, and other people, we lose focus on ourselves and on the present moment. Not only that, we discourage ourselves from improving and getting better and stronger! If you are in math class and the teacher is teaching or you are finishing a problem, then that is the present. Stay focused there. If you are completing a homework assignment at the kitchen table before dinner, then that is the present. Keep your focus there. Don't start thinking, "I wish I was done." "I can't wait until 3:30 and school is over." These may be true statements, but bring it back to the present. Don't start thinking, "I can't" or "This is too hard." This, too causes you to lose focus and also creates a negative feeling and you just want to quit. The wrong direction to take your mind!
Practicing balance poses and mindfulness can train your mind to stay focused and positive. Standing still in a pose, focused on the drishti creates a strong mind that you then can control and bring back every time it wanders. Focusing on the present with mindfulness meditation teaches staying in the moment and creating a future through the present. After all, the best way to create a great future is to create a great present!
Here are 2 exercises for your home practice:
Place an item on the floor (maybe a stuffed animal or a picture). Stare at it. Focus on it. Make it the only thing you think about. Then, come into tree pose. Hold. Even though your mind will wander, especially every time you move, keep bringing it back to the item on the floor. You won't get this the very first time or even the second or third. Remember you are training your brain! Gradually, you will see that you get better and better!
Sit somewhere comfortable. Close your eyes and pay attention to your breath. You can breathe through your nose or your mouth. Think only about your breathing. The sound of your breathing, the movement of your body as you breathe, and the temperature of the air as it changes with the inhale and the exhale. Your mind will wander! It always does. But, the exercise is just to bring it back to the breath. Every time you find yourself thinking about school, bring it back to the breath. Every time you find yourself worrying about your math test, bring your mind back to the breath. Every time you think about your annoying sibling, think about the breath! The more you do this, the better the mind gets at staying focused!
For more training and a really fun afternoon, join us at The Chakra House for Yoga4Girls classes! We have classes on February 17th, March 10th, March 17th, April 7th, and April 24th. Classes are from 12:30-2:00. Contact us: www.yoga4girls.com
Be all you can be with Yoga!
Tammy and Carmen
