Drishti (yoga)

Drishti (IPA: [ d̪r̩ʂʈi ]; Sanskrit: दृष्टि; IAST:dṛṣṭi), or focused gaze, is a means for developing concentrated intention. It relates to the fifth limb of yoga (pratyahara) concerning sense withdrawal, as well as the sixth limb dharana relating to concentration.

Each yoga āsana is associated with a particular dṛṣṭi. There are nine dṛṣṭis (when you count both Pārśva Dṛṣṭi's, left and right sides, as one).:

For Aṅguṣṭhamadhye dṛṣṭi (IPA: [ əɳɡuʂʈʰəməd̪ʰjeː ]; Sanskrit: अङ्गूष्ठमध्ये ; meaning "to the middle of the thumb" the practitioner looks to the thumb.

Examples of asanas which employ Aṅguṣṭhamadhyai as their dṛṣṭi can be found in the Sūrya Namaskāra vinyasas; Ūrdhva Vṛkṣāsana, Utkaṭāsana, and Vīrabhadrāsana I use Aṅguṣṭhamadhye as their dṛṣṭi.

The Bhrūmadhye dṛṣṭi (IPA: [ bʰruːməd̪ʰjeː ]; Sanskrit: भ्रूमध्ये; meaning "to the middle of the eyebrows/brow") has the gaze set at the "third eye", which is right between the eyebrows. In order to do this, the eyes are closed half way. This purportedly stimulates the olfactory and optic nerves, consequently awakening the autonomic and central nervous systems. It sooths the cranial nerves and aids concentration, and helps awaken kundalini. It is advised that caution be taken as prolonged or incorrect practice may cause problems for the eye muscles or nervous system. Initial practice is often done for only minutes at a time, but is gradually increased to up to ten minute intervals.

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Wikipedia