We’ve all been there: multitasking, endless to-do lists, and a lot of work coming in from different. These outside distractions drastically alter our ability to concentrate. With the new-age technologically driven world, mobile phones, laptops, social media, and TV tend to absorb our attention and distract us from being fully present.
We are constantly bombarded by stimuli making concentrating an impossible task. Yet being mindful is key to living in the present moment, don't you think? Presence is key to concentration and staying focused.
Yoga can help. Bringing our awareness to the present moment and focusing our attention on our breath, movement, and challenging poses, in turn, improve our concentration.
Balancing postures in particular are a great way to improve concentration. They force us on being fully present at the moment and at the task at hand. With so many factors that could physically and metaphorically make us fall during balances, we are forced to become present, concentrate, and focus on these points to maintain our balance.
1. Tree Pose (Vrksasana)
The quintessential yoga balance, and a posture in which you’re standing on one leg, Tree Pose really requires attention and concentration to stabilize.
Find Mountain Pose with your feet either touching or hip-distance apart
Find your sight by focusing your gaze on one still point on the floor
Either draw your hands to your hips or bring your palms to meet at the heart center
As you inhale, lift your right foot off the floor
As you exhale, externally rotate your hip so that your knee and your toes are pointing outward
As you inhale, draw your foot to press into your inner left thigh (always be sure to avoid the knee joint)
Reach your hands skyward
Modify or intensify as you like, hold for five deep breaths, and then switch to the opposite leg
© freedomgenesis.com
2. Warrior pose (Virabhadrasana)
This flying warrior pose requires focus and concentration as you stabilize your body on one leg and draw your torso parallel to the floor. Just like your gaze, if your thoughts start to wander, you may lose your balance. Find a mental and visual gaze (a focus point to set your gaze/thoughts on).
Start in Mountain Pose with your feet either touching or hip-distance apart
Find your sight by focusing your gaze on one still point on the floor
Either draw your hands to your hips or bring your palms to meet at the heart center
Lift your right knee hip level, engage your core, and begin to kick the right foot out behind you as you hinge your torso forward
Find your final expression by extending your arms out in front of you
Modify or intensify as you like, hold for five deep breaths, and then switch sides
© Photo by Awaken LIVE on Unsplash
3. Extended Hand-to-Big Toe Pose (Utthita Hasta Padangusthasana)
As if balancing on one leg isn’t hard enough, this posture kicks it up a notch requiring strength, flexibility, and a big dose of concentration.
Find Mountain Pose with your feet either touching or hip-distance apart
Find your sight by focusing your gaze on one still point on the floor
Bring your hands to your hips.
Lift your right leg hip level and grab your right big toe with your peace sign fingers
Begin to straighten your right leg forward away from your body, maintaining a tall spine and engaged core
Modify or intensify as you like, hold for five deep breaths, and then switch sides.
© theyogacollective.com
Finding balance in our yoga practice symbolically helps us find balance in our everyday lives. When we struggle to focus and concentrate on the yoga mat, that can be equated to us being unable to focus and concentrate off the mat as well. So next time you are struggling to focus, you must try these yoga poses to be present in the moment.
© Photo by Unsplash
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