I'm a relative newbie (<50 classes) but I've been wanting to step up my practice. I've been trying to include some new ideas into my practice (like forming an intention before I enter the studio, smiling, being grateful for the opportunity to be a part of the challenge in the beast that is locust) but one area I've really been trying to focus on is "moving with the breath." I'm pretty sure I've heard this from a lot of instructors and discounted it but was looking for some pointers.

I started trying this out in water class the other day and was thoroughly enjoying myself--noticing a super awareness of what is going on with my body, increased flexibilty, curbing my instinctive competitive drive, more calm. I was getting the "fuzzy gaze" I think I've heard talked about. But then there are other side effects--like when I didn't notice I was standing too close to the mirror during standing bow, touched the mirror and then proceeded to execute a barrel roll onto the floor. Or several times I'll be nice and in the moment and then find myself going over the song I heard the moment before I stepped into the studio. I've also noticed in Fire classes not hearing the instructor and being left behind in the class, feeling stupid, and then resenting my lack of focus the rest of class.

I sometimes want to close my eyes, but don't know if that's a good thing to do.

Are there some postures that it is not appropriate to go "fuzzy gaze" and instead bring your awareness outside yourself...I find the balance poses to be problematic in this area.

I do understand that the journey isn't a short one and that I have a lot to learn and patience will lead the way...but was looking to see if anyone out there had pointers/comments/similar experiences.

Thank you in advance and namaste.

Hi Shawn,
I had the same issue when I first started yoga. The classes I attended were Vinyasa Flow style classes where each movement is coordinated with the breath (Sunstone's Earth Class is similar) and I found myself either following the sequence of poses OR breathing "correctly." It frustrated me at first, but one of my teachers reminded me that the important thing was that I was breathing, because if I stopped breathing... well everything else would stop too. I kept practicing and now years later I find myself automatically breathing with the movement, and now can concentrate on my body awareness and focus in the pose/class. I think what worked for me was to stop obsessing about "doing it right, right away" and working on doing it right, as much as I could. When I would notice that my breath became erratic or that I was letting my mind drift, I would remind myself that I am working on it and re-focus. Eventually, my body awareness and focus improved.

In regards to closing your eyes. I close my eyes at various times throughout my practice. It helps me to focus inward and feel how my pose is rather than just how it looks. For example in Fire I will line myself up in Half Moon looking at the mirror to make sure my hips and shoulders are square, then I will close my eyes and try to take a memory of the pose. Then for the second set I will try to move into the pose without looking just to challenge myself. I'm still working on it and will occasionally be "off square" when I open my eyes to check, but I'm getting closer in my humble opinion. In Water, since we are in the dark, I close my eyes more often. I work on feeling the pose and examining what I'm feeling in my body during the class rather than what I'm looking at. I will admit that during the balance postures I focus my Drishti (the fuzzy gaze) on the candles to help with my balance, but I'm also challenging myself to balance with my eyes closed and focus inward for balance. Using Drishti to focus concentration helps me when I'm trying to balance, and when I started working on balancing I couldn't balance without it (sometimes depending on the day, I still can't).

My advice is to stick with it, and to try what feels good as long as it fits the format of the class. If you want to close your eyes, try it and see if it works. If it doesn't then you'll know what works for you. I love experimenting with my yoga. I've found what works for me, but I also work to stay open to what works for others. Over the past year or so I've lost a large amount of weight and so I feel like I'm doing yoga with a brand new body. I'm trying new ideas, even if I've tried it before, because I may not have been ready for it at that point, but now may be ready.

I hope this helps to move you along your yoga journey

You can usually count on your body to guide you in moving with breath. A good rule of thumb (which is not a hard and fast rule in any way) is that usually when the body is expanding the lungs are expanding and same with contracting.

A great class for learning to use breath with movement is our Earth class. Notice that even in the beginning breathing exercises as you lift and lengthen (expand) you are inhaling and as you swandive forward (contract) you are exhaling.

As for the monkey mind - it's normal. The mind jumps. Take notice and then let it go by returning your attention to what you are experiencing in your body. Softening the gaze or your "fuzzy gaze" is another way to reduce distraction and bring awareness to the bodily experience.


Hope that helps!

Hello Shawn,

Its nice to read your post and learn about your experiences. The things you highlight here are challenges that I have faced with my practice as well....what to do and when to do it. When thinking about moving with the breath I encourage you to take more Earth classes. In this series the postures are meant to flow together with the inhale and exhale. Also the instructor will highlight when and how to use the breath much more in this series than any other. As I teach the class I continuously remind and reinforce the importance of the breath and linking it with the movements. Take it one day at time, and retain the patience with yourself and most importanly enjoy the journey. Namaste

Thank you for sharing your experience Shawn. I nodded my head while I was reading as I can relate. Yoga is very humbling isn't it? Right when I feel I have had a major breakthough that has unlocked a passageway to a deeper understanding of asana, stillness, and concentration, my mind won't be able to get the theme song for "Night Court" out of my head in Water class and I'm back at the beginning again! Know that we make slow progress, and that it's more circular than anything, like ocean waves. We learn and relearn as we grow in our practice. Each time we return to the same lesson a bit wiser, but always humbled by the things we still have to understand. I have hit many plateaus where it seemed I could not grow my practice anymore for a period of time. Then suddenly, it came : )
Just wanted to let you know we are all traveling on the same road and that I know you will find answers to your questions. Keep seeking!