To receive the benefits of an asana, we need to be present. The moment the mind drifts away, we disconnect from the pose. That’s why it helps to give it an anchor, a specific inner focus.
Some possible anchors
- Physical structure: scan the body to check each part is well placed and doing its job.
- Gravity: feel the points touching the floor, press into it, root down and grow up from there.
- Sthira sukha: notice which parts need to be active and which can relax.
- Breath: when the breath is steady, the mind settles. If it catches, that’s a signal to ease off.
- Drishti: the point where the gaze rests. A steady, soft gaze stabilises mind and balance.
- Stillness: when we find stillness, the pose does its full work.
- A mantra: repeating it silently helps prevent distraction.
- Silence: from stillness, inner silence arises, where everything integrates.
You don’t need to do everything at once. Choose one anchor per practice and notice how your experience of familiar poses changes.
