Downward Facing Blog

Higher yoga and greater success is based on superior concentration.

The yogic practice of trataka is one way to develop it

Years ago I was taught that concentration is really the basis of all success, or as my Nepali teacher, Dr. Yogi Vikashanand would say; “all successful people do what they say they are going to do”.

Concentration isn’t a special skill, or a holy skill. While it is the fundamental basis of meditation and Samadhi, it’s just as necessary for any action done well; even if it’s immoral. It’s just a muscle, one that can be weak or strong. Ayurveda holds that people of the fire constitution (pitta) are particularly good at focusing, often too much so. Because concentration produces a kind of heat in the mind, fire types may create excessive “pitta” inside themselves, making for an intolerant and overly critical personality. That being said, for most of us, for the ends of being successful and self-actualized more concentration skill is needed.

Additionally there is an implication in the realm of goal setting and visualization then: because the more you focus on the thing(s) you want, the quicker you realize or attain it. In yoga language; “when chitta moves, prana moves” which means, “wherever the mind moves to, energy flows to” So we can focus on our goals and get them done faster, or even focus our minds upon an area of the body and our bodies energy will rush to that spot and aid in it’s healing.

Yoga provides great mechanisms for developing our skill in concentration, and becoming conscious of what already holds our concentration now, and why.

Yesterday I taught a focus yoga class (a two-hour specialized yoga class with themes taught by various yoga elements teachers every saturday and sunday at 13:30) about concentration (dharana). We began with one of the traditional 6 purification exercises (shatkarmakriyas) called trataka. I set up six oil lamps atop of stacked up yoga blocks and pulled the curtains shut. We began seated around the blocks staring into the candles without blinking for as long as possible until the tears roll down the face. When you can no longer stand it, close the eyes and attempt to maintain the image of the flame steady in the third eye region. Once you are no longer able to create image of the flame, you once again open the eyes and stare into the flame until you must close your eyes. This is repeated again and again for upwards of 20-30 minutes.

It’s fantastic actually, it really centers the mind. In yogic terminology, the flame stimulates the mind flame to rise (mental agni) which burns up past impressions (samskara). It is said to also help the 6^th chakra of intuition to awaken, which is considered to be desirable. It also is said to increase your influence upon other people.

I love teaching all the esoteric things with yoga. Mostly I see the other studios teaching yoga strictly as physical conditioning. Somewhere recently I detached from teaching what I anticipate the masses want and now focus on teaching what it is I personally use and find helpful. It’s totally liberating and I feel congruent. After all, I left corporate life to follow my passion… so here it is. That means more mantra, pranayama, and esoteric techniques in my classes. That’s what I think elements is recognized for anyways, material that other studios or gyms can’t or don’t know how to teach. OM NAMAH SHIVAYA! Mucho love beams, Adrian Cox