57: Drishti, the Potency of Our Focus: Research Roundup

Today host Katja speaks with returning guest Diane Malaspina PhD about the concept of Drishti and the potency of our focus. Diane is a yoga teacher with a B.S. in Psychology, a Masters degree in Education, and a PhD in educational and developmental psychology. In this episode, we take a broader perspective on gaze and consider our visual system as a gateway to our nervous system and our environment. Diane also explains why we should regularly spend time staring at a wall.

Listen in to learn how the visual system relates to our autonomic nervous system, how to work actively with our vision to influence our emotional state, and how to incorporate these ideas into your yoga practice. 

“Our visual system is one of the strongest levers that we can use to influence the state of our body and our mind.” – Diane Malaspina PhD

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“Sometimes we don’t see what is right in front of us, but what was in front of us.” – Katja Bartsch

Show Notes:

• Defining Drishti [1:45]
• Why is the visual system important to humans [2:45]
• Sight versus vision [3:54]
• Understanding our pattern recognition system [9:29]
• The relationship between the autonomic and visual systems [18:08]
• How and why to reset our visual system [26:51]
• Ways that eye movement relates to emotional state [36:38]
• Incorporating Drishti into your yoga practice [41:28]
• Cues for teachers incorporating Drishti into their classes [47:31]
• Diane’s takeaways [51:55]
• Understanding interocular pressure [54:48]
• Vision’s relationship to inner vision [58:48]

Links Mentioned:

• Watch this episode on YouTube
• Drishti Resources Doc
• Mental Health & Wellness Yoga Teacher Training
• Connect with Diane Malaspina:

Facebook | Instagram | Diane Malaspina

“The eyes can register events in the environment at a distance to adjust the overall state of alertness in the rest of the brain and the body.” – Diane Malaspina PhD