Yogic Cat Drinking Milk

I am a cat drinking milk.

There is a proverb in malayalam and many south Indian langauges —

“Kannadachu Pal kudikunna Poocha” — A cat who drinks milk by closing its eyes. The meaning of this proverb/saying is that the cat thinks noones sees it drinking milk, while it drinks milk with eyes closed.

I realized I use this strategy while practicing yoga or other movements. My idea of closing my eyes when in a pose was that I am not distracted by anything, and I am experiencing the whole meaning of practice by closing my eyes and internalizing it. While this seems a wrong concept, it got busted in a workshop I attended with John and Martha of ashthanganilayam.org

Johns explained that the gaze for each asana is fixed according to the anatomy, and thus, the benefits are optimal if we do it right. For instance, by default, he made me understand it is on the nose when there is confusion. The idea behind keeping the eyes open in every pose is to be present in the pose yet not get distracted. If we close our eyes instead, the internal thinking process can start, and thus, the full benefits aren’t available to the practitioner.

So, I cannot be the cat while in an asana, as in a life situation, and be present and focused even when I see others going about their practice or other happenings in the surroundings.