December Theme - DHARANA

The 6th of the 8 limbed system of yoga brings us deeper into inner territory.

Once you’ve entered the inner self with Pratyahara, Dharana or concentration, urges us to fine tune our awareness to a singular point, a place where the mind can sit for the 7th limb, Meditation. Breath awareness, Japas (repeating short mantras), holding a mental image of something/someone transcendent, etc. are common tools to keep the wild mind under control for Dharana. Even during a short yoga session at our studio, you may hear our teachers instruct you to “turn your awareness inward (pratyahara) and focus on the flow of your breath (dharana)” to prep for a moment of stillness before starting an asana practice.

Meditation is practiced around the globe now, with science backing its general mental health benefits. But the truth is, most of us are really practicing Dharana or trying to get to Dharana. Over the years, I’ve heard many people say: “I can’t meditate; my mind is all over the place.” This is a significant universal truth about the nature of the mind, and brings us to why the sages practiced yoga — “Yogash Chitta Vritti Nirodha,” or Yoga is the cessation of the fluctuations of the mind (Patanjali’s Yoga Sutra 1.2)

Meditation is challenging. That’s why having Dharana as a step just before it, with tools to pierce through the wild haze of images, thoughts and feelings, is helpful before we can finally abandon those tools altogether to find inner peace. But until then, knowing what you’re working with and employing the right tools are crucial. I’ve heard some teachers say, “You can focus on your ( enter: beloved cat, dog, etc )!” And, if that truly helps you with Dharana, I say, go for it!