EIGHT LIMBS OF YOGA - Dharana

DHARANA — The Beginning of Meditation

Dharana is where the journey of meditation truly begins.

Over the past few weeks, we’ve been preparing ourselves for this moment — using asana to refine the body, pranayama to shape and direct our energy (prana), and pratyahara to draw awareness inward. Now, with the outer layers steadied, the mind is ready for concentration.

Dharana means single-pointed focus — collecting all of your awareness and placing it on one object.

This object can be internal (the breath, a chakra, a mantra) or external (a candle flame, a symbol, a point in front of you).

The object itself is not the goal.

The goal is the state that arises when all of your awareness is held in one place.

Inevitably, the mind will wander — this is natural.

The practice is simply to notice when awareness drifts and return, again and again, to the chosen point of focus.

There is no failure here — only returning.

This week we explore Dharana:

• In seated practice, we will hold the mind steady on one chosen object.

• In asana, we add more intentional drishti — linking physical alignment with mental focus.

The invitation is to train the mind to become still, steady, and one-pointed, preparing the ground for the deeper absorption of Dhyana (meditation) and ultimately Samadhi.