ashta = eight · anga = limbsAshtanga}
BY SHERRIANN MELWANI
MODEL : SHERRIANN MELWANI; ART DIRECTION : ANUJA BAGADE, PHOTO CREDIT : ESTHER TAYASHTANGA
practice well
DHARANA
The Sixth Limb of Ashtanga
“Dharana is the binding of the mind to
one place, object or idea.”Yoga Sutras 3:1Have you ever been in such deep concentration that
you lose track of time? I recently started attending
a jewellery school, and when I am practicing a new
technique, my attention is so focused on the project
that I find hours have passed by and I have forgotten
lunch. In some ways, such intense concentration
provides a “break” from vrittis, the mental
disturbances.Dharana is the practice of focusing the mind
towards ekagrata, or one-pointed focus. Dharana
leads the mind to rest and serves as a prelude
towards meditation.Pratyahara is the withdrawal of energy from
the senses. When we realize we are beyond the
senses, we feel empowered and in control of our
life experiences. Dharana builds upon Pratyahara
as we work more specifically with the mind. The
ability to direct and focus the mind on one point
for a period of time leads us to a meditative state of
concentration, or Dhyana—and then bliss, Samadhi,
follows. december 2017 / january 2018
yogajournal.com.sg