What is Dharana?
- Michelle Rae Sobi
- Dec 11, 2025
- 2 min read
Concentration awaits you.
Dharana
(Lesson — Edge Yoga School Educational Library)
🌿 What Is Dharana?
Dharana translates to concentration. It is the practice of anchoring the mind to one single point of focus so completely that all other thoughts begin to fall away. By softening external distractions and gently clearing internal chatter, we create the conditions needed for the mind to rest on one chosen object with steadiness and ease.
Dharana is often described as holding the mind still long enough for meditation to emerge. When concentration becomes continuous, unbroken, and effortless, the practitioner begins to move naturally into Dhyana, the next limb of yoga.
🌸 Dharana in Asana Practice
Many teachers invite students to set an intention at the beginning of class.This intention can act as an anchor, returning the mind to a chosen focus throughout the flow.
Intentions are often a single word or short phrase repeated mentally, such as:
Gratitude
Self-love
Courage
Strength
Happiness
Forgiveness
Positivity
Presence
Contentment
Confidence
This simple repetition is a beautiful example of Dharana in action: the mind returns again and again to the same chosen point.
🌬️ Breath as a Focal Point
Sometimes the most reliable focus is the breath.Following the inhale and exhale with awareness can center the mind more effectively than any complex technique. Likewise, maintaining awareness of a specific posture, gaze point (drishti), or subtle sensation can also become a form of Dharana.
🧘♀️ Mastering Awareness
Dharana is ultimately about gaining skill in where your awareness rests.According to resources such as Yoga Journal, Dharana is not about force—it is about gently training the mind to return to the present moment, again and again. Over time, this builds:
Mental clarity
Inner steadiness
Reduced reactivity
Increased presence
A natural bridge into meditation
Dharana trains the mind the same way asana trains the body: through repetition, patience, and compassionate consistency.
📘 Educational Note
This information is for education purposes only and always seek your medical team for physical and emotional support.
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