This week in my yoga classes we focused on the 6th limb of yoga which is Dharana, single pointed focus or concentration on an object. As we come closer to the end of our study of the eight limbed path of yoga, my hope is that readers and students realize that there is so much more to yoga than just the poses we do in our hour long class. The focus is on how we live in the world, interact with others and how we take care of ourselves. Often we get stuck on the asana, while the movement itself is a tool to help us step into the meditation.
We use the breath or pranayama to steady ourselves and tune in and the last three limbs focus on moving toward a deeper meditation practice.
After we have withdrawn from the senses, next we focus the mind on a point of focus to go inward. Whether we focus on an object, a candle, the breath coming in through our nostrils or our hands resting in our lap, all these techniques help to bring the awareness inward. Which will help with the next limb, to fully embody that focus (but I won’t jump ahead).
Finding time to focus on your breath and tune in to single point of focus can happen at any time of the day, not just in your yoga practice or in your regular meditation practice. When it feels safe you can close your eyes and notice your breath coming in through your nose. That can be your Dharana practice. When you are sitting waiting for an appointment, you can put both feet on the ground and your hands on your lap and just notice your feet on the earth and hands on your legs. Just noticing and tuning in, these are all ways to center and bring awareness to your body, breath and your nervous system and can often help calm or soothe an active or anxious mind.
These tools might be helpful in this busy holiday season or anytime you just need to check in with yourself.
Check back next week as we get closer to the end of our study of the eight limbs and follow along or subscribe to find out what topic we will be diving into next year.
KathyGorohoff.com 