Dharana is the sixth limb of Ashtanga Yoga and marks the beginning of the internal stages of yogic practice. Patanjali defines it simply in Sutra 3.1: desha bandhah chittasya dharana — "Concentration is the binding of the mind to one place." In practical terms, Dharana means choosing a single object—such as the breath, a mantra, or a visual symbol—and continuously returning the attention to it whenever the mind wanders.
Dharana is the sixth limb of Ashtanga Yoga and marks the beginning of the internal stages of yogic practice. Patanjali defines it simply in Sutra 3.1: desha bandhah chittasya dharana — "Concentration is the binding of the mind to one place." In practical terms, Dharana means choosing a single object—such as the breath, a mantra, or a visual symbol—and continuously returning the attention to it whenever the mind wanders.