Dharana: Cultivating Steady Attention

Dharana, the sixth limb of Patanjali’s Eightfold Path, is the practice of concentration—the ability to gently guide and sustain attention without force. Dharana is not about stopping thoughts, but about developing relationship with focus, returning again and again with patience and curiosity.

In this two-hour experiential workshop, participants explore dharana as a skill that supports clarity, emotional steadiness, and resilience in daily life. Through simple focal practices, breath awareness, mantra, and sensory anchors, participants learn how to stabilize attention and reduce mental fragmentation.

This workshop serves as a natural progression from pratyahara, supporting the transition from sensory regulation to intentional focus.

What to Expect

• Overview of Dharana within the Eight Limbs

• Understanding attention vs. effort and strain

• Gentle movement and breath to prepare for stillness

• Guided concentration practices using accessible focal points

• Reflection on distraction, patience, and choice

• Time for integration and rest

Learning Outcomes

Participants will:

• Understand dharana as a compassionate return to focus

• Learn practical tools to stabilize attention

• Recognize patterns of distraction without self-judgment

• Experience focus as supportive rather than effortful

• Build confidence in concentration practices