Dharana
Dharana
means withdrawing your mind from outside objects and fixing it on an idea
or image. In concentration all the rays of mind are collected and fixed on
a center or an idea. No painter, sculptor, musician, sportsman, or student
can hope to succeed if his mind is not engaged in the task on hand. So, in
yoga also, concentration or Dharana is essential.
Kids
Version: Dharana means teaching mind to focus on one point. Concentration
is binding thought in one place, that means you concentrate on whatever
you are doing, be it homework, playing sport, praying to God etc. With
Asana, you relax your body; with Pranayama, you regulate your breath and
quite mind; with Pratyahara, you avoid distractions; and with Dharana, you
get higher degree of concentration.
For
example, if you are trying to solve a problem, you could still your mind
by gently pushing away other thoughts that are coming to your mind. And
you know that mind is concentrating when there is no sense of time
passing.