Pyramid Dyana Maiyam Dhyana is the 7th limb of yoga, building upon asana (physical posture), pranayama (breath control), pratyahara (control of the senses, moving the focus to the inside), and dharana (concentration). The word dhyana comes from the Sanskrit word dhyai, which means "to think of."
Dhyana involves concentration and meditation on a point of focus with the intention of knowing the truth about it. This deeper concentration of the mind is the instrument of self-knowledge where one can separate illusion from reality, and eventually, reach the ultimate goal of yoga: samadhi (bliss, or union with the source).
In dhyana, we focus the mind on a particular object and practice becoming absorbed in it. You can pick any object that feels relevant for you today. It could be a body part, a chakra, a person, or a beautiful flower you can focus on. Then, prepare for the physical part of meditation, which is the solid foundation. When you start, ideally you have just done some asana practice so that your body feels comfortable to be completely still for a while.
Meditation has benefits for both the body and the mind. It will release stress from the body, your mind will feel calmer, and you will feel more at ease in your life. We can find more peace of mind in our daily business by acknowledging the space between external events and our reaction to them. As we listen to ourselves more and sit in silence, we become more aware of who we actually are. And this, of course, is a wonderful and beautiful goal.
