Samyama meditation

Transforming Your Yoga Practice Through Samyama

Published on June 29, 2021

Getting focused is a concept for which I have great respect, in part, because of how challenging it can be. Though holding a specific focus during my yoga practice does not come easily to me, the yogic concept known as samyama can be profoundly transformational, taking my asana or meditation session to new heights. This practice combines concentration, meditation, and surrender to achieve an expanded and deeper state of awareness. As one’s samyama practice progresses, one can achieve a state of profound stillness in the mind, which is the goal of all yogic practice.

What does Samyama mean?

The word “samyama” is comprised of two parts: sam, meaning “together, binding, or integration” and yama, meaning “discipline.” It is the combination and integration of the three most advanced yogic practices of concentration, meditation, and absorption or loss of self-awareness. This practice cultivates the discrimination and introspection to uncover our true or higher Self. Swami Sivananda defines samyama as “perfect control of the mind.”

The spiritual effects of samyama

The Sutras describe various siddhis, or “spiritual powers” a yogi can attain through the practice of samyama. While most of these, like levitation and teleportation, sound implausible, Patanjali’s intent is to warn that any spiritual effects of this practice can be a dangerous distraction. The main benefits of samyama is giving the awareness and insight to remove the five kleshas—the negative mental patterns that obscure our true nature. It also purifies the mind to develop prajna—understanding, listening and contemplation. Mastery of samyama and attainment of its benefits is developed gradually, through years and years of dedicated yoga practice.

Yoga Sutras

In the Yoga Sutras, samyama doesn’t appear until the third chapter, where Patanjali explains samyama as occurring when the last three of yoga’s eight limbs are practiced simultaneously. These limbs are dharana (concentration), dhyana (meditation), and samadhi (allowing one’s concept of “self” to be dissolved).

Yoga Sutra 3.4: trayam ekatra samyama
Translation: The three (dharana, dhyan and samadhi) used together on the same object or point  is called samyama.

I admit that until recently, book three of the Sutras felt forbidden to me, after a teacher of mine encouraged me to wait and read this section of the Sutras after I had dutifully practiced the first two books of the four-book text. However, the more I integrate samyama into my own meditation practices, the more I’m convinced that the wait may not be necessary. According to Sutra 3.5, “by the mastery of samyama comes the light of knowledge,” so why not begin practice this now?

How to practice Samyama

To get started practicing samyama, one can choose an internal or external point of focus. Though the Sutras suggest consulting a trusted meditation teacher when selecting a focal point, if you feel ready to begin exploring the power of intentional focus, there are some simple, accessible techniques you can try on your own.

Internal samyama

Samyama in yogaIf you choose to focus internally, simply observing your breath is a great place to begin. The next time you find yourself on your mat, take notice of your breath as it moves in and out of your body. Can you keep your awareness on your breath during the entire practice? If not, take note of how often your mind drifts away, and see if you can guide your awareness back to your breath when the mind wanders. Can you become completely entranced by the rhythm of your inhales and exhales?

External samyama

To focus externally, consider integrating a gaze-point or drishti point during your asana practice. Drishti brings awareness to the pace at which our thoughts move—and hence, helps to quiet the mind. For example, in Urdhva Mukha Svanasana (Upward Facing Dog Pose), the drishti is at the nose tip, and when in Adho Mukha Svanasana (Downward Facing Dog Pose), the gaze-point is the navel. The next time you enter an asana practice, set an intention to utilize drishti points during the practice, and see how long you can focus before the mind wants to move. If/when the mind wanders from your gaze-point, use it as an opportunity to refocus your awareness.

Another option for focusing externally is to meditate while holding a soft gaze fixated on an object, such as the flame of a candle. Observe the practice of sustaining your focus on your chosen object for an extended period of time, and see if you can reach a point where your sense of self seems to dissolve inside the object. This dissolving of self is a way to begin feeling the sensation of samadhi, or oneness through meditation—a key step in mastering samyama.

What are the first steps towards Samyama?

It is important to remember that the journey to samyama is simply that a journey. It begins with small moments of integrated focus and leads to a place of profundity over many years of practice. It can be a lonely, challenging, disheartening, and demanding task. It can also be an amazing journey of transformation and self-discovery. Support, inspiration, and encouragement from a community or meditation teacher will be helpful. A dedicated sadhana or daily yoga practice is recommended to achieve the best effects.

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11 responses to “Transforming Your Yoga Practice Through Samyama”

  1. Ann Younts Avatar
    Ann Younts

    You have a special writing talent I’ve seen a few times in my life. I agree with this content and you truly know how to put your thoughts into words.

    1. Megan de Matteo Avatar
      Megan de Matteo

      Thank you dearly, Ann! I’m so happy you got a lot out of the piece. Keep us posted on how samyama transforms your practice!

  2. Vijay Avatar
    Vijay

    Koans or words of Siddhas need to be understood carefully. Most of the works we get in a translated form. If Samyama = [d + d + d], many would start flying or display special powers. Samyama to be proper it has to also integrate with the three instructions of Bhrama to Gods, Men and Demons [da + da + da]. In fact it is not a “+” but a “x” multiplier effect.

    For example Muladhara Chakra is not just to be perceived at the base, my experiments and research indicate Mula [core + dhara is earth principle] so it must be to the whole body as a kosha.
    Secrets have to be earned not learned :-) Jai Gurudev! Among 100’s of websites visited silently, this space of yours prompted to the type the above, don’t know why. Peace!

  3. Ratan Avatar
    Ratan

    Pranams.
    Thank you so much for explaining it in such simple terms.

  4. Rob Avatar
    Rob

    This explanation of samyama is wrong. Samyama (the progression of dharana, dhyana, samadhi) constitute the final 3 of the ashtau angani (8 limbs), the antaranga or internal limbs, which are increasingly deep and silent states of (usually) still, seated meditation. The 1st 5 limbs, or baharanga, the external limbs, include asana, pranayama and pratyahara in order to prepare the attitude, body, breathe and energy (prana) flow for samyama. One does not and can not practice the physical sadhana (techniques) like drishti, or breathe control in asana (which is different from pranayama) concurrently with samyama. They are different tool for different purposes. The baharanga precede the antaranga. Do not confuse the sequence of the ashtanga.

  5. Stephen.Caroline Avatar
    Stephen.Caroline

    try to build the solid foundation of the bricks that others have taken, life will not be so hard.

  6. Harshad Shah Avatar
    Harshad Shah

    very nice connection of yoga with samyam.
    i feel still more depth about samyam is connected with self control on overall daily activity of human life.
    yoga is connected with mind and body and for precise liberation path samyam is required.

  7. d Avatar
    d

    This is not samyama haha, but yeah, if you are busy with stealing indian concepts, why not steal samyam with it.

    1. Anne Avatar
      Anne

      Ouch. Why not offer your understanding of Samyama. Educate and Enlighten us.

  8. Orpheus Avatar
    Orpheus

    If you can do samyama, you are one step away from Jesushood, or Buddhahood. The way you write about it indicates that you are not there yet. You should achieve pratyahara first. Pranayma (as in progressively increase the kumbhaka/puraka ratio) is said to be the toughest of the tapas. It is also written that kevala kumbhaka precedes pratyahara, although I think your mileage may vary. Let’s just say that if you are awake and cannot hear the sounds around you, you are on the right track. Good luck!

  9. Perc Avatar
    Perc

    Samyama is an unnessesary concept becouse itś about the deepening of the meditation, which comes automatically with the right meditation thechnique, or spontanously during meditation… Meditation simply slide over inte Samyama when the right conditions are threre…. There is no mening to think about it… Patanjali just wantet to put the finger on whatś happening onec in a while during true meditation when you got the experience…. Take it as it comes…. make it as simple as possible and dont’ worry about it…..

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Megan de Matteo Avatar
About the author
Megan is a wide-eyed student of curiosity and beauty who discovered in the summer of 2010 that this makes her a yogi. She has since used the teachings of yoga to travel both far and near, volunteering with AmeriCorps along the way. She is passionate about empowerment, conversation and connection; these are her Yoga Sutras. In 2012 she graduated from the Vira Bhava Yoga Teacher Training at the Glowing Body Yoga Studio in Knoxville, TN. She also holds a degree in Spanish, and considers language a living meditation with sound and spirit.
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