Dhyana yoga is a form of meditative yoga. It is meant to bring the practitioner into a state of heightened awareness of his or her unity with the universe. This type of awareness is referred to as universal consciousness. It is different from the practice of dharana yoga, where the goal is to concentrate on the meditation itself to enhance specific goals of focus.Dhyana yoga is considered in ashtanga yoga practice to be the seventh of the eight steps, or sutras, needed to attain enlightenment. This state of enlightenment is known in Sanskrit as nirvana, which means “freedom from suffering.” In Ashtanga yoga, it is called samadhi, which means complete unity or balance. The other steps include commitment to ethical conduct and religious study, as well as physical postures called asanas and breathing practices called pranayama.
