Beyond the Mat: Concentration Is a Con Artist

by Mitabh Saud July 6, 2026

By Mitabh Saud July 6, 2026 0 comments 2 minutes read

Recently, while listening to a podcast on space science, someone on the panel described Elon Musk’s contribution and state of mind as “Zero per cent noise.”

The zero per cent noise state – or the flow state, as we commonly call it – is something we all experience. When we’re working on a project we love, reading something that pulls us in, or solving a problem that lights up the brain, time dissolves.

Flow doesn’t happen by accident. It needs the right subject, the right mood, the right environment. And while we don’t need to live in that state all the time to survive, the uncomfortable reality is that the ability to enter deep focus on demand is what separates the good from the great.

So how is this relevant for a yoga column?

Yoga is not just a health practice. Beyond the familiar asana and pranayama lie six other limbs that shape how we think, behave and direct our attention. Among them is Dharana, the sixth limb – the practice of cultivating concentration. Patanjali defines it as binding the mind to a single point. In modern language, it is the mental training that makes flow possible.

And we need that training more than ever. The average mind today is highly distractible, and our digital environments have collapsed attention spans. Research from UC Irvine shows that the average screen-focus duration has dropped to 47 seconds – a dramatic fall from 2.5 minutes in the early 2000s. Concentration is no longer a spiritual ideal – it is a skill we need if we want to thrive.

Two simple practices can help rebuild it. First, a playful one – a modification to meet the urban need – poop meditation. Stick a bindi or draw a small dot on the wall opposite your toilet. Instead of scrolling, simply gaze at the dot. A minute or two of steady visual focus each morning quietly strengthens attention.

Second, Nadi Shodhana before bed. Close your right nostril, inhale through the left; switch sides and exhale. Then inhale through the right, switch, and exhale through the left. A few rounds calm the nerves, improve sleep, and sharpen concentration the next day.

The con artist will keep playing the game unless you rig the playing field – the mind – and it’s your game to lose.

Disclaimer: The opinions and views expressed in this article/column are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of South Asian Herald.