Pratyahara – Withdrawal of the Senses

06 Sep Pratyahara – Withdrawal of the Senses

Pratyahara – 5th Limb of Yoga

Withdrawal of the senses – our senses are vital for managing our world around us, so how do we practice pratyahara? Here are some examples –

Detox from Social Media and/or T.V

Have you ever come home after a long day of work and decided that you will not turn on the t.v. or catch up on social media? At first your home may feel strangely quiet, as something to do, you might make a cup of tea or coffee and then sit and contemplate the day. What worked during the day? What problems were solved? What events took place with reactions that didn’t serve you? Sitting in quiet contemplation we can turn our focus inwards.

Being in peace and quiet we become aware of what the impressions of news, television series, movies and social media has on our mind – We can then choose which perspective we need in our life and intentionally focus the mind and naturally our senses will follow.

Accepting Your Environment

We can command our mind to focus on hearing only. Sitting in a comfortable position, it would be less distracting if you close your eyes, then bring your attention to a noise around you – perhaps there is a bird singing in a tree – then move to another sound, i.e. traffic in the distance. You can also bring your awareness to the sound of the breath or your heartbeat. Taking in all the sounds, near and far, without judgement and being at peace with your environment, you will start to bring your attention inwards without distraction.

Often we have many distractions, even in asana class, our mind is thinking of our day or alignment in our poses – these thoughts and distractions are natural, then as we come to savasana, focusing and accepting our environment fully and releasing tension from our body and mind, we effortlessly turn our attention inwards.

Pratyahara is finding balance and becoming neutral in life, one can reach realizations about our true nature and essence of being.