November Theme - PRATYAHARA

The 5th element of Patanjali’s 8 Limbs of Yoga, Pratyahara refers to the practice of sense withdrawal that lays the foundation for the next 3 limbs — concentration, meditation and blissful union.

Unlike asana (poses) or pranayama (breath work), pratyahara doesn’t enjoy the same level of “fame” that those other limbs do. And yet, sitting near the center of the 8 limbed discipline, pratyahara serves as a crucial bridge between Yoga’s outer and inner work. It helps transition the practitioner out of the action- and body-oriented aspect of yoga, and into the subtler realm where deeper, inner work can begin.

Pratyahara is primarily withdrawing from the sense of touch, sight, sound, smell and taste. We practice pratyahara when we prepare for meditation, and naturally “practice” it when we go to sleep. But the word itself (praty = against, ahara = food) also implies mastery over what we regularly consume, whether it’s food or media, and with whom we associate.

Full pratyahara takes a lot of practice. For most of us, pratyahara may take the form of walking in nature or setting aside time for quiet solitude at home, avoiding distractions as much as possible.

The main purpose of pratyahara is to redirect the brain’s energy and incredible mapping skills to navigate and chart our subtle body.