PRATYAHARA

“Pratyahara itself is termed as yoga, as it is the most important limb in yoga sadhana.” - Swami Sivananda

"Just as a tortoise withdraws its limbs, so when a man withdraws his senses from the sense objects, his wisdom becomes steady." -Bhagavad Gita

8 LIMBS OF YOGA

Yama  –   reflections of our true nature – qualities we must embrace to know Self

Niyama  – evolution toward harmony – practices that align us with our highest nature

Asana  –  comfort and steadiness in our physical being

Pranayama  –  control of life force energy (prana)

Pratyahara  –  encouraging the senses to draw within

Dharana  – focusing of consciousness inward

Dhyana  –  meditation –  the continuous inward flow of consciousness

Samadhi  –  bliss, the union with Divine consciousness

Pratyahara
The term “pratyahara” is composed of two Sanskrit words, prati and ahara. “Ahara” means “anything we take into ourselves from the outside” and “Prati” means “against” or “away.” “Pratyahara” translates to “gaining mastery over external influences.” When pratyahara is compared to a turtle withdrawing into its shell—the turtle’s shell is the mind and the turtle’s limbs are the senses.


IN CLASS - PRATYAHARA TECHNIQUES

Internalizing with Ujjayi Breathing focusing on the inhalation and the exhalation.

Shanmukhi mudra is a yogic hand gesture that represents closing the six gates of perception – the eyes, ears, nose and mouth.

Bhramari (Bee Breathing) with Shanmukhi Mudra – one most powerful internalizing pranayamas.

Yoga Nidra, a systematic 4 to 8 stage guided relaxation technique promoting a state of consciousness between waking and sleeping.