As many of you have read (and experienced!), Pratyahara is the fifth of the 8 LIMBS OF YOGA. Pratyahara essentially means: Withdrawal of the Senses. To be more precise, Pratyahara refers to practices that systematically walk the mind away from sensory input and towards an inward focus.

There are many different ways to practice Pratyahara. Below are a few you may have heard of, or experienced. Any practice that removes sensory input to which we have become accustomed leads the mind inwards. The final items on the list are the deeper practices of Pratyahara because besides removing sensory input, they purposefully direct the mind inward:

- Fasting or doing a “cleanse”
- Keeping silent for a period of time
- Savasana with the eyes closed
- Savasana with the eyes closed and no music
- Singing spiritual songs (Bhajans/Kirtan)
- Yoga Nidra (includes many different practices)
- Mantra repetition (Japa)
- Specific guided meditations from numerous traditions

This is what Iyengar says about our minds’ tendencies towards sensory input:

“In normal daily life, consciousness helps the senses see the objects of the world with thoughts of acquisition, rejection and resignation. The senses become hypnotized by them, and are drawn outwards, towards pleasure.”

Did you read that?! Our senses BECOME HYPNOTIZED BY THE OBJECTS OF THE WORLD AND ARE DRAWN OUTWARDS TOWARDS PLEASURE!

This perspective has me noticing how often throughout the day my mind wanders towards the “next pleasurable activity/moment” I am anticipating. I notice myself thinking about my next meal, or when I can swing by Starbucks for a small coffee with cream, or planning my next vacation or my next massage. Not that these are “bad” things, nor is it “bad” that my mind thinks of them; my point is just how effortlessly my mind is drawn towards them, even when I have other tasks at hand.

He continues:

“The five senses of perception come in contact with sound, small, taste, sight and touch, send their impressions to the mind, and are stored in memory. Memory longs for further pleasurable experiences and incites the mind to bypass intelligence (buddhi) and solicit the senses for yet more sense gratification. “

And the best part:

“Owing to the force of past impressions, one continues to hanker after renewed sensation. But one can never be satisfied. This breeds unhappiness and frustration. Here lies the role of Pratyhara. It is the friend who releases you from the snares of the external world, and leads you towards happiness in the delight of the soul.” – Iyengar’s commentary on Sutra 2.54

Roots Yoga