Pratyahara Class to withdraw your senses inward (30 min practice)

Pratyahara is one of the eight limbs of yoga as described in the ancient text "The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali." It is often referred to as the practice of "withdrawal of the senses." The term "pratyahara" is derived from two Sanskrit words: "prati," meaning "against" or "away," and "ahara," meaning "food" or "anything taken into oneself." In this context, "ahara" refers to the sensory inputs that feed the mind.

Pratyahara involves consciously turning the mind inward and detaching from the distractions of the external world. It is the process of withdrawing the senses from external objects to focus on the inner experience. This withdrawal is not about ignoring the senses but rather about controlling their engagement with external stimuli. By practicing pratyahara, a practitioner can reduce the constant influx of sensory information that often leads to mental agitation, allowing for greater concentration and a deeper state of meditation.

In essence, pratyahara is considered the bridge between the external practices (like asanas and pranayama) and the internal practices (like concentration and meditation) in the path of yoga.