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Pratyahara, the fifth limb of yoga described in Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras, is often called the practice of “withdrawal of the senses.” But it’s not about shutting out the world—it’s about reclaiming your attention from constant distraction and turning inward toward clarity and peace.

When we practice Pratyahara, we learn how to stop being pulled around by sensory input and instead let the senses rest, allowing the mind to follow the stillness.

Yoga Sutra II.54
स्वविषयासम्प्रयोगे चित्तस्वरूपानुकार इवेन्द्रियाणां प्रत्याहारः ॥ २.५४॥
sva-viṣayāsamprayoge cittasvarūpānukāra ivendriyāṇāṃ pratyāhāraḥ
“Pratyahara is the withdrawal of the senses, when they are released from their objects and follow the nature of the mind itself.”

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• What Pratyahara really means in the context of the Eight Limbs of Yoga
• Parallels with Christian contemplative practice (“Be still and know…”)
• Simple ways to practice Pratyahara in daily life: digital detox, mindful eating, creating quiet spaces
• Why reclaiming your senses is essential for focus, meditation, and inner freedom

Pratyahara is the bridge from the outer practices (ethics, postures, breath) to the inner practices (concentration, meditation, absorption). It is how we prepare for stillness in a noisy world.

Remember: a good practice is the one you do.
Join me next Monday at 10am for Part 6: Dharana — The Power of Focused Concentration.

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—Benita