This guided practice of Pratyahara is the purposeful directing the mind and the senses inward ~ so that one can internalize consciousness and realize the true 'Self.'

Pratyahara consists of two Sanskrit words, prati and ahara.

Prati means away or withdrawal and ahara means food. Here, ahara means anything that the body and mind consume.

Therefore in the context of yoga, it is the process of withdrawing from the objects that nourish the sense organs. The goal of pratyahara is to withdraw from the external objects and to go inward.

Pratyahara is one of the Eight Limbs of Yoga laid out by mystic, sage, and philosopher Patanjali more than 1,500 years ago in the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali.

The Sutras collect spiritual wisdom into an organized guide for living a yogic life.

Music Credit: Deep Relaxation