Inviting ourselves in.

Pratyahara

A simple guided practice to hone your inner gaze.

Pratyahara, the 5th limb of yoga, is often translated as sensory withdrawal, but pratyahara isn’t about turning the senses off; it’s about turning the senses inward. It’s much easier to move towards something exciting and interesting than to try and stay away from the enticing world around us.

Sutra 2.55

Glimpsing the inner light, the senses contentedly dwell within

– Nischala Joy Devi

The process of going inward is like any other skill, it builds and diversifies and magnifies with time and practice. We slowly become more and more adept at feeling, seeing, and hearing all the pulses and tones, fluids and solids, and the twinkling impulses inside our bodies. One of the gifts of the physical hatha yoga practice is that, in a good class, we are exploring inward for 15 minutes or an hour or an hour and half. It doesn’t matter how long it is; spending the time inward is part of the magic that creates that distinct inner glow after a practice that distinguishes yoga from other forms of exercise. It’s not endorphins. It’s entry into a wondrous and infinite world.

Here is one simple audio of a body scan to help bring you inside. Lie down or sit in a supported position to practice. If you suffer from low back pain, consider lying on your back and putting your shins up on a chair.

Invite yourself in and, over time and with practice, you will be captivated and awed by the wilderness within.

Who knows what you’ll discover.

Exploring inside is surely one of my favorite ways to practice. If you’re interested in diving in, check out one of my subtle body workshops that guide you inside from a multitude of angles. Fascia is coming up this weekend and in early December in Wasilla.

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