Pratyahara

Pratyahara is the fifth of the eight limbs of yoga and means the withdrawal of the senses.  In Sanskrit, “Prati” implies against or to withdraw, and “Ahara” means food or anything digested and absorbed through our external sensory inputs.

Pratyahara is not about denying or repressing the senses, but rather about learning to control their influence on the mind and redirecting awareness inward, leading to greater mental clarity, inner calm, enhanced focus and discrimination, and deeper self-awareness.  Its practice reduces distractions, heightens awareness of thoughts, emotions, and the subtle energies within. 

In yoga, Pratyahara is the bridge between the outwardly focused practices of asana (postures) and pranayama (yogic breathing) and the internal practices of dharana (focus-concentration) and dhyana (meditation), which ultimately leads to samadhi (absorption and bliss). 

It also connects directly to Savasana (corpse pose), whose practice brings you to a state of conscious relaxation and introspection through the withdrawal of the senses. For many, it is associated with our sleep patterns.

In Ayurveda, “Ahara” means food and refers to everything we take into the body physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. It uses the concepts and practices of pratyahara to consciously control sensory input, reduce overstimulation, and foster inner focus through natural therapies and practices, including diet, aromatherapy, color therapy, abhyanga (massage), marma point therapy, shirodhara, and the panchakarma modality.