Understanding the Fifth Limb of Yoga and Its Impact on Inner Peace
This week we move our practice from the outside world to the inside world beneath the surface. Many people practice yoga, often without fully understanding the eight limbs of yoga. Pratyahara, the fifth limb, is an important step in achieving higher consciousness and inner peace. Pratyahara is a Sanskrit word that literally translates to “withdrawal from the sensesâ€. It involves withdrawing your energy from external objects and turning inward to explore your own inner world.
How Does Pratyahara Work?
Pratyahara works by quieting the mind and focusing on internal sensations. It involves detaching from physical objects, emotions, thoughts, and impressions so that you can connect with your true self. The goal is to become aware of our own inner peace and joy. To do this, we must disconnect from external sources of distraction such as phones and computers, silence our minds from thinking about the future or past events, and quiet our emotions so that we can be in a state of pure awareness.
How Does Pranayama Help?
Pranayama, or breath control, is an important part of pratyahara because it helps us to relax our bodies while connecting with our breath. By slowing down our breath rate through pranayama breathing exercises, we can slow down our heart rate as well as reduce stress levels in the body. This promotes relaxation which helps us to stay still within ourselves during meditation and yoga. Deep yogic breath helps us to bring more oxygen into our cells which will help us to focus better when practicing pratyahara. Drawing the air into our bodies consciously with intention is the first step to pratyahara.
The Benefits of Pratyahara
Practicing pratyahara can be beneficial for both your mental and physical health. By learning how to detach yourself from your sensory input and turn inward instead, you can create a greater sense of presence within yourself. This practice will simultaneously release tension and stress that may have been built up over time due to reacting the outside world. Additionally, regular pratyahara practice can help you build self-awareness, improve concentration, reduce anxiety levels, increase clarity in decision making processes, foster creativity, cultivate patience and kindness.
Pratyahara is an important part of yoga practice because it teaches us how to detach from external distractions while connecting with ourselves. By practicing pranayama breathing techniques regularly along with observing mental fluctuations without attachment or judgment we can learn how to find peace within ourself that is unshakable. Through regular practice of pratyahara you can releasing any unwanted energies they have been holding you back. This practice is where we clear the muddy waters of the mind and allow the lotus to bloom.
Sunshine Studio News
It’s February bring a Friend for FREE! We love when you share your practice with Friends and Family. Bring them with you to the studio. Have them book their class via the website or Sunshine Yoga Shack app and use the Coupon Code FRIEND at check out. BOOK CLASS HERE
Mallory’s Sound Bath is Full for Friday Night but there is still space for Jennifer and Cindy Aerial Yin and Nidra. Space is limited so sign up today. BOOK EVENT HERE
Don’t just watch the parade be a part of it! The Pickle Parade is on March 18th at noon in Historic Downtown Mansfield. Sign up to walk with us down Main Street. More on the PICKLE PARADE HERE.
Sunshine School of Yoga
This weekend our Teachers in Training are learning about the methodology of teaching yoga, sequencing a yoga class, posture foundations, and theming a yoga class. You can join our next session in person this coming August or decide to start today with our Virtual 200 Hour Teacher Training. Our new 300 Hour training program will begin in person in August as well.
We had our first Virtual Aerial Yoga Teacher Trainee graduate this week and are so proud. It has been a challenge to bring our aerial program online. Did you know you can take aerial classes from our app, if you have a rig at home? It was good to have if you are an aerialist who could not leave the house due to the ice storm this week.
Withdraw from the outside world with us this week, online or in person. Book your class today.
Love and Light!