In this video, Yoga Week ambassador Alan Goode takes us through a short exercise in Pratyahara.
Alan is the Director of Yoga Mandir. He has extensive experience in teaching Iyengar yoga to all levels of students, from beginners through to experienced. Pratyahara is a Sanskrit term, generally translated as “withdrawal of the senses.” Normally the senses are directed outwards, into the world. In Pratyahara we turn inwards, we go into ourselves. In this short exercise, Aland guides us as we engage with Pratyahara.
Pratyahara is the fifth limb of Patanjali’s eightfold path of yoga. It is believed to be a vital preliminary step before the more advanced practices of dharana (concentration) and dhyana (meditation).
Yoga Week is an initiative of Yoga Australia, the Peak Body for yoga teachers in Australia. Find out more about Yoga Australia at https://yogaaustralia.org.au