Meet The Forgotten Limb Of Ashtanga Yoga

- Kirti Tarang


Let’s start with the basics. What is Ashtanga Yoga? It’s a summation of eight yogic limbs. One of these limbs is Pratyahar. 

Swami Vivekananda calls it ‘the most important limb in Yog Sadhana’ & David Frawley refers to it as ‘the forgotten limb’. The sad reality is that both of these wise men are right.

Pratyahar is the bridge between outer & inner aspects of Ashtanga Yoga. This is the best thing that you’ve read today! Because, it means you don’t need a supple spine & ability to do painful backbends for this.

You just need to practice Pratyahar i.e. gain a mastery over unruly senses.

Shaivik poet Lal Ded, speaks in her vakh:

You've got six & I've got six.Now tell me, Blue-Throated One, what's the difference?Or don't. I know. You keep your six on a leashand my six have strung me along

 Note:
1. Blue- Throated One: Lord Shiva, the creator of Yoga
2. Your six/ My six: The six senses

In yogic philosophy the six senses can be controlled by controlling the Ahar (food) at three levels:

1. The physical food that we eat to nourish our physical body.

2. The cognitive impressions that we take in through our five senses to nourish our mind.

3. The associations that we make with people around us to nourish our soul.

So, in theory Pratyahar means staying away from wrong food, impressions & associations while gyrating towards right food, impressions & associations.

Sounds simple, isn't it? In practice this could be tricky. So, I have devised a seven fold method to practice Pratyahar. Click here to know the 7 easy steps :)