Diving In to My “Healthy Habits ” Series”Be Vigilant in What You Take In ” or ” Pratyahara ” In Yoga

The fifth limb of yoga, pratyahara, comes from two Sanskrit words, prati meaning “against” or “away” and ahara, which means “food.” In this case, we can refer to ahara as any stimuli we take in and ingest. The essence of pratyahara is “withdrawal of the senses” or mindfully filtering what we experience in our outer world.
You can practice pratyahara whenever you notice you want to escape from your current situation. When you decide to spend hours in front of the TV, scroll on Facebook, or shop online, or sit and mindlessly eat. This is you attempting to withdraw from your life. Instead of withdrawing from life, you can use pratyahara as a powerful tool to improve your daily life. You will see, hear, and feel the disturbances around you…and not react. You will be able to thoughtfully respond. 

The sense of sight: Start by keeping the TV off whenever possible. Don’t read news stories with violent words ,images or content. Buy yourself house plants and place them in a space you are in often. Remove clutter and things that no longer serve you. Any opportunity that you see your reflection , be positive.
The sense of hearing: Eliminate music with harsh, hateful, or violent lyrics.Family member or friends can be negative, choose a more positive topic or quickly find a solution instead of ruminating . If you hear about a tragedy or someone in need, opt to say a prayer for the person or situation. Practice the 4 gates of speech. They are: Is it True? Necessary ? The Right Time ? Is it Kind? . In a world of information overload, the yoga practice of pratyahara offers us a haven of silence.
The sense of touch: Go outside to soak in the sun. Walk barefoot in the grass. Take time for your Abhyanga (self oil massage ) practice, Take time to pet your pet. Hug your family members and friends often.
The sense of taste: Eliminate all unnatural or artificial foods from your diet. Opt for fresh fruit, vegetables, and whole grains. Eat some meals in silence. Close your eyes while savoring each bite.
The sense of smell: Diffuse essential oils or candles that makes you feel relaxed.