Pratyahara:

This is the fifth step of yoga. As I described in my earlier posts, ashtanga yoga is divided into two parts.

The first five levels are called as bahiranga yoga and the remaining three are called as antarang yoga. So this is the last step or level of bahiranga yoga.

“svavisayasamprayogacittasvarupanukaraivendriyanam pratyaharah”|

Pratyahara is in –drawing the mind away from perceptible external sensory stimuli by practice. Usually our sense organs are used to perceive the things happening around us. Mind can be calmed by practicing pratyahara. Pratyahara is gaining control over the sense organs and focusing on single thought or goal. Here in yoga the mind is practiced to focus on the universal divinity.