The Yoga Tutor

Pratyahara Kriyas
[ Excerpt from The Science of Yoga, page 486 ]

As mentioned, you have already been introduced to several pratyahara practices. At this stage of your sadhana you should now be engaging in these yoga techniques with your intention focused upon this deeper dimension of sense withdrawal.

Two yoga practices in particular, which you have already been initiated in, the loma-viloma kriya, and the nadi jnana kriya, are excellent exercises at this stage of practice.

Loma Viloma Kriya - This kriya is a powerful action whereby the forces of prana and apana are wafted back and forth through the entire cellular structure of the body. Among the many benefits, this practice also has a wonderful effect of correcting the condition of nara, or mal-alignment of the pancha kosha.

In this practice, the flow of prana-apana continues back and forth through the body until a natural pratyahara results. This gives a feeling of complete withdrawal from the tactile sense of touch, whereby the body feels weightless with no sensation of contact with the ground.

Nadi Jnana Kriya - This 'psychic flush' can lead to a total pratyahara as a result of the deep cleansing of the sub-consciousness. This feeling of complete withdrawal from the senses intensifies with regular practice, and thus the nadi jnana kriya is an excellent practice for the cultivation of pratyahara.

There are also other excellent yoga techniques for practicing pratyahara, such as the Shabda Kriya and Shabda Pratyahara...

[Continued...]


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The Science of Yoga Course

Foreword
About Yoga Home Study
Section 1 - Getting Started
Section 2 - Foundations of Yoga (1)
Section 3 - Foundations of Yoga (2)
Section 4 - Classical Ashtanga Yoga
Section 5 - Modern Yoga
Section 6 - The History of Yoga
Section 7 - Yama Niyama Introduction
Section 8 - Awareness
Section 9 - The Yoga Diet
Section 10 - Yoga Philosophy
Section 11 - The Yoga of Perception
Section 12 - The Yoga Path
Section 13 - The Virtue of Restraint
Section 14 - The Classical Yoga Texts
Section 15 - Yoga Cleansing
Section 16 - The Law of Cause and Effect
Section 17 - The Yoga of Digestion
Section 18 - Yoga Psychology
Section 19 - Yoga Psychology (Part 2)
Section 20 - Yoga Psychology (Part 3)
Section 21 - Yoga Psychology (Part 4)
Section 22 - Controlling The Senses
Section 23 - The Higher Stages of Yoga
Section 24 - Higher Stages of Yoga (Part 2)