Forrest's Library

Pratyahara Myths of Sensory Withdrawal

Summary

, 16 min

Pratyahara, sensory withdrawal, as a gradual dimmer switch rather than a light switch: how stretching, resonant breathing and sitting still bring on the freeze response and its signs, from vanishing limbs to skin tingles. It also corrects the myth of travelling up the sushumna and explains why withdrawal completes only in samadhi.

In this video

Mentions
Eight limbs of yogaLahiri MahasayaMahamudraLow-Idle-StateFour Proofs of MeditationKundaliniDorsal Vagal ComplexOM Japa in the Chakras

Key moments

00:00Happy new year and the myths of sensory withdrawal01:02Lahiri's six-step yoga: mahamudra stretching comes first01:51Resonant breathing lowers the heart rate and lengthens the breath02:43Sitting very still combined with HRV resonance03:40The freeze response is pratyahara: body asleep, mind awake04:18Myth: the body shuts off like a flipped switch04:44Signs: missing limbs and dislocation sensations05:50Ghost-like numbness and the dimmer switch07:15Skin tingles in the most relaxed part of the body08:39Myth: travelling up the sushumna10:03OM Japa and rolling up through the chakras10:53Roll-up into the heart, like the lover on cloud nine12:05Withdrawal is complete only in samadhi13:21Signs you are already in sensory withdrawal, eggshell body14:29Asana, pranayama, pratyahara: well done