Have you ever wondered… about pratyahara? I have. It is the yogic practice of turning inward. Interoception is a related western or scientific word for this idea. Can you shut off your external senses in order to recognize and pay attention to more of your internal senses? How is your heart beating currently? What is the present state of hunger in your stomach or nutrients processing within your intestines? Does a muscle or joint ache and ask for attention? Learning to listen to your body can provide a wealth of information and guidance towards living a better, fuller, and healthier life. Ignore these sensations and subtleties to your own detriment. It can often prove more beneficial to listen inwardly.
Yoga improves the mind-body connection by encouraging you to listen to your body.
-Ann Swanson
A couple weeks ago, during a hatha yoga class, I learned about a fascinating mudra that I had never heard of before, shanmukhi mudra. It involves depriving your awareness of many outward senses. In a safe place, try it out sometime if you are curious. Your thumbs go in your ears, your index and middle fingers go across your eyes, your ring fingers go under your nose, and your pinkies cover your lips. By closing off and shutting out as much external stimuli as you can, you become better able to focus on and listen to your senses within. Considering even the basics, how often do you recognize your breathing pattern?
Listen. Are you breathing just a little and calling it a life?
-Mary Oliver
Our bodies are wonderful creations, and we can learn so much from them if we listen to them. We are bombarded by so many outside influences that try to vie for our attention. Many people think they know what is best for us. While we can and should listen to others when approached mindfully and respectfully, we should also learn to cultivate and trust our own internal knowing, our gut feelings. That inner guide is our best friend.
It takes courage for people to listen to their own goodness and act on it.
-Pablo Casals
Intuition is a powerful and incredibly useful skill to craft and hone. In my experience, it takes a lot of practice. Quieting the outside world and the mental swirl is not an easy task, but discovering and engaging with the world beneath that layer is well worth the effort. Turning inward has shown me a much clearer path forward. Now, I can listen better to everything around me, both inside and out, as a result of such work. It starts, though, with knowing well what is best for me. Others may not agree. So it may be.
No teacher, preacher, parent, friend
-Shel Silverstein
Or wise [person] can decide
What’s right for you – just listen to
The voice that speaks inside.
I doubt our actions will ever make everyone happy, but we can and should still listen to and be friendly with everyone who we cross paths with. Sometimes, outside guidance and advice appears at the ideal and optimal time. You can feel how it aligns with what you are listening to, both internally and externally. Those harmonious moments are key indicators that you are doing your best and progressing on your ideal path. Whenever you discover that you may have temporarily trusted the wrong voice, keep an open mind to quickly correct your charted course. You can always adjust your attitude and actions.
I’ve trusted the still, small voice of intuition my entire life. And the only time I’ve made mistakes is when I didn’t listen.
-Oprah Winfrey
Listen to your inner voice. It takes effort and practice. Why else do you think pratyahara exists as one of the main limbs of yoga? Yogis devote large portions of their lives to turning inward and listening to all that awaits within. We can do the same if we choose. It is not easy, but it is worth it. Do not listen to me, though. Listen to your inner knowing.
Does it agree?
Maybe it is wise. Maybe it is dumb. Time will tell. Stay wondrous, y’all :) <3