Pratyahara
The fifth step or limb is called pratyahara and is defined as “the conscious withdrawal of energy from the senses”.
In the Yoga Sutra of Patanjali, The method is presented as a series of practices that begin with “external limbs” like ethical rules and move toward more “internal limbs” like meditation. We seem to inherently understand the basic ethical teachings like Satya (the practice of truthfulness), and basic physical teachings like asana (the practice of posture), and pranayama (the use of breath to affect the mind). But for most of us, the practice of pratyahara remains elusive. Almost without barring yoga students are confused by this limb.
Patanjali Yoga Sutra 2.54
स्व-विषयसंप्रयोगे चित्तस्य स्वरुपानुकर इवेंड्रियानम् प्रत्याहार:
sva-vishayâsamprayoge cittasya svarûpânukâra ivendriyâñâm pratyâhâra,
When consciousness interiorizes by uncoupling from external objects, the senses do likewise; this is called the withdrawal of the senses.
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