Pratyahara is the withdrawal of senses. It is the bridge between the external and internal aspects of yoga. In normal daily life, consciousness extends the senses out into the world bringing back feelings of desire, rejection, and resignation. In this alluring state the senses are continually drawn towards pleasure. Pratyahara directs the senses inward, towards the realization of the soul. "Now the mind is able to concentrate and the senses no longer importune the mind." (BKS Iyengar, Light on the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali)
I know this is starting to sound a bit abstract, so let's take a look at how this applies to asana practice. Yoga Sutra II.47 says, "Perfection in an asana is achieved when the effort to perform it becomes effortless and the infinite being within (the soul) is reached." Think back to the last time you were holding a warrior pose. I'm pretty sure it wasn't effortless! If you're like me, you were actively counting your breaths trying to distract yourself from your trembling quadriceps. 'Feeling the burn', if you will, is an external sense perception. When the senses move inward, mind and intelligence are also drawn inward and the body is free from the duality of pain and pleasure, contraction and extension, heat and cold, etc.
This isn't an easy practice to master, but the next limb - dharana - will help, so stay tuned!
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