Master the 5 Senses, Change Your World

Just thinking about unrolling my yoga mat starts the Pavlov's dog sensing process for me and my body. I can hear the stickiness of my mat unfolding and the pop it makes when it lands in the ground; the feeling of my bare feet on the slightly grooved hardwood floor; the familiar smell of the worn-in rubber against my skin. I can almost feel my brain shut down and my mental focus draw inward.

As we delve into the deeper levels of a Yoga practice-- beyond the poses and breath-- we arrive to the practice of sensory observation, pratyahata. “Pratyahara” means “gaining mastery over external influences," or, understanding & mastering the five senses.

Humans operate just like Pavlov's dogs in our ability to be both physically and mentally overcome by our senses-- by fascination, desire, or even obsession-- without consciously knowing it. The smell of danger, the taste of success, difficult to swallow-- each of these common sayings remind us of the power of our senses.

If you're like me, and I think most people are, you are committed to finding a flow and ease in your life. Conflict and struggle may be things you naturally avoid while you look to build relationships that are positive and mutually beneficially with the world around you. While that may be the overall goal, it can sometimes be harder to achieve than we would like. Being the vastly dynamic humans that we are, we are each uniquely coded up with our own experiences, memories, and ideas.

Even if two people are strongly committed to peace at their core, interactions don't always unfold that way. I believe this is a result of many underlying influences of our senses. Have you ever been in a room with someone you are ready to release a conflict with and before you even speak to each other your whole body starts to rush with energy?

Whether it's their stress you can smell or the outline of their posture you can see, it's likely that your body is actually sensually remembering a situation of stress and is reacting to a memory being triggered. Take deep breaths and remember that this moment can be different than the past. Then ask yourself, "why am I feeling this way?" The questioning is what makes us different than the furry, sense-forward companions we love. Questioning is a tool we have that can clear a lot of unwanted experiences both before and after they happen.

While dogs aren't known to ponder life's path to Samadhi, or ultimate bliss, that is also one of the many reasons that we love them so much, too. Their pure experience and engagement with the world instead of analyzing is beyond refreshing. So while inquiry and reflection are a big part of the process of yoga, at the end of the day we are just trying to become more present-- to release old patterns that are holding us back from being fully here, right now, ready to experience this moment as it is. So I'll keep savoring the sensory process of unrolling my mat for now, dancing in the evolution of the path toward enlightenment, however long it takes.

 

Words by Alexandria Jayne Pulfer | Photo by Henry O Head

 

Alexandria is a spirit-full mama, wife and yoga teacher of teachers living in the Fayetteville Ozarks. She and her husband run multiple small businesses and strive for a simple life focused on good food and community. Committed to a balance of presense, work and play in all that she does, the path of yoga has been an invaluable part of creating her life. Learn more about her and her work on www.yogadezainstitute.com and her personal blog, www.elevenmoon.com.


69 comments


  • James Becken

    It’s easy to feel defeated when the unthinkable occurs and your Bitcoin appears to vanish. On your road to recovery, though, the Recovery Nerd Agency is here to support you. This clever Company uses advanced cryptography algorithms and machine learning to extensively search the blockchain for your lost valuables. It was developed by blockchain security specialists after much research. Even beginners can recover thanks to its easy-to-use interface and quick processing speed. The Recovery Nerd Agency is an excellent resource to help you regain financial peace of mind, regardless of whether your money was sent to the incorrect address, you were hacked, or you lost your private keys. Allow this revolutionary recovery company to help you recover what is legitimately yours during trying circumstances. To learn more contact customer service at: recoverynerd (@)mail.com 


  • Tommy Arud

    People who lose or have their cryptocurrencies stolen may be in a serious and upsetting situation that leaves them feeling lost and powerless. Nevertheless, there is a ray of light and optimism amid this gloom. A reputable company in cybersecurity and digital asset recovery, their remarkable success rates attest to their proficiency. This brief analysis attempts to provide insight into Recovery Nerd Agency’s priceless services. An organization devoted to recovering stolen or misplaced Bitcoin and other digital valuables. The ideal recovery service to choose would be one with a track record of successful recoveries and positive ratings. Numerous testimonials from satisfied clients who have successfully recovered their stolen cryptocurrency have enhanced the Recovery Nerd Agency’s reputation. MAIL- recoverynerd @ mail . com W/A- + 6.1.4.8.8. 8.9.3.2.8.0.


  • Patrick White

    I understand the anger and stress that comes with losing money through investment scams. They robbed me of about half a million dollars. Fortunately, I have some contacts who connected me to an organization called Recovery Nerd. The team of qualified professionals specializes in crypto recovery and is dedicated to assisting individuals and organizations in reclaiming money lost through investment scams. With an established track record and great customer service, they are the go-to organization for fund recovery in Quebec and worldwide. They were able to hunt them down and recover the entire money I lost. Contact Recovery Nerd with the following information. 
    Email: recoverynerd [@] mail [.] com


  • Jane Lars

    I was once devastated by the terrible results of a cryptocurrency fraud, which left me feeling hopeless. I know from my experience that it is a real nightmare. An online investing platform basically held my Bitcoin deposit, which was a sizable figure, hostage. I had expected large returns, but I had not realized the painful experience that was about to occur. My initial excitement eventually turned to agony when I discovered that the platform I had trusted was nothing more than a cunning scam designed to trick gullible people who were enthusiastic about the cryptocurrency market, leaving us feeling exposed, duped, and difficult to trust in the future. When I started a money recovery quest, I came across RECOVERY NERD, a group of professionals with a focus on asset recovery that are committed to helping victims locate and retrieve their stolen money. Since I had previously read that bitcoin transactions are irretrievable and untraceable, the procedure of getting my lost Bitcoin back sounded overwhelming. But RECOVERY NERD has shown that this idea is false. I was thrilled to hear that my lost Bitcoin had been successfully recovered, despite the fact that the recovery process was complex. To anyone who could be in a similar terrible circumstance, I implore you to keep hope alive and look up RECOVERY NERD on Google. For helpful crypto recovery counsel, I suggest getting in touch with R E C O V E R Y N E R D (@) M A I L (.) C O M.


  • Vienna Osaka

    I once encountered the harrowing consequences of a cryptocurrency scam, which plunged me into a deep sense of despair. I can attest, from personal experience, that it is truly a nightmare. My investment, a substantial sum in Ethereum, was effectively held hostage by an online investment platform. I had anticipated significant returns; however, I was oblivious to the impending distressing experience. As time progressed, my initial excitement morphed into anguish upon realizing that the platform I had trusted was nothing more than a cleverly devised scheme aimed at defrauding unsuspecting individuals passionate about the cryptocurrency market, leaving us feeling exposed, deceived, and hard to trust again. I discovered CYBERGENIEHACKPRO upon embarking on a money recovery journey, a team of experts specializing in asset recovery, dedicated to assisting victims in tracing and reclaiming their misappropriated funds. The process of recovering my lost Ethereum seemed daunting, as I had previously read that cryptocurrency transactions are untraceable and irretrievable. However, CYBERGENIEHACKPRO has proven this notion to be incorrect. Although the recovery process was intricate, I was elated to learn that my lost assets had been successfully retrieved. To anyone who may find themselves in a similar unfortunate situation, I strongly urge you to maintain hope and seek out CYBERGENIEHACKPRO through a Google search. I recommend contacting C Y B E R G E N I E (@) C Y B E R S E R V I C E S (.) C O M for valuable money recovery advice. Their private website can be found at ~ https ://cyber-genie-hackpro. info/ ~.


Leave a comment