WITHDRAW FROM YOUR TOXIC FRIENDS AND FAMILY - IT'S THE YOGA THING TO DO AND IT'S CALLED PRATYAHARA

Pratyahara is the fifth limb of the eight limbs of yoga and it means the withdrawal of senses and drawing awareness away from the external world  in order to create a stable, calm, anchored and balanced inner life. The foundation of pratyahara is the intentional absence of curiosity about outside stimuli. In modern life it has become even more imperative to practice pratyahara on a daily basis in these ways:

• Withdrawal from news media, most of which tends to agitate mind and emotions.
  
• Withdrawal from individuals who are prone to drama creating stress and tension and from persons who are pessimistic, cynical and unkind, infecting others with their negativity.
  
• Withdrawal from social media eliminating the comparison of oneself to others and becoming unhappy and distressed with one’s own life.
  
• Withdraw from 24/7 access of email, cell phone, computers.
  
  
• Withdrawal from family members who are addicts and whose behavior is dishonest, deceitful, manipulative and untrustworthy.
  
  
• Withdrawal from relationships where there is anger, jealously, abuse, secrecy, inequality, judgment, disrespect and which are generally unhealthy.
  
• Withdrawal from media which presents unfettered violent images.
  
• Withdrawal from habits which are detrimental to body, mind and spirit.
  
• Withdrawal from friendships which hamper, impede and interfere with our growth and evolution.
  
• Withdrawal daily life and routine to spend a few days in silence and meditation from time to time.
  

With only minimal practice, it becomes quite easy to withdraw attention from our surroundings and create a way of living which is characterized by inner peace and and a reduction of stress.

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