Pratyahara Paradox: Sense Withdrawal and a Contemporary Yoga Aesthetic
July 20, 2025 Elizabeth McKibben
This thesis develops an understanding of the Pratyahara Paradox. Pratyahara (withdrawal of the senses) is a core tenet of yoga philosophy. Through pratyahara, a yoga practitioner can transcend the material world and unite with spiritual consciousness. While a withdrawal from the sensory-material world is embedded in the aims of yoga, it isn’t clear how, and if, pratyahara is part of...