Dear Rose # 12 - The ancient art of Quiet

Rose is an amalgam of us - women in their 40s, 50s, 60s and beyond who are looking for somewhere they are seen, heard and listened to.

Dear Rose,

I find it kind of strange to think about, but even 2,000 years ago, people needed to reduce stimulation in their lives.

I always imagine that life before electricity was all candlelight and gentle conversation. But if I really think about it, it was hand-washing, hunting and gathering food, trying to stay warm, and looking after kids—all without the benefits of an iPad or noise-canceling headphones.

Even in the early centuries CE, Yoga was practiced to quiet the "fluctuations of the mind." I guess rumination and low self-esteem were around back then, too.

Patanjali wrote about the eight limbs (parts) of Yoga, and most of them had nothing to do with Downward Dogs or Child’s Pose. One of my favorite limbs is Pratyahara. It was probably the one that took me the longest to truly understand.

Pratyahara means a conscious withdrawal of the senses. A simple way of achieving this is by closing your eyes. It’s why we yoga teachers offer that invitation at the beginning of every class and during meditation—to help reduce external stimulation and evoke relaxation.

I think Pratyahara is why floating in water is so comforting; our sense of hearing is muffled and our bodies don’t need to fight gravity. I also think it is why my mental health has improved so much since I stopped spending time on social media. It is a massive, deliberate reduction in external stimuli.

This coming month, we will explore the art of Pratyahara in my online care package, Soft Landings. Come and check it out if you’re curious.

Love,

Em xx