Pratyahara

Restraint of the senses - or, withdrawing our attention away from harmful influences and opening up to beneficial influences. Prati means food in Sanskrit, ahara means restraint or control. As we learn to control our bodies with asana practice and our breath with pranayama practice, we than can bring our minds under conscious control and stop running around after external objects of desire - the lastest bling.

Mastery of the self makes you more powerful; you can do what you really want in life without distraction, focus on what's important without being turned away from your goal. This is the first step on your inward journey; there is bondage when you are craving after things, full of fear, or unhappy. The mind is pure when desire and fear is annihilated.