Yoga Beyond Poses: The Final Four Limbs

Nearly Enlightened

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In week four of the Deepen Your Practice Challenge, Dee and I are going inward—way inward.

This episode is all about the subtle (and often skipped) limbs of yoga: pratyahara, dharana, dhyana, and samadhi. These advanced practices invite us into stillness, deeper awareness, and connection to the Self. And honestly? In today’s overstimulating, always-scrolling, burnout-on-the-rise world… these might just be the most important tools yoga has to offer.

I’m joined by the brilliant Dee, and together we unpack what it really means to withdraw from the senses (pratyahara)—and why this can feel nearly impossible in our notification-filled culture. We get real about what happens when we finally pause long enough to hear ourselves again.

From there, we flow into dharana, the art of one-pointed focus. In a society that glorifies multitasking, this practice is a game-changer for the mind and nervous system. Think of it as a pathway out of overwhelm and back into presence.

We explore dhyana (meditation) not as something you “get right,” but as something you experience—a chance to witness your thoughts without gripping them. Giana offers a visual comparing thoughts to passing clouds or a freight train you don’t have to board. This leads us into a conversation about the parasympathetic nervous system and how stillness is essential for true healing.

And finally, we land in samadhi—blissful awareness, the ultimate surrender. Total enlightenment may feel far off (which is why this podcast is called Nearly Enlightened, after all), but these practices can absolutely bring you closer to your true essence.

✨ If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed, scattered, anxious, or just deeply disconnected... this episode is your invitation to come home to yourself.

What we cover:

• How to practice pratyahara in a hyper-connected world
• Why multitasking is destroying our focus (and how dharana can help)
• Meditation as nervous system repair
• What samadhi really means—and how it shows up in everyday life
• Personal stories of how these limbs helped us reconnect with peace, purpose, and presence

🎧 Tune in now and rediscover yoga beyond the poses—as a radical path to inner freedom.
🔗 Share with a friend who could use some stillness.
📲 Visit nearlyenlightened.com for resources to support your body, mind, and spirit.

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Chapters

1. Introduction to Week Four Challenge (00:00:00)

2. Pratyahara: Withdrawal of the Senses (00:02:13)

3. Dharana: One-Pointed Concentration (00:09:56)

4. Dhyana: The Practice of Meditation (00:15:26)

5. Samadhi: Blissful Awareness (00:23:01)

6. Ultimate Surrender and Final Thoughts (00:27:10)

7. Challenge Conclusion and Reflections (00:32:15)