The 5 Koshas
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We have 5 sheaths or layers that make up our bodies, though they cannot be separated.
1. Annamaya Kosha: The Physical Body
The outermost layer is the physical body (organs, bones, muscle tissue, and skin), known as the annamaya kosha in yoga. Anna means “food” or “physical matter” and maya means “made of.” We are the most familiar with our annamaya kosha—the experience of our physical body in yoga. Most people live in this layer of existence, only concerned about their body.
2. Pranamaya Kosha: Energy Body
Sheathed by the physical layer, the energetic body is called the pranamaya kosha and is composed of the body’s subtle life-force energy prana. Prana is closely related to the breath—you receive prana upon the air you breathe. pranayama exercises, increase and regulate prana in the body.
3. Manomaya Kosha: the Mental Body
The third layer corresponds to your mind, emotions, and nervous system—expressed as streams of thoughts, feelings, and sensations, and is known as the manomaya kosha, from manas, which means “mind” or “thought processes.”
Many of us have an overactive manomaya kosha that wears on our nervous system and plays out through our emotions. Yoga helps calm our minds and soothe our nervous systems, allowing you to recover from the effects of stress and fatigue on your third body. Your mental body is also where we experience the five senses.
4. Vijnanamaya Kosha: Wisdom Body
Beneath the constant stream of thoughts, feelings, and sensations (the processing, thinking, and reactive mind), lies an inner knowing and higher intelligence in your wisdom body, which is called the vijnanamaya kosha, “intellect.”
Vihnanamaya kosha is connected to Buddhi. It collects the information provided to it from manomaya kosha and sorts it into shapes, forms and ideas. These thoughts are coloured by samskaras and so do not provide a true and clear perception of reality. It can perceive that things are separate to create and ordered world for the body to move around in, but it can also fail to perceive interconnectedness of all things.
Your intuition, conscience, and the reflective aspects of your consciousness are all part of your wisdom body. Here, we develop our awareness and deeper insight into the nature of who we are and how we relate to the world around us. Yoga helps quiet the mental body so that our wisdom body can be heard and begin to guide us. A simple way to start working with your wisdom body is to notice sensations and changes taking place internally throughout your practice.
5. Anandamaya kosha: Bliss Body
The deepest layer of our being is the core of our existence, known as the anandamaya kosha, from ananda, which means “bliss.” Often referred to as your highest self or spirit, your bliss body is where you experience the unbounded freedom, expanse, and joyousness of your true nature. There’s a sense of peace and connectedness during which time ceases to exist and your consciousness expands beyond the limits of your body.
We can use yoga to bring the 5 koshas, body, breath, mind, wisdom, and spirit into harmony
1. Annamaya Kosha: The Physical Body
The outermost layer is the physical body (organs, bones, muscle tissue, and skin), known as the annamaya kosha in yoga. Anna means “food” or “physical matter” and maya means “made of.” We are the most familiar with our annamaya kosha—the experience of our physical body in yoga. Most people live in this layer of existence, only concerned about their body.
2. Pranamaya Kosha: Energy Body
Sheathed by the physical layer, the energetic body is called the pranamaya kosha and is composed of the body’s subtle life-force energy prana. Prana is closely related to the breath—you receive prana upon the air you breathe. pranayama exercises, increase and regulate prana in the body.
3. Manomaya Kosha: the Mental Body
The third layer corresponds to your mind, emotions, and nervous system—expressed as streams of thoughts, feelings, and sensations, and is known as the manomaya kosha, from manas, which means “mind” or “thought processes.”
Many of us have an overactive manomaya kosha that wears on our nervous system and plays out through our emotions. Yoga helps calm our minds and soothe our nervous systems, allowing you to recover from the effects of stress and fatigue on your third body. Your mental body is also where we experience the five senses.
4. Vijnanamaya Kosha: Wisdom Body
Beneath the constant stream of thoughts, feelings, and sensations (the processing, thinking, and reactive mind), lies an inner knowing and higher intelligence in your wisdom body, which is called the vijnanamaya kosha, “intellect.”
Vihnanamaya kosha is connected to Buddhi. It collects the information provided to it from manomaya kosha and sorts it into shapes, forms and ideas. These thoughts are coloured by samskaras and so do not provide a true and clear perception of reality. It can perceive that things are separate to create and ordered world for the body to move around in, but it can also fail to perceive interconnectedness of all things.
Your intuition, conscience, and the reflective aspects of your consciousness are all part of your wisdom body. Here, we develop our awareness and deeper insight into the nature of who we are and how we relate to the world around us. Yoga helps quiet the mental body so that our wisdom body can be heard and begin to guide us. A simple way to start working with your wisdom body is to notice sensations and changes taking place internally throughout your practice.
5. Anandamaya kosha: Bliss Body
The deepest layer of our being is the core of our existence, known as the anandamaya kosha, from ananda, which means “bliss.” Often referred to as your highest self or spirit, your bliss body is where you experience the unbounded freedom, expanse, and joyousness of your true nature. There’s a sense of peace and connectedness during which time ceases to exist and your consciousness expands beyond the limits of your body.
We can use yoga to bring the 5 koshas, body, breath, mind, wisdom, and spirit into harmony
