Episode Transcript
[00:00:00] Foreign.
[00:00:11] Hello, and welcome to Deep in your Yoga Practice. I'm Lauren Leduc, the owner and founder of True Love Yoga in Kansas City, Missouri. And in this episode today, we'll deepen our yoga practices by talking about the koshas, which are the layers of the self in yogic philosophy. So you might have noticed before if you felt physically fine but emotionally drained, or maybe at times you felt mentally overwhelmed but spiritually clear, or maybe you felt energized but disconnected. Yoga has long taught that we are not just a physical body. We are layered beings. We are physical, energetic, mental, emotional, and spiritual. And these layers are called the koshas. Kosher means sheath or layer, and they are meant to be layers that cover the true self, almost like a Russian nesting doll. So in this episode today, we'll talk about where the koshas originate historically, what they are and how they function, how they were originally used in yogic philosophy, how modern yoga interprets them, and how we can apply them to a complex modern life. So let's go. The kosher model comes from the upanish, so it's part of the Vedantic tradition, and in particular, the Taiteriya Upanishad, which was written somewhere between 5th and 6th centuries BCE. And in this period of yoga history, we are being introduced to yoga as something that is practiced, and we're very much rooted in this inquiry into Atman or the true self or soul and Brahman or this ultimate reality or God or the divine. So it was within that particular context.
[00:02:04] So originally, the purpose of the koshas wasn't really like a wellness model, but instead a meditative map that was used to understand the nature of the self. The koshas helped practitioners move inward from the most gross meaning, like the physical body and matter, to the most subtle or our essence. So in the traditional context, the koshas were not something that were being balanced or optimized. They weren't used as a personal development tool. Instead, they're a philosophical framework to help one understand that we're not really the body, we're not really the breath. We're not our thoughts, we're not our emotions. Instead, we are this awareness behind them. We are the atman. The koshas were designed to help us realize we are not our experiences. Instead, we are the witness of them. So now we'll go through each of these five koshas and we'll talk about their name, meaning traditional role, and how we work with them and interpret them in modern yoga. So the first layer, you might think of it as the outermost layer is anamaya kosha, which is the physical body, means food. So we can think of our body made of food, sustained by food, and it returns to become food. And again, this is the outermost, most gross or tangible layer of the self. So that's how we see it in the traditional lens. In the modern lens, we can think of this as the muscles and bones and tissues and organs and fascia.
[00:03:44] We also think of it as part of our movement and posture and sleep and nutrition. So all of these different, like wellness factors that we care for our bodies with. So asana and yoga or posture becomes this physical care, this care for annamaya kosha, as well as the path to embodiment. So being fully within the body, embracing the body, allowing it even to be a part of this spiritual process and a part of our wholeness. And this is a layer that we can touch and see and feel. So that's on the Maya kosha, the body or physical body. So kosher number two, so going inward just a little bit is called pranamaya kosha. And this is the energy body. Prana is life force energy.
[00:04:37] So through the traditional lens, we're looking at this layer as the vital force that's animating the body. This includes our breath as well as our energy channels or nadis, these highways of prana that flow through our system. So through a modern lens, we might be looking at pranamaya kosha as the way our breath works, our breath patterns, maybe our nervous system tone that is directly affected by our breath. Perhaps it's our energy levels and our stress response as well. In yoga, we connect to prana, Maya kosha through pranayama, through breath awareness, and through this self regulation process that we typically undergo within a class. This is the layer that makes the body feel alive. So this is prana, Maya kosha. And know that breath and prana in this time and also through many traditions is something that is very much akin to the spirit, to our life in general. It's like the key to what animates us and is seen as something holy. So that is pranamaya kosha, the energy body. The third kosha is called manomaya kosha. So we're going in a little bit more deeply. And this is the mental and emotional body. So manomaya kosha, manas meaning the mind. So in a traditional sense, we're thinking of the sensory mind, our thoughts and emotions and reactions, as well as what is processing the external information.
[00:06:17] We might speak of this In a modern lens, by talking about our inner dialogue, our emotional patterns, our stress, anxiety and mood, maybe our conditioning or neural pathways and perception as well. In yoga, we connect to this space through mindfulness, through awareness, and through cultivating mental clarity. So this is the layer where our experiences are interpreted. This is our mind, Manomaya kosha.
[00:06:51] Now let's go a little bit deeper into the fourth layer. So going more deeply past the body, past the energy, past the mind and into vishnana mya kosha. This is the wisdom or intuition body. Vijnana means knowing and discernment. So in a traditional sense, we are talking about our higher intellectual, our, our intuition, discriminative awareness and the ability to see truth beyond conditioning. We might speak of this in a modern lens by talking about self awareness and insight, aligning with our values, having a moral compass, having this sense of inner guidance or intuition. So this is really using our higher mind, maybe we'd say like our prefrontal cortex. And as we connect with this space, in yoga, we use things like meditation and self inquiry or contemplation, reflection, and we align with concepts like dharma or purpose as well. This is the layer that knows even when the mind is noisy. So it's that quieter voice, that wise voice, that intuitive voice. So that is layer four, Vijnanamaya kosha, the wisdom or intuition body. The fifth and last layer is called ananda mya kosha, and that is the bliss body. So this is the innermost layer. And ananda means bliss. Traditionally, we're looking at this as the deepest sheath, as something maybe that is experienced in deep meditation. And it's still not considered the true self or atman, but it is the closest to it. So it's going to look and feel and be experienced very similarly to the self. In a modern lens, we might connect to this layer as things like moments of peace, of being in a flow state, of deep presence, maybe to connection beyond our identities. Typically, if I am leading a yoga class and we're talking about connecting to ananda maya kosha. I usually bring awareness to the space of the heart and cultivate a sense of gratitude and bliss and connection toward others. So through yoga we might connect to this space through meditation, through stillness, through spiritual connection, and really through so many varieties of practices. Think about when you've been on your mat and you felt most blissful. That might be through Shavasana. Maybe you've had a sound bath before and it really brought up feelings of bliss. Maybe it's something like a metabhavana meditation where we're ascending love and kindness toward ourselves and others.
[00:09:43] So think about when you felt really connected to your heart and connected to a sense of like deep peace and bliss. And that is connecting to Ananda Maya kosha, this fifth innermost layer. This is a layer of quiet contentment that isn't dependent on circumstances. So I'll talk a little bit more now about how the koshas were used then. So back in that Upanishadic period versus now. Then again, there are this contemplative map and they're used in meditation and inquiry. So it doesn't necessarily mean that those are all like things that you can touch and feel. They're mostly things that you would connect with through meditation. They help point one towards liberation. In this particular period of yogic history, the aim or goal of liberation manifested. It wasn't really included in earlier periods or in the Vedas. So now we are looking to feel liberated in this particular time period. The ultimate goal of liberation really is to be liberated from reincarnating. And the koshas were a helpful tool for distinguishing the self from the experiences that the self is having.
[00:10:58] So we sometimes use them or see them a little bit differently now because yoga is an ever evolving practice that adapts to the needs of people within specific periods of time and places and helps relieve suffering. So now we use it more as this holistic wellness model, so we can apply this to our physical health, our emotional balance, our mental clarity, spiritual growth, stress management.
[00:11:27] So modern yoga uses the koshas as a tool for integration. So very similarly to like the chakra system, I might use the koshas now as a check in. I'm checking in with each of these layers, noticing what's there and maybe seeing where I can find a little bit more compassion or balance or rest or whatever is needed to help bring about a sense of wellness in that space. But traditional yoga use these more for tools of transcendence. So rather than integration and embodiment, we are more so seeing all these layers as illusions. So we can kind of say, I am not, that I'm not that I am not that what I am is the true self. So both this modern and traditional lens can be very valuable if they're understood in a respectful way. Traditionally, the koshas helped us realize who we are not, and today they help us care for who we are. So let's take some time to apply the koshas to modern life. So let's bring our work lives into this as an example, and maybe work stress as well, maybe in our physical body we start to feel tension. In our our energy body or breath body we feel shallowness. Maybe in our mind body we feel a sense of racing or overwhelm. In our wisdom body we might know that rest is needed.
[00:12:52] And in our bliss body we might find that sense of peace or rest when we're able to lighten the load and find stillness and honor what our wisdom has asked for. Let's talk about the koshas. Maybe in regards to social media, maybe as we're scrolling or posting, our body, our physical body feels still and stagnant and our breath is held and our mind is in comparison and our wisdom or that higher self knows that this is curated BS and bliss is when we kind of let that go and maybe tap into what is true, what is real, and feel a sense of compassion for ourselves and others. We might also feel into our koshas when it comes to relationships.
[00:13:39] Maybe our bodies feel contractive or expansive. Maybe our breaths feel tight or they feel calm. Maybe the mind feels reactive or it feels restful. Maybe our wisdom sees patterns in the relationships or maybe it knows things are right. And maybe we find bliss through presence and that's with ourselves or maybe that's through connection with the other person. So in a modern sense we can really tap into or tune into all of these different layers and gain a lot of wisdom for them. Like if the body feels contracted, maybe that is our mind trying to tell us something or our wisdom leading us in a specific direction because it knows which way bliss lies. And the koshas might help us understand as well, like which layer or which layers are asking for attention. Where can we put our attention and focus for more wellness, more balance, more love? Now I'll offer a few practical ways to work with each kosher. So first is anamaya kosha or the food or body layer. You can work with this through all of the beautiful things that I'm sure you're doing, like drinking water and moving the body in various ways and stretching and nourishing the body with healthy foods, getting lots of rest. With pranamaya kosha or the energy or breast layer, you can regulate your breath. You can breathe deeply and through your nose as well. You can utilize pranayama practices at different times that have specific effects that you're looking for energetically. And you can notice your breath in different situations and allow it to calm. With manomaya kosha or your mind layer, maybe you are journaling and free writing. Maybe you're observing your thoughts without Judging them and just also acknowledging that the monkey mind exists. It's part of who we are and it's really the awareness of it, the ability to step back and witness that becomes really powerful and that leads us through into yoga. Next is Vijnanamaya Kosha, this wisdom layer. Maybe when we're working with this, we are reflecting. Maybe those are questions from a teacher or a guided journal or questions we come up with. Maybe we're asking deeper questions. So this isn't just free writing or journaling. This is directive. And this is really what I would consider like speaking to your higher self. And then finally we have the Ananda Mya Kosha or the bliss layer.
[00:16:18] And maybe this is sitting in stillness.
[00:16:21] Maybe it is connecting with someone you really love and truly being with them, not on your phones, but in conversation or in silence. Maybe it's going out into nature and being with your favorite tree or body of water. Maybe it's going to your favorite yoga class and seeing all the people that you love. Maybe it's being of service to others. There are so many ways to connect with bliss. I think it's important to take some time with your Vishnana Maya Kosha to reflect and find out where and when you have felt most blissful. So that when you need to be in touch with this part of yourself that is so close to, to the big S self or to the truth or your essence that you know exactly what to do, know as you're working with your koshas that you don't need to fix yourself. It's simply about listen. Listening and knowing which layer needs care and then being responsive in a kind and compassionate way. So before we close, I'll invite you to take a few moments to reflect. If it feels comfortable and safe, you can close your eyes, otherwise they might soften. Or if you're driving, keep them open. Please take a moment to take a slow breath and ask yourself, what layer of me feels the loudest today? And what layer feels neglected? What layer feels peaceful? And you might pause and invite one small action aligned with one of those layers to bring in more balance, more wholeness, more wellness. I will include some journaling prompts for you in the show notes. I'll read them here in case you want to simply contemplate. But the first is, which kosher do I live in most often? The second is, which kosher do I neglect next? When do I feel most whole? Then? What practices nourish my deeper layers? And finally, what does bliss actually feel like to me? So the Koshas remind us that we are not one dimensional, we are layered. We are complex, we are evolving beings. And yoga is the practice of caring for each layer with awareness. So thank you so much for joining me today. I love talking about these philosophical concepts and yoga and these different ways of looking at the body. And if you would like more, please let me know. I'm so happy you're here. Thank you so much for joining me and I will chat with you next week.
