What We Are...
In yoga philosophy, we are described as multi-dimensional beings made up of three bodies containing 5 koshas or sheaths:
The Three Bodies
PHYSICAL BODY
Our physical body is made up of a combination of five elements- earth (prithivi), water (apas), fire (agni), air (vayu) and ether (akasha). Our habits balance or disrupt the five elements. When we practice yoga postures, we decrease, increase, and/or balance these elements. What we eat affects this body, as well as our breathing practices.
ASTRAL BODY
Our astral body contains the intellect, mind, subconcious, and ego allowing us to navigate the world through our thoughts and feelings.
CAUSAL BODY
The causal body contains our past life experiences, habits, and memories. The astral and the causal bodies are often out of our awareness and don't become part of our awareness until we begin a meditation practice. Both the astral and causal body are linked and leave the body upon death, leaving the physical body behind.
THE FIVE KOSHAS OR SHEATHS
Annamaya kosha - the food sheath
This kosha is part of the physical body and is also called "the food body". It is made up of all the elements and all that is physical. What we eat creates this body and it returns to the earth upon death.
Pranamaya kosha - the energy sheath
This kosha is part of the the astral body. It contains 5 energies that flow throughout the physical body and follow the breath. It energizes and is the organizing field that holds the physical body together, governing breathing, digestion, blood circulation and all biological processes.
Manomaya kosha - the mental sheath
This kosha is also part of the astral body. We experience thought through this sheath. The mind/thoughts, subconscious, ego, and emotions are contained in this sheath. It processes info from the five senses and tends to be reactive and lack awareness if not directed by the fourth kosha or vijnanamayakosha.
Vijnanamaya kosha - the intellectual sheath
This kosha is connected to the astral body. Wisdom and the powers of discernment (intellect) are contained here. It consists of the intellect (the buddhi) which analyses the information we receive and controls the ego. Decisions and judgments that support well-being are made from this sheath. Signs that this kosha is developing are making proactive choices from a strong sense of right/wrong and a felt sense of compassion. The Yamas and Niyamas in yoga teachings are the foundational practices for developing the vijnanamayakosha. Meditation and witness consciousness also open us to our inner guidance in connection to this kosha.
Anandamaya kosha - the bliss sheath
This kosha is contained in the causal body. It is the part of us that knows the oneness of everything. It is out of our awareness until we begin to practice meditation. Through the space between our thoughts in the silence of meditation, we begin to access this part of ourselves bringing us a sense of joy, equanimity, and peace. Practices that open our heart like Bhakti yoga and selfless service (seva) allow us to sense the unity of all consciousness, knowing our own divine being.
What does all this have to do with wellness and coaching for transformation? When we begin to see ourselves from a 3 body/5 sheath perspective, we can open to our true selves, making choices that enhance physical/mental health, dismantling the stories that inform reactive thought processes and choosing proactive thoughts/actions directed by higher level powers of discernment. We go from unilateral physical beings to multi-dimensional spiritual beings and that makes all the difference in wellness. Transformational coaching, meditation, and yoga nidra are some of the practices that open us up to enhanced well-being.
