New Term ~ Pancha Kosha, The Five Bodies

A Chairde,

This Sunday we are beginning a new yoga term at Thrive, Greystones! Two yoga practices of either Hatha Flow at 5pm or Soft Stretch at 6:30pm, with five weeks of Sunday classes in our new series (dates are October 4th ~ November 8th but with *no classes scheduled for October 25th/the bank holiday weekend). At the moment I have only two term spots available in Hatha Flow and four available in Soft Stretch, so if you would like to cultivate a ritual of moving your body and carving out precious yoga time for yourself this October, please send me a message and I will save your space :) Drop-in bookings are also welcome if there is space on the day :)

For our philosophy theme this term we are adding on to our exploration of the elements within yoga by exploring a concept called the pancha kosha. Remember, this is all levels yoga! You do not need to study any of this, or even agree with it, in order to enjoy the yoga this term :) I promise! The theme is just a fun way for me to explore sharing yoga in a deeper way, and also to creatively sequence my classes so that you can connect with different intentions as you move and breathe. If you enjoy learning about yoga beyond the physical, though, these weekly emails are gentle invitations to cultivate a svadhyaya practice, a practice of self-study and contemplation...think of it as weekly food for thought :)

So, what is the pancha kosha? The kosha are a yogic idea that each individual perceives their reality through five sheaths, or layers; known as the five koshas. Pancha is the Sanskrit word for 'five', and so the pancha kosha is a study of the 'five sheaths' that wrap around the soul (atman).

As we move through our life, we know that there are experiences happening in our physical body; we can feel sensations, feedback...we have cravings for food, connection, shelter, safety. It may also be natural to check in with our nervous system and breathing from time to time...we notice if we are tired, if we feel drained, if we feel enthusiastic, buzzed, fearful, if we feel light. This combination of physicality and feeling is thought of as our reality. Where am I in space? What is real? In other words, what can be felt, touched, seen = true.

These are the two most superficial layers of the kosha system, the food body (annamaya kosha) and the energy body (pranamaya kosha). The easiest ones to relate to because we know them. Many of us, however, are also aware that there is more happening at deeper levels within us throughout the day. For example, are you having any thoughts?

The third layer of the pancha kosha is the mental and emotional body, the manomaya kosha. Chances are, you notice your mind from time to time. When we pay attention, we can notice if our thoughts are active or inactive, we can listen to them, we can see if our cognitive functions are working for or against us; we can sense when our psychological projections respond to events, create stories about others or ourselves, make us sad, make us happy...this is an awareness of the mental/emotional body. 

The three most superficial layers of physical, feeling, and mental koshas are the ones that most of us can get stuck identifying with. The evil genius wants to put his mind into a computer so that he can live forever...why? Because he thinks that his mind and body is all that he is (and that the mind is more important).

So, physical awareness, energetic awareness, mental awareness...this is where a lot of people stop their journey inwards, where they stop noticing. Still though, as we go about our simple tasks, it is clear that there are deeper experiences happening within us, whether we are always conscious of them or not. A gust of wind may blow out of nowhere and move the leaves in the tree above you just so...and in that moment a small spark of guidance or inner knowing may alight inside you. A light bulb moment! A-ha! Like a north star appearing and pointing you towards what is true. This is known as the higher mind, the intuitive body. Vijnanamaya kosha. 

Even deeper within us still, there is said to be a fifth layer of how we perceive reality. This is a sheath at the very centre of our being, the final piece covering the atman, the soul. This layer/kosha is the anandamaya kosha, the bliss body. The bliss body is a place where, even when all of our other layers of perceiving reality may be under stress and strain ~ perhaps we feel tired, blocked, afraid, unworthy, unloved, isolated, desperate...even still, at the core of our being and simultaneous with all of this outside suffering, there is an understanding of reality that is so powerful, so true, that a deep part of us remains eternally at peace. Anandamaya kosha is the home of unconditional love, unconditional joy. The understanding of no life and no death; where the eternal nature of source and reincarnation all come to roost.

Each week this term, we will open the door to one of these koshas and see what there is to explore! The five elements will be really helpful here; for example this week the door to annamaya kosha will be EARTH. You can expect a grounding physical practice, where we will work to follow sensation and focus on setting a strong foundation. I hope to see you there!

"The story is incorporated in the body. You need to be in these places to feel it. Feel the land."

Manchán Magan

Le grá,

Macha