THE KOSHAS: The Physical & Energetic Bodies

The koshas or sheaths, are layers of our being that make up the totality of who we are body, mind and spirit. There are five of these sheaths that organize our being into different levels through which we can attain optimal health and happiness. It is a way of understanding how both health and illness can affect not just the physical body, organs and systems, but also the energy, emotions and mental states as well. For example, when we do yoga asanas, we are moving the physical body, we are breathing more deeply, our mind and emotions are clear, we are quiet to receive intuitive thought and we are attaining glimpses of our utmost selves. Different yogic and other practices will affect different koshas but a change made on one level will be made subtly on all levels.  

When we are affected by a disease such as cancer, the four outer koshas are also affected. The body may be in pain, the energy suffers, the mind and emotions are in turmoil and we may be less closely in touch with our innate knowing due to the stress and worry of dealing with the disease. Only the inner most sheath is immune to the affects of disease. This core of who we truly are, the Atman, remains unblemished and untarnished by any disease or injury, whole and perfect and always present.

Anamaya Kosha (Physical Body)

The outer most sheath is the physical body comprised of the muscles, bones, skin, hair, blood vessels and organs. This is where we usually first notice illness and injury in the body because we spend the majority of our time focused on the sensations arising from the body.

Practices that Nourish: Eating whole healthy foods, asana and other forms of physical exercise

Pranamaya Kosha (Energy Body)

The second outermost sheath is the energetic or pranic body comprised of our nervous system, our internal battery, the aura, and the prana within our cells. We are aware of our pranic body usually when we feel particularly energetic or fatigued.

Practices that Nourish: Pranayama, mudra, and getting enough sleep

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PRACTICE FOR THE PHYSICAL & ENERGETIC BODIES:

Whole Body Yoga Series
During times of high stress or injury our prana may not reach all places in the body optimally. This simple sequence that moves every part of the body enables you to experience the connection between the physical and energetic bodies first hand. It also distributes prana evenly throughout the whole body to encourage optimal health and well-being. 

  - Whole Body Yoga Series

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Vayu Mudra
Fold index finger down to base of thumb and hold it in place with the thumb. Rest backs of hands on knees.
Benefits: Activates the flow of prana in the body
Practice Tips: Use when fearful, anxious, for low immunity, or with arthritis 

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Body Scan
Lie down in Savasana and move your awareness to different parts of your body systematically. Feel each part of your body but do not move any part. The practice begins on the right side.

Right hand thumb … 2nd finger … 3rd finger … 4th finger … 5th finger … palm of the hand … back of the hand … wrist … forearm … elbow … upper arm … shoulder … armpit … waist … hip … thigh … knee … calf … ankle … heel … sole of the foot … top of the foot … right big toe … 2nd toe … 3rd toe … 4th toe … 5th toe.

Left hand thumb … 2nd finger … 3rd finger … 4th finger … 5th finger … palm of the hand … back of the hand … wrist … forearm … elbow … upper arm … shoulder … armpit … waist … hip … thigh … knee … calf … ankle … heel … sole of the foot … top of the foot … left big toe … 2nd toe … 3rd toe … 4th toe … 5th toe.

No go to the back of the body … right heel … left heel … right calf … left calf … right thigh … left thigh … right buttock  … left buttock … lower back … middle back … upper back … the entire spine … right shoulder blade … left shoulder blade … back of the neck … back of the head.

Top of the head … forehead … right temple … left temple … right ear … left ear … right eyebrow … left eyebrow … middle of the eyebrows … right eye … left eye … right nostril … left nostril … right cheek … left cheek … upper lip … lower lip … both lip together … chin … jaw … throat … right collarbone … left collarbone … right side of the chest … left side of the chest … upper abdomen … navel … lower abdomen … right groin … left groin … the pelvic floor.

The whole right leg … whole left leg … whole right arm … whole left arm … the whole face … the whole head … the whole torso … the whole body … the whole body … the whole body.

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