NURTURING ALL FIVE OF YOUR BODIES

When it comes to self care, most people think of activities that focus primarily on the physical body.  We try to eat a little cleaner, exercise more, drink more water and less wine, get a massage, etc.  All good things, but if we are only nourishing the physical body, our true picture of wellness and wholeness is blurred.  

Sadly, as humans, we invest more time, effort and money into making sure our machines and devices are maintaining optimal performance than we do in the greatest machine we own, our own bodies…all five of them.

Panchamaya Kosha System

The Panchamaya Kosha System, a concept from yoga philosophy, refers to the five layers of our being.  In Sanskrit, pancha means five, maya means form, and kosha means sheath or container. This system helps to define all the layers of our being and how they interrelate to bring balance and wholeness, or dis-ease and dysfunction. These layers move from gross to subtle, increasing in energy and vibration.

The Panchamaya Kosha System comes from the Taittiriya Upanishad and has been used in Ayurveda (Yoga’s sister science) for thousands of years to help identify the root cause of dis-ease in the body. When any of these parts of your being are unbalanced or neglected, the others are impacted and the whole becomes dis-eased.

This very simplified summary will give you a taste of the different layers and some simple practices you can do in your busy, modern life.  It’s important to take a holistic approach on any wellness journey, and you can start by understanding your five bodies and how they are woven together to create your unique design. 

ANNAMAYA KOSHA (PHYSICAL BODY)

KNOW: Annamaya Kosha literally means body formed by food.  From this perspective, the old adage is true: You are what you eat. This layer focuses on the physical body, and how nutrition and exercise impact its wellness. There is a lot to be said about the crimes against our food supply in the United States, but I’ll save those for another day. 

DO: Nourish your body with clean, whole, unprocessed foods.  Learn how to read food labels. Educate yourself on toxic ingredients, and avoid them at all costs. When your physical body is overloaded with toxins, it carries over to the other layers, affecting mental clarity and spiritual growth and connection.

KNOW: Movement is also paramount to this layer of being. Having a well-rounded exercise routine that moves your body through all planes of motion is not just great for musculoskeletal fitness, but it also stimulates cognitive function as we age. 

DO: Vary your exercise routine to include strength training, cardio, balance, flexibility and mobility. Remember exercise is a stressor to the body, so be sure to give yourself a rest day, and stay hydrated. 

PRANAMAYA KOSHA (ENERGY BODY)

KNOW: This is your breath body or energetic body. It’s where your life force energy lives and animates your physical body. It regulates physiological systems that flow in your body, like breathing, circulation and digestion.  If this kosha becomes neglected or dysfunctional, the physical body will begin to shut down. 

DO: In yoga, life force energy is called prana, and the practice of manipulating your energetic body with breath is called pranayama.  The magic of breathwork is that it is free, portable and effective. Try the 4-7-8 breath to calm anxiety and reduce stress.  Inhale for 4 counts, hold for 7, exhale for 8.  

KNOW: The Chakra system (energy centers) also exists in this layer.  Imbalances in your energy centers can manifest as many different physical, mental and emotional symptoms.  Along with movement and breathwork, Reiki can help to balance energy, ease stress and promote healing. 

DO: Explore energy healing techniques like Reiki, sound healing, Restorative Yoga and Yoga Nidra.

MANOMAYA KOSHA (MENTAL/EMOTIONAL BODY)

KNOW: Everything we digest can be looked at in terms of prana, or life force energy.  Some things are rich in prana, like a handful of freshly picked green beans, a barefoot walk on the beach or listening to crystal sound bowls.  Others are lacking, like canned vegetables, a traffic jam or watching disturbing news daily.  

The thoughts and emotions that arise through our sensory perceptions are what the Manomaya Kosha, or mental/emotional body is all about.  Because most of us can’t sit in the forest all day, playing a gong and eating blueberries right off the bush, we need to cultivate a sense of awareness of our thoughts and emotions to prevent them from becoming the stories that pull us out of the present moment, perpetuating toxic sensory intake.

DO: Practice mindfulness and meditation techniques.  These practices teach us to notice when thoughts and emotions are taking over.  

DO: AWARENESS OF BREATH PRACTICE: Sit in any comfortable position. Simply pay attention to your breath.  Notice when you’re breathing in.  Notice when you’re breathing out. Notice the sounds of your breath, the feeling of the air passing, the changing of shapes in your body as you inhale and exhale, and the space between breaths. 

DO: ONE MINUTE MINDFULNESS PRACTICE: Try sitting with your eyes half-open and noticing every possible sensory phenomenon that exists in your space in one minute.  You’ll be amazed at all of the sounds, smells and physical sensations that are going on around you when you’re paying attention. Note them as they arise, and then move on. Thoughts will arise, but the practice is not getting lost in the stories those thoughts love to create in our minds. 

VIJNANAMAYA KOSHA (WISDOM/INTELLECT BODY)

KNOW: Now that we are aware of our thinking mind, we have to learn how to use our thoughts wisely in a way that elevates us toward our highest self.  The Vijnanamaya Kosha, or wisdom body, is the place where discernment, intellect, judgment, conscience and will live.  Being able to see the world through different perspectives, respecting all people and having compassion toward all beings allows us to see the oneness that is everything.  

DO: Expand your knowledge at every opportunity.  Read actual books. Listen to informative podcasts.  Meet people from different backgrounds than you.  Perpetually gather as much knowledge as you can, and then alchemize that knowledge into wisdom by participating in contemplative practices.  

DO: Loving Kindness (Metta) Meditation is a beautiful practice for self-love and connection with all beings. Start by taking any comfortable seat.  Repeat this phrase for several rounds:

• May I be well. May I be happy.  May I be safe.  May I live with ease.  
• Repeat, but change the word I to the name of someone you care deeply about.
• Repeat, but change to someone neutral, such as a stranger on the street or in the checkout line. 
• Repeat, but change to a difficult person in your life.
• Repeat to include everyone in your immediate surrounding, then your city, your country, and all beings in the world and universe.  

ANANDAMAYA KOSHA (BLISS BODY)

KNOW: The most subtle layer of our being is the Anandamaya Kosha, or bliss body.  This level of consciousness is often referred to as the highest self.  It’s where the realization of the ultimate truths of existence are discovered.  This spiritual bliss can be described as a feeling of oneness with all things, a dissolution of the ego and a sense of connection to all that is.  

DO: Nourish the inner four koshas.  Clean up your eating, so you are not weighed down by stored toxins that pollute the body and mind.  Learn how to breathe properly to move energy through you and around you. Notice your thoughts and how they rule you, and then take back control with practices like meditation. Acknowledge your traumas, and seek help when necessary.  Feed yourself knowledge and practice compassion for all beings.  

DO: Honor your spiritual traditions and truths, and practice the rituals and ceremonies of those traditions.  Experiencing spiritual bliss through the Anandamaya Kosha is finding the knowing that there is one thing, and we are all it.

PRACTICE TO ELEVATE

If you’re just starting a wellness routine, consider all the layers of your complex and unique being. Know that a physical ailment could be a manifestation of an energy imbalance or toxic thought patterns. 

There are many practices and techniques widely available to help you on your journey, and you should move toward whatever calls to you. When we nurture all five of our bodies, we can start to connect to our highest self and the ultimate truth that we are infinite, eternal and whole.