Yoga Philosophy for everyday life.
Get connected with yoga! Yoga is about bringing union to you body, mind and spirit, so you feel whole and complete within yourself. Bring your mind to the rhythm of your breath, and your breath to the movements of your body, for greater presence everyday. That is the true essence of a yoga practice.
Sit back, relax and listen as Amy G shares a simple start to Yoga Philosophy.
“Perhaps the only limits to the human mind are those we believe in.”
– Willis Harman
Your energy body…
According to Yogic Philosophy, the human body consists of five layers or bodies, known as the “Koshas”. Kosha means “sheath”. These sheaths are the outward layers that we identify with to make up our character, which can prevent us from connecting with SELF, or source, or bliss; our inner most layer.
Your experiences, memories, and actions solidify how these sheaths play out in your life. The practice of yoga creates a balance between these human experiences essential for a physical existence, whilst keeping us connected to the innermost self, so we can experience bliss.
Yoga teaches us to recognise ourselves in ways that lead us towards well-being, by balancing our layers to move freely within our experience and reveal greater connetion to our true nature.
The 5 Koshas
Annamaya Kosha – Physical Body
A healthy body is a pathway to spiritual connection. What you eat, drink, and the environment you are in all contribute to how you interact with the world around you. The Physical Body is balanced and harmonised through:
- Hydration & Nutrition
- Movement (asana)
- Healthy relationships
Pranamaya Kosha – Breath Body
The Breath Body is seen as how energy moves throughout the body. Prana (or life force) is what sustains energy and creates awareness for physical and mental tasks. The Breath Body can be inspired by nature and human connection and is balanced and harmonised through:
- Natural Breath Flow
- Nutrition & Hydration
- Balanced Nervous System
Manomaya Kosha – Astral Body (Thoughts)
This is the Mental Energy Body. Balance of the breath brings balance to the mind. It is said that “The whole world exists in your mind”, so you must harness your mind to harness a blissful life. There are two aspects of the mind – linear and sequential thinking, as well as the quality of discernment and discrimination. The Mental Energy Body is balanced and harmonised through:
- Meditation
- Correct Thinking & Discernment
- Self Study & Focus
- Turning the Senses Inward
Vijnanamaya Kosha – Causal Body (Emotions)
This is the Emotional Body. Vijnanamaya Kosha is influenced through sensory impressions, a sum of experiences, upbringing and education. It is what decides our responses associated with who I AM. It is composed through inner knowledge and experienced as feelings and emotions. The Emotional Body is balanced and harmonised through:
- Discernment & Discrimination
- Reasoning & Analysing
- Free flowing state to enhance intuition
Anandamaya Kosha – Bliss Body
This is the subtlest layer of the Koshas. To hold a blissful state is to recognise happiness within. Pleasure is from satisfying our desires, but it is impermanent. True happiness naturally flows and is ever present as we connect to SELF. The Bliss Body is felt when the other sheaths move into balance.
- Where does your happiness come from?
- Where does your pleasure come from?
Food for thought…
- How could your life look if you were reaching your highest potential?
- What would you be doing differently to feed your body, mind and soul?
- Question where you are, not because where you are is bad, but because it is the bouncing off place for so much more.