The Five Koshas - What are they?

The Koshas were first noted in the Upanishads which are ancient Vedic texts, and they were described within those texts as energetic layers (like an onion) of your body that are believed to surround and house your soul. The word Kosha translates as “sheath” and that is exactly what they are seen as, a covering of the Atman (the Self).

There a five Koshas in total known collectively as Pancha Kosha.

Annamaya Kosha - the physical body

Annamaya is the outer layer of the physical self and is often referred to as the food cover, so the things you eat, drink and do create this cover. This layer identifies us as a mass that consists of our skin, fat and bones. This is the first entry for us to have access to the deeper layer of the energy systems and Koshas in our body.

How to support Annamaya Kosha?

To take care of this Koshas we should keep a healthy diet and lifestyle, free from impurities. Regular exercise, but also relaxation can support us to keep our Annamaya Kosha healthy. We can also use our physical yoga practice to support flexibility, strength, balance, and relaxation to this layer. What we do at this level of annamaya Kosha, also affects the other Koshas as well. When we reach the deeper layers, we can reach the Atman and be aware of our physical body, the first layer is like the foundation and helps us in connecting with the other layers.

Pranamaya Kosha - the energy body

Pranamaya is the second layer or cover and is the Kosha that allows us to be who we are, and to express ourselves in an animated way.

How to support Pranamaya Kosha?

For us to support or develop this Kosha we need to work on pranayama/breath awareness. We do this a lot through yoga classes where we draw attention to the breath, noticing how it makes the body feel when we move in different ways and using the breath to deepen, soften or lengthen physically. We can do this off the mat too, just by simply focusing on our inhale and exhale.

Breath is a link for body, mind and soul. Conscious control of breath through a yoga practise is what sets physical yoga apart from other forms of exercise. Noticing the breath automatically reminds us to deepen the breaths we’re taking. Breath is automatic but can become shallow.

As we deepen and lengthen our breath it stimulates the parasympathetic nervous system which enables us to relax - hence when someone is panicking they are asked to slow the breath but also lengthen the breath if that can.

Manomaya Kosha - the emotional body

Manomaya is all about our energy and thoughts, and how we process emotions, it’s the Kosha that directly controls us, the mind Kosha, often referred to as the lower mind.

When we meditate or create positive thoughts and affirmations we work with Manomaya Kosha.

How to support Manomaya Kosha?

As an example, during our physical practice, our minds will usually start to conjure up different thoughts about the practice, how it feels, how we think it looks, what we can and can’t do, and maybe not just for ourselves, perhaps for others around us. You will naturally make assumptions and judge. This is quite normal, getting caught up in the mind’s constant commentary of our surroundings, but it will ultimately leave you feeling deflated and sad. This is just how the mind works, but we can use our practice to develop the higher functions of Manomaya so that we can move into the inner, more subtle sheaths.

The concentration we have during practice on things like breath, postures, and drishti can all help to teach the mind to stay present in each moment. I often tell students during class if they’re struggling to stay present to repeat in their own mind ‘inhale, exhale’ ..therefore all other thoughts naturally have to be paused.

Vijnanamaya Kosha - the wisdom body

Vijnanamaya relates to our wisdom and intellect. It is the first layer of the “casual mind” located in our Vishuddha / Throat chakra. It is often referred to as the higher mind. Developing this Kosha meditation that concentrates on self-reflection will help. Vijnanamaya is our intuition and intellect and essentially our awareness.

Ever reach a point during practice where you don’t feel distracted by thoughts or thinking about the next posture and you really feel the pose in your body and your mind as you arrive and settle. This awareness is achieved when vijnanamaya Kosha is developed.

How to support Vijnanamaya Kosha?

Vijnanamaya builds on the foundation of the previous Manomaya Kosha ..this basically lays the foundation for working towards or reaching vijnanamaya. Once we can develop a steady mind Vijnanamaya gifts us awareness.

To develop this Kosha we should practice regular breath awareness and pranayama, along with meditation.

Anandamaya Kosha - the bliss body

Anandamaya is believed to relate to samadhi which is a state of meditative consciousness. Ananda means “bliss” and Kosha as we know means "sheath." Anandamaya Kosha is the bliss body or bliss sheath. Its believed Anadamaya Kosha cannot truly be reached until the practice of the other four layers is reached.

How to support Anandamaya Kosha

This Kosha is not something we should try and reach perfection in or practice as it is only really revealed when we truly release any form of thought or mind control over it

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