Category: koshas

Koshas and the Vagus Nerve

Posted on by Tish Ganey

A Review of the Koshas

The concept of the “koshas” in yoga philosophy refers to layers or sheaths that describe the various parts of an individual’s consciousness and existence. The koshas represent different dimensions of the human experience, from the most physical to the most spiritual. There are five koshas, each are distinct but also nested within the other.

In yoga therapy, the Koshas are the framework used to co-create a plan for helping a person to achieve more balance and calmness in their lives.

Here are brief descriptions:

  1. Annamaya Kosha (Physical Sheath): This is the outermost layer and pertains to the physical body. It encompasses the physical organs, systems, and the overall body structure. It is associated with the physical sensations, experiences, and health of the body. The state of the Annamaya Kosha can influence one’s overall well-being, energy levels, and vitality.
  2. Pranamaya Kosha (Energetic Sheath): This kosha relates to the energetic body and encompasses the various energy channels, or “nadis,” and energy centers, or “chakras.” It is associated with the flow of vital life force energy (prana) throughout the body. The state of the Pranamaya Kosha can influence one’s vitality, emotional states, and overall energy balance.
  3. Manomaya Kosha (Mental Sheath): This layer represents the mind and mental processes. It includes thoughts, emotions, beliefs, memories, and perceptions. The state of the Manomaya Kosha can influence one’s cognitive functioning, emotional well-being, and mental clarity.
  4. Vijnanamaya Kosha (Wisdom Sheath): This kosha is associated with intellect, wisdom, and intuition. It encompasses higher cognitive functions, discernment, and a deeper understanding of oneself and the world. The state of the Vijnanamaya Kosha can influence one’s ability to make sound decisions, seek inner guidance, and cultivate wisdom.
  5. Anandamaya Kosha (Bliss Sheath): The innermost kosha represents the state of bliss, joy, and interconnectedness. It’s associated with a profound sense of contentment and spiritual fulfillment. The Anandamaya Kosha is often considered to be the closest to one’s true nature or higher self.

Enter the Vagus Nerve

The vagus nerve is a crucial part of the parasympathetic nervous system and plays a significant role in regulating various bodily functions, including heart rate, digestion, respiratory rate, and emotional responses. Its activity is closely linked to the body’s stress response and relaxation mechanisms. The vagus nerve has a direct influence on the autonomic nervous system, which in turn can impact the different koshas. In yoga we might describe the activity of vagus nerve as an energy system, and as the fluctuation of energy.

Making a connection between the vagus nerve’s activity and the condition of the koshas within an individual:

  1. Annamaya Kosha: The vagus nerve’s influence on digestion and metabolism can impact the physical body’s functioning. An overactive vagus nerve might lead to digestive issues, while a well-regulated vagus nerve can promote healthy digestion and overall bodily function.
  2. Pranamaya Kosha: The vagus nerve’s role in regulating heart rate variability and breathing can influence the energy flow within the energetic body. Balanced vagal tone can support a harmonious energy circulation, while imbalances might lead to disruptions in energy flow.
  3. Manomaya Kosha: The vagus nerve’s connection to emotional responses can affect mental well-being. A balanced vagus nerve can help regulate emotions and stress responses, contributing to a healthier mind.
  4. Vijnanamaya Kosha: The vagus nerve’s impact on cognitive functions can influence higher-order thinking and discernment. Optimal vagal tone can contribute to clear thinking and better decision-making.
  5. Anandamaya Kosha: The vagus nerve’s role in promoting relaxation and reducing stress can create an environment conducive to experiencing states of inner bliss and contentment. A well-functioning vagus nerve can support spiritual practices and a sense of interconnectedness.

A conceptual connection can be made between the koshas and the vagus nerve’s activity. Science continues to describe the autonomic nervous system (ANS) in more detail, as we gain a greater understanding as to how thoughts and emotions effect the ANS. Research into vagal tone, heart rate variability, Polyvagal Theory, trauma, PTSD, depression, auto immune disease, and other areas continue to point to connections between ancient wisdom traditions and modern science.

Annamaya Kosha – Our PHYSICAL Body

Posted on by Tish Ganey

Yoga in the Physical Body

The practice of yoga is probably best recognized for what it “looks like” in the physical body. Yoga asanas, the yogic postures are recognized immediately in American culture. Who hasn’t seen a picture of someone standing with wide legs, one knee bent, with their arms extended out to their sides? And then thought, “oh, they are doing YOGA!” This physical practice of yoga is an activity for our physical body, for our Annamaya Kosha. Annamaya Kosha is the layer, or part of ourselves that stands apart from other aspects of our being. It relates to our physical body.

Names for the physical body and for the other five “bodies” are broad categories of our being. These five layers or Koshas help us to recognize the unique and important aspects of these different parts of ourselves. They are separate parts, but completely interrelated as everything in our universe seems to be! These divisions or “sheaths” give us a way to understand and discuss our selves in greater detail. They identify the need to heal.

The Five Koshas:

1. Physical Body – Annamayakosha
2. Breath/Energy Body – Pranamayakosha
3. Psycho/Emotional Body – Manamayakosha
4. Witness/Wisdom Body – Vijnanamayakosha
5. Bliss Body – Anandamayakosha

Yoga without breathing is “just stretchin'”

One of my favorite yoga teachers is known to remind the class, in his southern way, that doing yoga without a real focus on the breath is “just stretchin’.” Even though we divide the physical body from the energy body in a list of the Koshas, we cannot separate them! With Annamaya and Pranamaya, we are moving the physical body in synchrony with the breath/energy body as if it were one thing. And it is! We move the arms up and inhale, we move the arms down and exhale. That is yoga!

Yoga therapy and balance within the Koshas

The discussion of the Koshas and of working with these layers of existence is the basis of yoga therapy. In a traditional yoga class the topics of breath, emotion, body awareness, and body wisdom are sometimes introduced. In yoga therapy, they are at the forefront of any approach. Yoga therapy starts with the Koshas. For individual yoga therapy, zeroing in on imbalance among the Koshas is where the healing begins. Group yoga therapy also uses the Koshas to identify common imbalances for which the yoga therapist can guide individuals within the group. All healing begins with balance in the Koshas.

Slowing the physical body, slowing the energy body

In the physical body we tie together breath and movement in yoga. Using our physical body we can work to slow down each of these aspects in the practice. We slow the physical body so the breath can work to slow down our energy body. We slow the breath and the energy so the physical body will slow down and find greater relaxation. Working in tandem in this way, IS the way. The breath practice within the movement practice is actually the special sauce of yoga! And in this way we are able to notice the other Koshas as they come online, as we practice consistently.

Many paths, one mountain

This quote of many paths, one mountain reminds me of what happens when yoga becomes a regular, consistent practice. Often times we start out thinking and wanting a purely physical practice. We want exercise! As we learn the postures and begin to take the general shape of each posture, we are ready to “hear” more from the yoga teacher. We begin to hear and incorporate the instruction to move on the inhale, settle in on the exhale (or the reverse, as the posture may require). Slowly we are led up the path, and up the mountain. This mountain is the journey to our true nature. There are many paths up this mountain. Yoga is one. Spiritualism is another. Family. Community. Work. Caregiving. Birth. Death. These can all be foot paths up the mountain.

Many people, one place

All these varied paths may hold some new intelligence or understanding as we explore what it means to be human. And what it means to be our own human, individual selves. Individual but also part of the collective. There are different parts to ourselves and within our own true nature we have these layers, these Koshas. But still, being just one person (one in five, five in one, if you will!). One person as a member of a larger group of humans on earth. We are together in this one place but having many different experiences.

Yoga is the yoke

Yoga is a Sanskrit word that generally translates to “yoke.” There are many variations on this idea and what the word yoga means. My preferred explanation is that yoga is a yoke. It joins the parts of ourselves to form the whole. It creates a yoke, where the parts of ourselves are joined one to the other. This yoke forms another yoke of joining all people together in the common experience of living through and with the Koshas. We’re all one!

Namaste!

Pranamaya Kosha – Our ENERGY Body

Posted on by Tish Ganey

Prana is Vital Energy

Pranamaya Kosha is the name of the part of ourselves that deals with Energy. Prana is a Sanskrit word that means “vital energy.” It is the force within the body that animates or electrifies our being. The idea of Prana (or Qi in Traditional Chinese Medicine) is one of the few concepts that doesn’t have a relative term in Western medicine. The major body systems and organs are defined and recognized in some manner in most ancient, traditional, and modern medical practices. And many healing practices also recognize the more subtle presence of energy.

For some reason, the idea of energy within the body is missing from the modern medical lexicon. Maybe it is because it cannot be seen as a distinct object within the anatomy. Or maybe it is not easy to measure or detect with an instrument, like heartbeat with a stethoscope. It might simply be too woo-woo because we don’t yet fully understand it. To make this more unnerving, most people can relate a direct experience of feeling or using this form of personal, vital energy.

The Sanskrit term “Pranamaya Kosha” may sound like something that is too foreign to understand. Sanskrit names for our yogic postures, practices and philosophies are sometimes used in yoga class. But Sanskrit can sometimes be intimidating! After all, many yoga teachers will guide the class into “Downward Facing Dog” with never mentioning its Sanskrit mouth-full-of-a-name: Adho Mukha Svanasana!

The Sanskrit names for the five Koshas can have a similar effect when we first hear them. It might be easier, or more straight forward to refer to the Koshas as layers that make up the whole person. Our five layers or Koshas, in yogic philosophy are an easy way to broadly categorize parts of ourselves. These layers may overlap and are deeply interconnected. If you ever run across a Kosha coloring book, be sure to color outside the lines!

Koshas are the parts of ourselves, that together, make up the whole person. They are divided in a ways that help us to identify our levels of balance. For example someone who has a physical injury may feel like they are off balance in their physical body (Annamayakosha). Someone who feels happy and relaxed may be in that state because their witness body (Vinjnanamayakosha) has reached a high level of acceptance and surrender. It is through the awareness of these parts of ourselves that we are able to maintain health and well-being.

Yoga can help bring balance back into our lives, and help us keep areas of our lives in balance through awareness and yogic tools.

The Five Koshas:
1. Physical Body – Annamayakosha
2. Breath/Energy Body – Pranamayakosha
3. Psycho/Emotional Body – Manamayakosha
4. Witness/Wisdom Body – Vijnanamayakosha
5. Bliss Body – Anandamayakosha

Read more about the Koshas on my other website.

Come to Tampa Yoga Therapy to focus on the Pranamaya Kosha, the energy body. The approach for this Kosha is to bring more awareness to the inherent energy in the body. You may notice this Kosha includes the name of our breath practice: Pranayama. Breathing is one of the best tools we have to move Prana (energy!) in the body. Our complete practice allows us to move and breathe to help focus, generate, channel, and transform pranic energy.

Managing and Moving Your Energy

Posted on by Tish Ganey

Moving Energy – Expansion or Reduction?

The play of opposites are common to many of the ancient traditions. In Yoga Therapy and in Ayurveda, the “sister science” to yoga, we speak of energy qualities of Brahmana and Langhana. These are the opposites of expanding energies (Brahmana) and contracting or reducing energies (Langhana).

We may loosely refer to these same ideas across many different traditions of healing and well-being. In Traditional Chinese Medicine, the concept of Yin and Yang is similar. In modern, allopathic medicine, we look to the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems of the larger autonomic nervous system.

All of the systems and traditions within these various practices recognize some form of “energy” in the body. It goes by many names: Prana, Qi or Chi, or response of the nervous system. There is wide acceptance that energy in the body does exist, that it has electrical and electro-magnetic qualities, and that it is extremely important to our health. It is common knowledge that sometimes we need to increase energy in the body. And also honor it’s opposite: the need to soothe, slow and calm the strong forces of energy in the body.

We practice the opposites in Yoga Therapy with postures (Asana) and yogic breathing (Pranayama). Examples are Sun Salutations to expand or increase energy in the body, or Savasana to relax or reduce the expenditure of energy in the body. With Pranayama we may choose to breathe very slowly as a Langhana practice, or flip our energy level to high with a Brahmana breath practice like Breath of Joy.

Managing Energy – What do you do first?

All yoga helps us “manage our energy.” Yoga Therapy is targeted and strategic. In Yoga Therapy we explore this concept of energy, balance, and the opposites of Brahmana and Langhana as we assess the five Koshas. Yoga Therapy recognizes the need to have balance within the five Kosha bodies: physical body, energetic body, emotional body, spiritual body, and bliss body.

  1. Describe and Assess. The first step in Yoga Therapy is to determine which area or Kosha needs to achieve a greater balance of energy.
  2. Evaluate and Listen. Yoga Therapists do not diagnose or treat conditions, that’s what doctor’s do! Yoga Therapists listen to their clients and determine what support the individual needs for their healing journey.
  3. Select and Co-Create. Yoga Therapy is a holistic exploration into managing life energy. The Yoga Therapist works with the individual to choose from a wide range of yogic “tools” for the greatest possibility of positive outcome.
  4. Organize and Evaluate. A Yoga Therapy practice program and plan is developed. An ongoing evaluation continues to allow the plan to flex based on the individual’s on-going needs.

Moving Energy with Brahmana and Langhana yogic practices

Yoga Therapy practices help individuals tap into the energy centers of the body. Through body awareness practices, energies can be felt. As we learn to become familiar with our own brand of energy and energy centers, we can move toward transforming and directing our own energy. The form of energy has specific qualities that relate to the Koshas. For example, physical body energy can be experienced as being energizing in the body. Emotional body energy can be noticed as a sense of calm, or its opposite: anxiety and stress.

Brahmana means to expand and heat up.
The effects of a Brahmana-styled Yoga Asana and Pranayama practice include:

  • Warming and vigorous
  • Increased metabolism
  • Stimulated nervous system
  • Sympathetic nervous system “dominance”
  • Stimulated mind
  • Heated body
  • Energized and engaged

Langha means to reduce and “fast.”
The effects of Langhana-styled Yoga Asana and Pranayama practice include:

  • Cooled and eased
  • Slowed metabolism
  • Relaxed nervous system
  • Parasympathetic response
  • Calm mind
  • Relaxed and refreshed