Hour 37 Yoga Therapy – Understanding Mind: The Five Koshas
Learning the Yogic Understanding of the Mind through The Five Koshas
In yoga philosophy, the concept of the mind is deeply intertwined with the teachings of the Five Koshas, or “sheaths” that encapsulate the human being, providing a comprehensive understanding of mental and emotional health. These five layers represent different aspects of our existence, and their balance is essential for maintaining both mental and physical well-being. The Five Koshas are the Annamaya Kosha (Physical Body), Pranamaya Kosha (Energy Body), Manomaya Kosha (Mental Body), Vijnanamaya Kosha (Wisdom Body), and Anandamaya Kosha (Bliss Body).
To truly grasp how yoga helps in mental health, it’s important to explore how these five layers interact with one another. Let’s dive deeper into each Kosha and examine their roles in the context of mental health, using both theoretical knowledge and real-life examples to paint a clearer picture.
1. Annamaya Kosha (Physical Body)
The physical layer, Annamaya Kosha, is the first layer. The physical body—the concrete form of ourselves—is what we are talking about here. It consists of the muscles, organs, tissues, bones, and skin. The condition of this physical layer, as far as yogic tradition is concerned, reflects our overall state of health, including our mental health. If the body is unwell, fatigued, or under stress, it directly affects the mind.
For example, consider a client named Ravi, a busy professional who often experiences severe back pain due to prolonged sitting. This chronic physical discomfort not only affects Ravi’s ability to perform daily activities but also leads to anxiety, irritability, and a sense of mental fog. The physical pain in the Annamaya Kosha triggers emotional and psychological disturbances in the Manomaya Kosha (Mental Body). Through regular yoga therapy for his physical body—through postures such as Cat-Cow Pose (Bidalasana) and Child’s Pose (Balasana)—Ravi experiences a decrease in bodily pain. As bodily pain diminishes, his mental acuity increases, proving the interaction between the Annamaya and Manomaya Koshas.
2. Pranamaya Kosha (Energy Body)
Following this, we have Pranamaya Kosha, which is the energy body that controls the breath, prana (life force), and vital energy movement within the body. This Kosha bridges the physical body with the mental body, and its role is paramount in controlling emotions, stress, and general mental well-being. The breath is a very strong mechanism for controlling the flow of prana, and how one breathes influences their mental status.
Consider Sita, a client with anxiety and panic attacks. As soon as she feels anxious, her breath quickens and becomes shallow, making her even more stressed. As she practices the Pranayama techniques such as Nadi Shodhana (Alternate Nostril Breathing), she starts to soothe her nervous system and balance the prana within her. This intentional breathing enables Sita to connect with her Pranamaya Kosha, where energy is balanced out, thereby inducing a feeling of tranquility and stability in her Manomaya Kosha.
Flow of Prana is essential for maintaining the mind. Any disturbance in the Pranamaya Kosha, for example, in the form of unhealthy breathing patterns or stress, can result in mental agitation in the form of anxiety, depression, or irritability. Through mindful development of the Pranamaya Kosha, we can build emotional strength and mental calmness.
3. Manomaya Kosha (Mental Body)
The Manomaya Kosha is the mental body, which controls the mind, emotions, thoughts, and psychological patterns. This level represents our capacity to feel and process emotions, create thoughts, and believe. Yoga therapy assists with mental health by allowing release of undesirable thought patterns, mindfulness cultivation, and emotional stability.
For example, Karan, a young adult with chronic stress and negative thinking, feels overwhelmed by running thoughts and worry. His mind tends to wander in thoughts about career and relationship concerns, which make him depressed. Yoga therapy, specifically mindfulness meditation and postures such as Seated Forward Bend (Paschimottanasana) and Warrior II (Virabhadrasana II), relieved Karan of his restless mind. Through continuous practice, Karan was able to watch his thoughts without relating to them. The practice of emotional control and self-awareness enabled Karan to deal with his stress and recover mental sanity.
The Manomaya Kosha is where most of our mental health problems are created. It is here that fear thoughts, angry thoughts, sad thoughts, and confused thoughts emerge. Yoga allows these negative thinking patterns to change by opening up for emotional letting go, gaining perspective, and developing emotional intelligence.
4. Vijnanamaya Kosha (Wisdom Body)
The Vijnanamaya Kosha is the body of wisdom, that is, the layer of intuition, intellect, and higher wisdom. The layer enables us to know and choose what is in accordance with our higher self. We gain access to the intellect and learn about our experiences and feelings more profoundly through this Kosha.
Consider Anjali, a woman in her early thirties, who had spent much of her life making choices based on outside pressures. She had been suppressing her own needs and desires in order to meet the expectations of others and subsequently felt lost and disconnected. During yoga therapy, Anjali was urged to develop an inner sense of knowing and to listen to her inner wisdom. By practicing meditations and Journaling, Anjali opened up her Vijnanamaya Kosha and started aligning her life with her true self. With her newfound understanding, she was able to release limiting beliefs and gain confidence and direction.
With yoga, we tap into the Vijnanamaya Kosha—our inner sense of wisdom—enabling us to know what’s really important and move through life with more clarity and purpose.
5. Anandamaya Kosha (Bliss Body)
Last of all is the Anandamaya Kosha, the bliss body. This sheath embodies the feeling of joy, satisfaction, and profound inner calm. It is usually thought to be the most subtle and deepest sheath of the self, where we enter into a sense of oneness and spiritual completeness. In yoga therapy, the Anandamaya Kosha is reached by using profound states of meditation, compassion for the self, and mindfulness.
Take the example of Ravi, who had spent most of his life away from his inner bliss. Gradually, he felt an intense sense of restlessness, working always towards external achievements but never being fully satisfied. While Ravi practiced Yoga Nidra and Deep Meditation, he started feeling glimpses of profound inner peace and satisfaction. These seconds enabled him to tap into the Anandamaya Kosha, where he experienced a deep sense of pleasure and happiness that was not subject to external circumstances.
The Anandamaya Kosha is the highest level of mind and soul. With regular practice of yoga, meditation, and awareness, people can experience seconds of ecstasy and peace, creating a deep sense of psychological and emotional well-being.
Conclusion: Integrating the Koshas for Mental Health
The Five Koshas interact with one another, each layer affecting the others. Practicing yoga while being aware of these layers, we can gain complete mental and emotional well-being. Through working through the Annamaya Kosha (physical form), balancing the Pranamaya Kosha (energy), soothing the Manomaya Kosha (mental form), activating the Vijnanamaya Kosha (wisdom body), and finally reaching the Anandamaya Kosha (bliss body), we provide a conducive environment for ideal mental well-being.
Yoga therapy provides a healing path that acknowledges the oneness of body, mind, and spirit. By healing each Kosha and establishing equilibrium, we are able to release mental tension, achieve emotional harmony, and find connection with the deeper peace within ourselves.