Breaking Free from Mind-Body Duality.
This week I launched the very first workshop in the yoga yurt! I am still in awe of how beautifully it all came together. There is nothing like when a vision manifests and a dream comes to be. I have so much gratitude to those that helped it all come true.
It was so amazing to be together - to explore - to make connections and go deeper in everything we do together in the online yoga community. This time around we talked about the concept of Koshas, so I thought I’d share a glimpse into what we covered…
A Journey of the Koshas, Expand the 5 Dimensions of Human Potential.
It’s easy to get locked into one way of being. We unconsciously identify with one aspect of ourselves more than any other. We are more influenced by either mind or body. Some get so absorbed in the mind that they forget there are other dimensions to who they are. Others live through the body, steering all life choices accordingly.
Someone who lives through the mind may be occupied by thoughts, anticipations, expectations, and analysis. This mental chatter leaves them stuck in an inner monologue and dragged along by emotions. Someone who is body conscious might be driven by physical needs and desires - living through the senses without much discernment.
Often we weave these identifications into our work, self-worth, routines, and values. The biases begin…smart, pretty, clever, skinny. Our culture begins to make delineations, so we begin to make judgements on others and criticisms against ourselves. Do we teach young girls to prop up being pretty or bolster being smart? This is where every heartbreak and imbalance begins.
Routines and lifestyles serve either mind or body - habitually becoming the mode of our life experiences. The lenses get narrower, our outlook becomes limited to only a small fraction of our potential. Maybe we do have special talents and proclivities that develop certain facets of our personality, but why not see a deeper capacity to be integrated into fullness?
Do you live through mind or body? With which do you most identify? Even to those who would say spirit, body and mind are vehicles for our life’s unfolding. All facets are crucial to discover and expand. The inquiry is for you to discover where you are most dominant. Which aspects of yourself shape your existence? Which of these biases rule your desires, actions, behaviors?
Yoga Anatomy; the 5 dimensions of human possibility.
The yogis see each of us as multi-dimensional entities. A matrix of 5 interactive sheaths, each layer surrounding the next, like a collection of Russian dolls. From dense to subtle, they are filters for experiences in the world to support our spiritual evolution and personal growth.
From Anamaya to Anandamaya: A Journey Through the Layers of Self:
Anamaya Kosha: Food Sheath
The body, the physical form through which we interact with the world around us. The vehicle for our unique experience and evolution.
Pranamaya Kosha: Energy Sheath
Our sense of vitality. The sustaining force that fuels our being. The breath of life. Soul food.
Manomaya Kosha: Mind Sheath
A multi-faceted concept of the lower mind in charge of our basic survival and higher mental faculties that process information to make the best decisions for our well-being. The mind sheath includes memory, ego, intellect and emotions.
Vijnanamaya Kosha: Wisdom Sheath
A dimension more attuned to a higher intelligence; higher capacities for intuition, innate wisdom, clarity, focus, and psychic awareness.
Anandamaya Kosha: Bliss Sheath
The pure Self. Spacious bliss, deep peace, true love, unending compassion, infinite freedom. The seat of consciousness. Our true nature. #Nofilter.
Lessons from the yoga mat.
The matrix of the five sheaths lends to our evolution as we become more refined in our awareness. We aren’t drawn out into the world in a stunted identification of body and mind, instead we’re drawn in from the world to see our true essence. The space we hold beyond all thought, identity, attachments, analysis, and judgements. We’re essentially drawn into freedom from all of these things. We’re concentrated into a state of bliss, inner peace.
Ashtanga, The eight limbed system for Kosha Self-care.
The practice of yoga becomes Kosha self-care. The eight-limbed system is a roadmap through all five sheaths to build a connection to our whole self.
YAMA –Compassionate conduct in relationship with others :Ahimsa (nonviolence), Satya (truthfulness), Asteya (non-stealing), Brahmacharya (energy conservation), Aparigraha (non-attachment/ non-greed)
NIYAMA – Compassionate conduct in relationship with Self : Saucha (internal and external purity), Santosha (contentment), Tapas (consistency), Swadhyaya (self-study) and Ishvarapranidhana (surrender to the divine/ a letting go.)
ASANA – Posture, alignment, attunement.
PRANAYAMA – Breathing Techniques/ Energy management.
PRATYAHARA – Sense withdrawal.
DHARANA – Focus/ Practiced concentration.
DHYANA – Meditative Absorption.
SAMADHI – Enlightenment, Bliss.
The breath, movement, concentration, and meditation - bring us to our bliss. Even, if only for a moment. We come to the mat to be introduced to who we truly are, time and time again.
