A sound mind in a sound body or is it the other way round!

What is the measure of health, a sound body or a sound mind?

Can a body stay sound, if there are million thoughts racing through our mind? Our life is the physical manifestations of our thoughts.

According to yoga philosophy, we are not just our physical body or mind, we are holistic, multi-dimensional beings made up by many different, interactive levels. In fact, there are five layers/sheaths to a being. This has been beautifully explained in one of our Upanishads, Taittiriya Upanishad by describing five sheaths of our existence namely, "The Pancha koshas".

Let us understand this concept with the example of Matryoshka dolls, the Russian nesting dolls that are a set of wooden dolls of decreasing size placed one inside another. Let us assume each layer/sheath to be a doll and the last doll is your true and real self. Thus, it is imperative that for your inner happiness one should understand the layers of one’s being.

The five layers from the outermost to innermost layer are

• Annamaya kosha: The physical sheath

• Pranamaya kosha: The vital sheath

• Manomaya Kosha: The mental sheath

• Vigyanamaya Kosha: The intellectual sheath

• Anandmaya kosha: The Bliss sheath

Annamaya kosha: The physical sheath

The physical sheath or the food sheath, the Annamaya kosha is the outermost layer of the body. It is tangible and visible. The Annamaya kosha is made up of digested and transformed food (matter) and upon death, it returns back as food for other plants and animals. This is the most gross of the five sheaths and can be transcended through asana practice.

Pranamaya kosha: The vital sheath

The pranamaya kosha is the vital sheath. It’s the breath (flow of prana), and the life that the breath brings. This sheath is composed of the five pranas (mukhya prana, udana, vyana, samana, and apana) and five karmendriyas. These karmendriyas are the mouth, hands, feet, rectum and genitals (five organs of action).

The pranamaya kosha can be transcended through the practice of pranayama (breathing and meditation techniques).

Manomaya Kosha: The mental sheath

The manomaya kosha or the mental sheath comprises of our mind along with the five sense organs of knowledge (gyanendriyas), the eyes, nose, ears, tongue, and skin. It is through the sense organs that the mind receives information. It’s also through these sense organs that desires, thoughts, emotions arise. When the emotions become powerful, the ungoverned mind can lead to destructive choices, negative emotions, and poor choices in terms of wellbeing. This leads to stress, anxiety, lifestyle diseases.

Vigyanamaya kosha: The intellectual sheath

Vigyanamaya kosha also known as the knowledge sheath or wisdom sheath is a sheath which guides us to do a thing or not to do a thing (the discriminatory power). A right Coach or a good mentor empowers you to discern between what’s right and wrong, and what’s real and unreal.

Anandamaya Kosha: The bliss sheath

The Anandamaya kosha is the final inner sheath, the blissful layer. A state of complete harmony and perfect health!

Isavyasa Wellness strives to partner with the clients to transcend these five sheaths Annamaya kosha (via Yoga), Pranamaya kosha (Pranic healing and meditation), Manomaya kosha (psychological Counseling), vigyanamaya kosha (Coaching and mentoring) to ultimately unleash your Anandamaya kosha (The blissful state).

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