What are the Koshas?

In yoga philosophy, it's said we are all made up of five different layers or sheaths. (In Sanskrit, the word Pancha means "five," Maya means "appearance," and Kosha means "sheath.") Each layer governs different aspects of our being. Keeping each Kosha balanced is vital to overall wellbeing.

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The five layers of the Panchamaya Kosha System are:

 

• Annamaya Kosha - the physical body. The container, where we reside. 

• Pranamaya Kosha - the energetic body. Our life force, Prana. What keeps our physical body going, what is running through us.

• Manomaya Kosha - the mental/emotional body. Our thoughts, feelings, emotions. Conscious and subconscious.

• Vijnanamaya Kosha - the wisdom body. Our knowledge and intellect. How we decipher the world around us. 

• Anandamaya Kosha - the Bliss body. Our connection to universal consciousness, a higher power, something beyond. 

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