Yoga Therapy and the Kosha System: A Creative Journey
Yoga Therapy works through the five layers of the kosha system—Annamaya, Pranamaya, Manomaya, Vijnanamaya, and Anandamaya—creating a wholistic and creative process that connects the body, emotions, and mind.
A key aspect of Yoga Therapy is its emphasis on staying with the feelings as they manifest in the body. This approach allows us to experience emotions as felt sensations rather than rushing to analyse or critique them mentally. By fully engaging with these sensations, we can explore our inner world more deeply, fostering greater self-awareness and emotional healing.
Annamaya Kosha (Physical Body): At this foundational layer, Yoga Therapy emphasises the importance of the body as a vehicle for expression and creativity. By fostering physical awareness through asanas (postures) and breathwork, practitioners reconnect with their felt sense of emotions stored in the body.
Pranamaya Kosha (Breath Body): In this layer, prana, and it’s vehicle, breath, becomes a focal point. Yoga Therapy encourages the exploration of breath as a means of accessing greater physical and energetic awareness.
Manomaya Kosha (Mental Body): This layer involves the mind and thought processes. Yoga therapy helps individuals become aware of their thoughts and emotional responses through mindfulness practices. This awareness encourages a non-judgmental approach, allowing thoughts to be explored with curiosity. In doing so, it nurtures a more creative mindset, opening up new possibilities for understanding and growth.
Vijnanamaya Kosha (Wisdom Body): This is the layer of wisdom and insight that lies beneath our thinking mind. It is responsible for deeper knowing, making decisions, and distinguishing between what is helpful and what is not. When this wisdom is clear and not clouded by habitual thoughts and emotions, it guides us toward understanding and truth.
A key aspect of yoga therapy is helping individuals connect more with this layer. By accessing this inner wisdom, we can gain clarity and move toward a deeper awareness of our true nature. This is an essential part of our spiritual journey, as it leads us inward, toward the stillness and consciousness at the core of our being.
Anandamaya Kosha (Bliss Layer): This innermost layer represents a state of pure joy and peace that goes beyond the mind and emotions. It is a deep sense of contentment and connection with the core of our being, independent of external circumstances. In yoga therapy, this state is accessed through deep relaxation and meditation, allowing for a harmonious flow of life energy. Here, individuals experience joy and a sense of liberation, opening the door to greater creativity and self-expression.
Atman (True Self): Atman is the true Self, the eternal part of us that never changes—it was never born and will never die. Imagine a light shining through different lampshades: the light is Atman, and the lampshades are the layers (koshas) we experience in life. Though the light shines through, it takes on the color of each layer.
Atman is hard to describe, because it goes beyond words. The goal of Yoga Therapy is to help individuals directly experience this inner light, their true Self.
Throughout these layers, Yoga Therapy uniquely prioritises the felt sense of emotion, ensuring that the body is never overlooked in the creative process. Instead of focusing solely on cognitive understanding, this approach creates space for emotions to be fully experienced at the level of the body, thus the body is fully integrated into the emotional healing process. By honouring both mind and body experiences, Yoga Therapy encourages greater self-awareness, creativity, and a deeper connection to one's true self, fostering personal growth and transformation.
