Connecting Through the Koshas

Hello friends!

In our practice this month, we have been exploring the koshas. According to yogic tradition, humans have five layers that make up our being. We begin with the outer layer, our physical body. As we look deeper, we find the energy layer, the mental/emotional layer, the wisdom layer, and finally, at the core of our being, we find our heart, our very essence. This is called the anandamaya kosha. Ananda means bliss.

That is an extremely simplistic definition of some very profound ideas! But it's a start to understanding this concept of our humanity.

The anandamaya kosha is where everything meets - we connect with our physical, energetic, emotional, and intuitive selves. We connect with all beings around us. Ancient yoga philosophers spent lifetimes exploring this connection. This is the place where everything merges together, both the internal and the external. It's the place where we become one with the universe. It's our shared inner light.

We might observe glimpses of this grace in our everyday lives. I do. When I teach a live class (whether in-person or on Zoom) I see the connections that you all make with each other. I see your kindness and your interest in supporting others. I witness strangers becoming friends.

The layers peel back and connect.

Community happens.

It's powerful yoga.

Thank you for sharing your inner light with me,

Nina G