The past few weeks I’ve been receiving some Manual Therapy for my body in the form of fascia-release-type massage and some chiropractic adjustment. It’s been a fascinating experience! Having my hip worked on and feeling it all the way in my hands. Seeing my left hip get range of motion back as the overcompensating muscles let go. A direct experience of the kinetic chain within the body, which is the link between muscles and bones through soft tissue fascia. If one part of the body has an injury, it will have an effect on other parts due to this link.

In order to study the body, western medicine has taken a reductionist approach, examining the parts of the body. Makes sense, right? But, there has been a gap in putting the parts back together. It’s nice to understand the parts that make up the whole but, in the end, those parts are a part of a larger system. Each part affects the whole. Specialists in western medicine have tended to focus on specific body parts, instead of body systems.

THE KINETIC CHAIN OF YOGA

The ancient Yoga masters, called Rishis, explored the whole system of the body, mind and spirit. They examined from the gross to the subtle to find out what was the cause of human suffering and how to reduce it. They used their own mind-body system as the focus of their scientific exploration. There were different methods and modalities employed but over and over they came to pretty similar conclusions.

Along the way, they discovered a ‘kinetic chain’ from the gross to subtle aspects of their mind-body system. These different layers did not function in isolation from one another. When one area had fluctuation or change, so did the other layers.

One framework of this gross to subtle kinetic chain is called the Pancha Koshas. Pancha means five and koshas means sheaths or layers. It is a five layer framework of the material aspect of the human body-mind system. One thing to note is that it changes constantly. Each layer is more and more subtle until Anandamaya Kosha or ‘bliss state.’ This is the most subtle part of our mind-body system that is subject to cause and effect. 

There is a 6th ‘layer’, so to speak, but this is a layer that doesn’t change. It really isn’t a layer but is actually the foundation of Self. It is our True Nature or True Self. In order to know it, we must use the other five layers to get there. Some names for our True Self in Sanskrit are Purusha, Atma, and Sat.

POSSIBILITY OF CHOICE

One of the uses of this ‘kinetic chain of Yoga’ framework, I’ve found, is to help us open up the possibilities around choice. Specifically, the choices available when taking action for mental and physical wellbeing. The mental and physical are closely linked. In fact, Yoga perspective is that the physical, the body, is a manifestation of the mind. While a deep dive into that statement is not the focus of this blog post, take a moment to sit with that statement a bit. 🤯

Instead, I want to take a look at how the Pancha Kosha framework can be used to meet and move through difficult emotional reactions. (Check out my blog on a perspective shift with emotions). First, let’s take a look at the framework. I have included both the Sanskrit and English translation of each layer, so please don’t get too hung up on the Sanskrit vocabulary. It has taken me lots of repetition and practice to be able to pronounce and remember these words too! I believe it’s important to maintain the connection of this wisdom back to its roots, which is why I have included the Sanskrit words.

• Annamaya Kosha: Physical/ Food Sheath
• Pranamaya Kosha: Energy and Breath Sheath
• Manomaya Kosha: Emotions and Thoughts Sheath
• Vijnanamaya Kosha: Belief Sheath
• Anandamaya Kosha: Bliss Sheath

In this ‘kinetic chain of Yoga’ framework, Manomaya Kosha is where our emotions and reactions live. Note that this is the emotions and thoughts sheath. This is important because emotions and thoughts rarely, if ever, happen without the other. A person might not be aware of thoughts when they feel an emotion, or vice versa, but as self-awareness increases, so does awareness of this link. 

The ‘feeling’  of the emotion lives in the body as a sensation. So, if you are aware of an emotion, you can find your way to body sensations and thoughts. If your awareness is currently more with thoughts or body sensation, all good! No matter where your awareness starts, it leads to self-understanding in all these areas.

HOLISTIC MODEL OF A HUMAN

So, as you can see, I’m already linking Manomaya Kosha to Annamaya Kosha, the physical sheath. Most of us have experienced feeling upset or down, then we go for a walk, listen to music, or write and our mood changes. This is an example of the kinetic chain between the physical body and emotions (and thoughts because most likely your thoughts have also shifted).

What’s between the physical sheath and emotions/thoughts sheath?

Pranamaya Kosha! Energy, life force, breath.  By changing how we breathe, we can change both our physical and emotional state. (Here’s a link to one of my breath technique videos to take a moment to try this out.) This is such a powerful tool we have at our disposal 24/7! Did you know that just simply becoming aware of your breath, not changing it in any way, can start calming the mind and body?

We spend so much time, money and effort trying to relax when it’s as simple as incorporating daily pauses in your day to notice your breath.  I encourage you to try it!

Two more sheaths…

These are two layers that don’t get as much ‘press’ over social media as the physical, breath, and emotions layers. They are more subtle and can be hard to identify and understand, as well as represented in photos. They are accessed most easily when awareness is in the present moment and turned inward, towards yourself.

THE SUBTLE SHEATHS

Vijnanamaya Kosha, belief sheath, is important because if you want to make lasting changes in your life around mental wellbeing, beliefs must shift. If I have a belief that “I’m not good at computers,” what do you think my emotions, thoughts, energy level, and physical reactions will be like around computers? Especially, if there’s a system update which changes the view on my desktop? For example, the location of buttons, tabs, and links look different and how to access them changes.

FREAK OUT! 

My body would be tense, breath short and shallow, thoughts ruminating about why do they have to change things, now I can’t find things, and how it’s going to take me so long to do what I wanted to do. Emotions of anger, resentment, and fear will surge through my body. I find myself wanting to just give up or throw my computer across the room. 

Ever been here? Maybe your ‘freak out’ isn’t around computers, but you probably have had a similar reaction at some point in your life to something else. What is your area(s) of ‘freak out’?

If I can see my pattern of reaction around computers and get curious about it, I might discover a belief that “I’m not good at computers.” This discovery is fantastic because it’s something I can work with. I don’t need to stay stuck in this belief, instead I can take some action. 

I might take a class or get a friend to teach me how to better use my computer. This would increase a belief that ‘I am capable’ around computers. I would see my breath stay more steady, my body relax more, my thoughts becoming more encouraging, and my anger and fear decrease while confidence increases. 

See how this kinetic chain of Yoga works?

The final layer is Anandamaya Kosha or bliss sheath. This layer represents those moments of connection to something greater than yourself, feeling the connection of the universe or God. We find ourselves here when we are purely in the present moment.  Maybe seeing a sunset, holding a newborn child, or feeling understood by someone else. We can connect to this state through practices like gratitude by using the emotions/thought sheath.

What are some practices you can think of that could be done in daily life to increase time spent in this ‘bliss’ sheath?

INTEGRATION INTO DAILY LIFE

I encourage you to take this framework and think about some situations in your life where you felt stuck or maybe currently feel stuck. What other options are there you haven’t explored within this framework that you might tap into?

And remember, all five layers are subject to change, they are impermanent so they aren’t ‘who’ you are. These layers can and will change. They are part of a kinetic chain, so use this to your advantage!

I’d love to hear how you end up using the Pancha Koshas, the kinetic chain of Yoga, in your life! Please feel free to email me: tlgingrich@samyayogahealing.com. 

Shanti.