The Soul of Yoga

Counselling with Rich – East Meets West, North Dorset

Many years ago, when I first began practising Yoga, I was intrigued by the concept of prana. My teacher at the time was a petite woman who, at the age of 60, could effortlessly perform headstands and handstands. She radiated a spiritual presence and extraordinary vitality. Her sparkling eyes made her a true inspiration.

Her approach to Yoga was unique because she integrated postures with the acupuncture meridians—the channels that, according to Chinese medicine, allow energy to flow throughout the body. She referred to this energy as chi or prana and identified the area three fingers below the navel as the centre of one’s being, known in Oriental medicine as the hara. As a Shiatsu practitioner, she believed that ill health resulted from blockages in the flow of energy. In her view, healing could be achieved through massage or Yoga postures, which stretch and stimulate the meridians, restoring the body’s natural energy flow.

At the time, I lived near the sea, where the energy of the surrounding hills and ocean was palpable. In Yoga, prana is understood as the life force underlying all physical processes. It is present in all living beings and their environments. Wild places such as mountains, forests, streams, waterfalls, and the white-foamed waves of the ocean are especially rich in prana. Even in the nearby city where I worked, I could sense this energy, as the mountains and tides were never far away.

Yoga provides its own map of the human experience, describing five sheaths or fields of existence, each more subtle than the last. These are known as the Koshas.

The outermost sheath is Annamaya Kosha, the layer of gross physicality - blood, bone, and muscle. This is the dense, solid field of physical reality. Yoga postures strengthen and stretch this sheath, making it the least subtle of the Koshas.

Intertwined with this is Pranamaya Kosha, the sheath of life energy. As we explore our inner world, we draw closer to the essence of who we are. Pranamaya Kosha is sometimes described as the soul of Annamaya Kosha. It governs vitality and body chemistry, animating our physical existence. Those who practise Yoga diligently or have experienced acupuncture may be familiar with sensations of energy moving through the body along meridians or through the seven energy centres known as Chakras. These flows take place within the Pranamaya Kosha.

Deeper still is Manomaya Kosha, the soul of the Pranamaya Kosha. This is the sheath of the mind, where sensations, thoughts, images, memories, and desires continuously arise and subside. It is the realm of internal dialogue, where the inner critic may dwell, where we replay past events or worry about future ones. Yet, it is also the source of imagination, creativity, and dreams of new possibilities. Manomaya Kosha shapes our personality and social interactions, reflecting the ever-changing nature of our inner world.

As we journey inward, the Koshas reveal their interconnectedness. In Yoga Nidra, a deeply relaxing practice often concluding a Hatha Yoga session, the physical body (Annamaya Kosha) is stretched and revitalised. Coordinated breathing draws prana from the environment, and with each exhalation, energy flows into and through the body, enlivening the Pranamaya Kosha. Gradually, as the body relaxes and energy flows unimpeded, the mind (Manomaya Kosha) settles. Thoughts diminish, and we become fully present, engaged with the seamless interplay of these three Koshas.

In this profound stillness, we encounter Vijnanamaya Kosha, the soul of the Manomaya Kosha. Here, intuition, wisdom, and inner clarity arise. It is the seat of our deepest values, guiding us toward healing and growth. In Vijnanamaya Kosha, we find peace and alignment with our core principles. This sheath represents discernment, allowing us to see truth amidst the distractions of life.

Those who have experienced the profound peace of Yoga Nidra will recognise Vijnanamaya Kosha. When this too quietens, a sense of spontaneous joy and benevolence often emerges. This is the realm of Anandamaya Kosha, the sheath of bliss. Anandamaya Kosha is the source of deep contentment and well-being that arises when the activities of the other Koshas fade away. Here, the veil between individual existence and ultimate reality is thinnest. In this state, the boundaries of self dissolve, and we may experience an expansive sense of peace.

As we move inward through the Koshas, we come to understand that we are not our bodies (Annamaya Kosha). Going deeper, we realise that we are not the energy that animates us (Pranamaya Kosha). Further still, we see that we are not our restless minds (Manomaya Kosha). As the mind quietens, we connect with the wise observer (Vijnanamaya Kosha). Finally, as even this subtle awareness stills, we experience the joy of Anandamaya Kosha, only to recognise that it too is being observed by something deeper.

In Vedanta, when this final veil is lifted, our true, unchanging nature is revealed. This is Atman, the soul or essence of Yoga.

For clients interested in Yoga, at Counselling with Rich - East meets West, I can integrate the wisdom of the Koshas with a gentle person centred counselling approach to help clients explore their inner landscapes and move toward growth and healing. Based in North Dorset, Whether you are seeking clarity, peace, or a deeper connection to yourself, the Yoga and Western counselling techniques offers a compassionate, holistic path forward.