Who are we? What is the deepest essence of who we are?
Are we our body with all its perfections and imperfections? Are we our emotions or thoughts, which seem to fluctuate and change from moment to moment? Are we what other people think of us? Or our goals, our values in life?
The question of who we are and what is our true essence is one of life’s most fundamental questions. And even with all the advancement of science, it is a question that remains fundamentally unanswered. We tend to form our identity around different aspects of our being – our body, our profession, our relationships, our goals in life.
But is that really our true essence? Identifying with these surface expressions of our life tends to leave us vulnerable – changes on the surface of life may affect us more deeply than is warranted because we are not connected to our central core.
For centuries, philosophers and sages have pondered this central question of who we are.
One of the most illuminating and profound answers to this question comes from the yogic tradition. The ancient yogis held that we are multidimensional beings with different layers or sheaths of expression.
First described in the Taittiriya Upanishad, these layers are described as five interconnected koshas (koshas means sheath in Sanskrit). The five koshas are:
One: Physical (annamaya kosha) your body and your environment.
Two: Energetic (pranamaya kosha) your breath and energy levels.
Three: Mental (manomaya kosha) your thoughts, beliefs, and emotions.
Four: Intuitive wisdom (vijnanamaya kosha) is your ability to observe all of your layers and your life with compassion and without judgment.
Five: Bliss (anandamaya kosha) is your connection to something larger than yourself.
In this course, yoga therapist Beth Gibbs, author of Enlighten Up!: Finding Clarity, Contentment and Resilience in a Complicated World, takes us on a journey through the koshas to connect with our multidimensional self.
Each kosha, or layer, operates moment to moment in our daily lives. When we understand how they work and are interconnected, we understand our reactions and responses to what life presents. Then choices we make are conscious. Our responses are healthier, balanced, and more productive. This requires attention, effort, and time, but the result will be more clarity, contentment, and resilience.
What You Will Learn:
- Introduction to the original verses from the Taittiriya Upanishad
- A description and contemporary interpretation of the kosha model
- How to recognize the ways this model can influence your life and health
- Nine steps for using the model in everyday life
- Yoga techniques to connect with and work with each kosha
- Suggestions for using the model in your yoga classes, trainings, workshops, and personal practice
This Course Also Includes:
- Yoga Practice Video: Enjoy a yoga practice video that accompanies this course designed by Beth Gibbs.
- Recordings of All Webinar Sessions: It’s generally acknowledged that many people only retain 10-20 percent of what they learn in a workshop. You will get access to the recordings of all webinar sessions – both MP3 (downloadable) and MP4 (streaming online), enabling you to go back and listen to the workshop as many times as you like.
- Transcripts of All Sessions: Ever wanted to refer to a certain part of a course? Even the best note-takers miss a point every so often. With the transcripts of the webinar sessions, you can go back and refer to particularly important passages or clarify sections you were in doubt about.
This course qualifies for 3 CEs with Yoga Alliance.
