The Secret Layers of You: A Journey Through the Koshas

When The Koshas Were UnBalanced

Movement has always been part of my life. For years, I lived in my body in a very physical way – teaching Zumba, circuit training, kettlebells, kickboxing; biking, climbing, and surfing in my spare time. I loved the buzz, the endorphins, the fire of it all. 

But what I didn’t realise at the time was that I was neglecting other areas of myself. I was fit, yes, but I wasn’t balanced. 

The more I learned about yoga and the koshas, the more I began to understand just how many layers of our being there are – and how easy it is to over-focus on one while ignoring the others.

In yoga philosophy, the koshas are the five sheaths or layers of our existence – from the most tangible, the physical body, to the most subtle, the bliss body. 

Understanding these layers has helped me see why I burned out, why I struggled with perfectionism, why I ignored my intuition, and why contentment often felt out of reach. 

Here’s how I’ve come to understand and work with each kosha – and some practical ways you can too.

1. Annamaya Kosha – The Physical Body

This is the most obvious layer – our muscles, bones, skin, organs. It’s the body we live in, made and sustained by food (“anna” in Sanskrit means food). 

For years, I thought I had this one nailed. I was always moving, always active. But here’s the thing: I rarely did anything slow or nurturing. My relationship with my physical body was all about performance and pushing, not about rest and stability.

Ways to balance Annamaya:

• Mix strength with softness: add restorative or yin yoga into your week.
• Prioritise sleep and recovery as much as workouts.
• Nourish with food that actually makes your body feel good, not just fuels your next session.

2. Pranamaya Kosha – The Energy Body

Prana is life force, most easily felt through breath. This kosha is about energy flow. 

I used to struggle with this massively. I’m naturally all-or-nothing, and I’d say yes to everything, overfill my calendar, buzz off the excitement… and then crash. Cue exhaustion, illness, and frustration. 

My energy was like a faulty light switch – flicking between “on” and “off.”

Ways to balance Pranamaya:

• Practice breathwork (pranayama) daily, even just a few minutes.
• Notice when your energy is high and when it dips – start honouring your natural rhythms instead of pushing through.
• Balance active days with restorative ones, just like balancing inhale and exhale.

3. Manomaya Kosha – The Mental/Emotional Body

This is the mind, our thoughts, our emotions. For me, as a perfectionist, this was a tough one.

I overthought everything. I people-pleased. 

And I avoided uncomfortable feelings because I thought I “should” be happy all the time. Life looked great, so why let myself feel otherwise? 

But ignoring emotions doesn’t make them go away – it just buries them deeper.

Ways to balance Manomaya:

• Journaling – get thoughts and feelings out of your head and onto paper.
• Mindfulness – pause and actually notice what you’re feeling without judgement.
• Stop “should-ing” yourself – let your emotions be valid, whatever they are.

4. Vijnanamaya Kosha – The Wisdom Body

This kosha is about intuition, inner knowing, the quiet wisdom beneath the noise. Honestly, I ignored this for years. As a people-pleaser, I’d put others’ desires before my own. 

I convinced myself I loved certain extreme sports just because my husband did. Cue me clinging to a rope, freezing, miserable – or terrifying myself skiing down steep icy slopes – all because I didn’t want to say, “Actually, this isn’t for me.” 

Truth: I don’t like skiing. In fact, I don’t even like snow very much – unless I’m looking at it through a window while sat next to a roaring fire with a hot cuppa in my hands.

Ways to balance Vijnanamaya:

• Spend quiet time alone – meditation, journaling, or simply walking without distractions.
• Learn to listen to your gut feelings before your rationalisations.
• Practice saying no to things that don’t align with your values.

5. Anandamaya Kosha – The Bliss Body

The most subtle layer. Bliss, peace, deep contentment. Ha! This was the hardest for me. As a perfectionist, stillness was uncomfortable. I couldn’t sit in meditation until my 40s. Even yin yoga was a struggle. 

Our world doesn’t make this easy either – busyness is worn like a badge of honour. People constantly ask, “Are you busy?” as though being busy is proof of success. But busy doesn’t equal successful. It often means exhausted, disconnected, and unfulfilled.

Ways to balance Anandamaya:

• Give yourself permission to rest and do nothing.
• Meditate – even for five minutes – not to “achieve” anything, but simply to be.
• Reframe success: less about productivity, more about presence.

So, what is success?

For me, it’s not how many classes I teach, how many things I tick off my list, or how “busy” I am. 

True success is balance:

• A strong yet relaxed body.
• Energy that flows without burning out.
• A mind that acknowledges thoughts and feelings without clinging.
• A heart that trusts intuition and acts authentically.
• A spirit that finds peace even when life is messy or hard.

Not perfect. Not “love and light” 24/7. But balanced, human, whole.

If this sparked your curiosity, you can explore each of the koshas in more depth with my Kosha Series — five 30-minute yoga classes in the Video Vault.

They’re part of the Happy Yoga Online Membership, so if you’re already a member, head over and enjoy.

And if you’re not yet, this could be the perfect time to join and explore the many layers of yourself through movement, breath, and awareness.