The Pancha Kosha Model/ The Five Sheaths

If we look to the koshas model, we have 5 dimensions of self all interwoven - from the body to the sublime. From the busy mind narrowed by identification with a specific thought, to the vastness of consciousness beyond thought. We are subject to these dimensions of self in a non-hierarchical way, and we get to influence how we inhabit our selfhood; depending on what we focus on, where we cultivate our energy and focus our attention.

Yoga is a “spiritual tradition” it helps us to realise we are not just these bodies wandering around on the planet freestyle! We have a part in the entire weave of existence and our role is not to reach higher, but to realize our integrity. This isn’t an intellectual exercise, the genius of the yogis is that over the centuries they developed a whole host of philosophes as well as practices so that we can embody our knowledge. We can enhance our realizations with the felt experience.

Within our competitive world we might hold ourselves aloft and believe “I am a spiritual person” meaning that we can experience the connection to the “self” or the “spirit” in ways that set us apart. But we can’t siphon off something which by its very definition is universal, which animates each and every living being.

The other side is that we can experience ourselves adrift, disconnected. There are so many ways we might experience ourselves as not good enough, in a hierarchical culture and one obsessed with physicality. The further from the axis of power the more discrimination we face, the more traumas we endure - the more remote our inner power seems. 

The loss of connection to self-power, suits every type of prejudice which hides in the folds of religion or culture - misogyny, racism, sexism, gender discrimination, fat phobia.

Privilege can be defined as a hierarchy of social power - more money and more power sticks to those who are more white, more male, more hetero. As opposed to less power and more oppressed the more black, less hetero, less male etc. Denying this fails to recognise systematic issues in access to any resources, yoga included.

As we doubt ourselves - not pure or pretty enough, not white or thin enough; we lose the connection to the inner self, and assess ourselves as if from the outside. Capitalism is so good at repackaging our lost self and selling it back to us as lotions, potions, clothes, diets and “wellness”.

Spiritual By-passing & Trauma

Trauma, does not make us stronger, it scrambles the nervous system and makes healing harder

This sense of isolation, disconnection and powerlessness can be reinforced by spiritual bypassing, common in the yoga world. It is so tempting from a place of privilege to ascribe access to “spirit” as equal. Those who truly want will receive. The righteous shall be rewarded. But while “self” or “spirit” is ubiquitous, access to yoga is not. This is changing perhaps with more awareness of trauma sensitive principles, community access and bursary funds. But the mainstream media and many teachers continue to only share yoga which is physically inaccessible and to suggest that “yoga” will appear if you are worthy enough.

Somehow trying to cover this with the very vague “yoga is for everyone” trope, not only hides the problematic roots of yoga in an oppressive culture, but also denies the reality of so many in accessing yoga or social support in any meaningful way. 

Other sentiments that are deeply problematic are the “everything happens for a reason”. I find this one triggering having experienced early life traumas - what purpose does it serve to have kids attacked, women raped, young men sent to war? Who is doing the “reasoning” in this scenario? To ascribe reason to something so evidently unreasonable robs those who suffer from the right to feel, to reconnect, to heal. It tells them to get on with it. Suffering & particular trauma, does not make us stronger, it scrambles the nervous system and makes healing harder. Possible, we can relearn and heal, but it can make it harder. 

Conclusion

But yoga does have a role to play (yup it’s a yoga blog!). The methods cultivated by yogis over thousands of years, are now being researched more thoroughly. It's no surprise to many of us  that “yoga works”! Those of us who love yoga for what it has brought us, that possibility of reclaiming our selfhood, know this.

The genius of the yogis is in identifying that there are so many ways we can reconnect to self. With a breath, with movement, with connection to others or self. Our sense of inner self, connected to the whole, is our birthright.

If we can de-robe yoga of its  lofty “spirituality”, and let ourselves & students feel into self-hood as a part of being conscious, the yoga of toes and blood and sexuality and sensuality, alongside the meditations and chanting, the breath and consciousness - then yoga is possible for all of us. 

What does it take to notice that, to feel it, to share it? To believe in the power of you? Of you as much as the next person? Of you right here and now! Each an interwoven vital part of this web of life. 

Support for anxiety through the teaching of the Koshas freebie! Get this and a collection of resources for yoga teachers. Sign up to download.

Talk to me!

I’d love to hear your thoughts on any of this I've shared. There are a lot of different areas packed into one blog! I’m happy to discuss further. If you’d like to cover some of this with me it underlies much of what I teach. Do get in touch if you’d like to talk through any of my courses.

Including:

• Yoga for Anxiety Online Course for anyone
• Teaching Yoga for Anxiety- in person or online
• Class bundles- various themes, all trauma sensitive teaching
• 200hr training courses- evidence based, trauma sensitive approach