By JACCI GRUNINGER, MS, C-IAYT
Los Alamos
While our body sheath is fed by our senses and what we eat and drink, our life force sheath is fed by our breath and energy; our third kosha (Manomaya Kosha) is fed by our impressions, emotions, memories and thoughts.
The first two sheaths inform the third by sharing what we sense and how our energy moves.
Manomaya Kosha is responsible for reacting and responding to what is going on around us. It also makes judgments, processes our thoughts and defines our emotions.
Luckily Manomaya Kosha rests when we nap or sleep which allows for a daily reset or reboot.
During sleep, the brain cleans up the thoughts, feelings and impressions we have had during the day. As mentioned in a prior yoga for sleep article, sleep deprivation can cause all kinds of difficulties with our mind.
It’s easy for this layer to go on autopilot – eat the same things everyday, do the same things everyday, think the same things everyday.
The mind is a creature of habit and until we recognize our patterns it can be hard to break away from them.
The stories we repeat about ourselves, our lives, the world etc. also happens within this kosha.
All day long your mind is commenting on you and your activities. It is important to remember that these thoughts are one sided. Practicing mantra meditation or repeating a mantra throughout the day can help a mind that is caught on repeat. Repeating a word or phrase can give the mind a few moments of rest.
Author Byron Katie also shares a great mind training tool called, The Work. Before the questions, it can be helpful to write down the thought that is troubling.
Now, ask yourself the following four questions:
- Is it true?
- Is it absolutely true?
- What if the opposite thought were true?
- What would I be without this thought or belief?
During a physical yoga practice it is a perfect time to experience some of our off the mat life on the mat. With practice we can provide the brain new perspectives and ways of being.
For example, if you are practicing yoga and your mind starts to share various thoughts about your ability to balance, hold a pose or perform a pose, you can be listening and changing the tone/emphasis of the conversation.
Also, staying present to the physical sensations in the body and following the breath can help us to just witness the thoughts rather than being caught up in the story being created.
When working with Manomaya Kosha we want to rise above our thought patterns that don’t serve us to find greater ease in our life.
Jacci Gruninger is a Certified Yoga Therapist, Thai Yoga Massage Therapist, Focusing Coach and Facilitated Stretch Practitioner. She regularly helps clients manage the ups and downs of life with yoga, meditation, breathwork, focusing, stretching and bodywork. Her Wellness Center is located at 190 Central Park Square #212. For her in person and online teaching schedule and information on her other services, visit her website at www.highmountainwellbeing.com.
