Beyond the Physical – Unveiling the Five Koshas
- Brainz Magazine
- Oct 27
- 5 min read
Written by Dr. Reetu Verma, Transformational Life Coach
Dr. Reetu Verma, founder of Healing Health and Happiness, is a heart-centred Transformational Life Coach who blends Eastern spiritual wisdom with Western modern research to guide individuals on their unique healing journeys towards achieving holistic health to radiate love and bliss.
In the ancient wisdom of yoga, the human being is understood as far more than flesh and bone. Beneath our visible form lie subtle energetic layers, sheaths that together shape every aspect of our human experience. These are known as the Pancha Koshas, the five layers of being. Derived from the Sanskrit words pancha (five) and kosha (sheath or covering), this ancient framework offers a profound way to understand the multidimensional nature of our health and well-being.
As the koshas remind us, true health isn’t about fixing the body or quieting the mind alone, it’s about aligning every layer of who we are. When body, breath, mind, wisdom, and spirit move in harmony, happiness becomes our natural state.
“We are more than just our physical bodies and the constant mental chatter. We are multilayered beings. Our body, mind, and soul need to be in balance and in harmony for us to be truly healthy and happy.”
The five koshas: Layers of our being
The koshas move from the tangible to the subtle, from the outermost physical form to the innermost essence of bliss. Each sheath influences the others, creating a dynamic system of interconnection and flow.
Annamaya Kosha (Physical body): The outermost layer, composed of the elements of nature and nourished by food (anna). It represents our physical health, structure, and vitality. Practices such as mindful movement, nutrition, and rest nourish this sheath.
Pranamaya Kosha (Energy body): The layer of prana, or life force, flowing through channels known as nadis. Balanced breathing, pranayama, and time in nature awaken vitality and inner radiance.
Manomaya Kosha (Mental body): This layer governs our thoughts, emotions, and sensory experiences. Meditation, journaling, and compassionate self-talk help purify this sheath, bringing clarity and calm.
Vijnanamaya Kosha (Wisdom body): The seat of intuition, discernment, and inner knowing. When this sheath is active, we align our actions with truth and purpose. Self-inquiry, reflection, and spiritual study awaken this inner wisdom.
Anandamaya Kosha (Bliss body): The innermost sheath, beyond words and intellect, is the experience of pure joy, peace, and unity with all that is. This is our true nature, revealed when all other layers are harmonized.
Integration for wholeness
The five koshas are not separate, they function as interconnected layers that shape every aspect of our health, physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual. When one sheath falls out of balance, it ripples through the entire system. Mental stress constricts the breath, stagnant energy clouds intuition, and disconnection from wisdom dims joy.
Even physical pain in the body often mirrors deeper emotional tension or energetic blockages. The body speaks what the mind suppresses. When we carry unresolved stress or unexpressed emotions, it often shows up as tension, fatigue, or pain. Conversely, when we nurture one layer, by calming the mind, moving the body, or opening the heart, the entire being responds. Energy flows freely, breath deepens, and harmony is restored across all levels of our existence. Integration is the essence of healing, wholeness expressed through balance across all levels of being.
The five koshas: A new lens on health
The wisdom of the five koshas offers a truly holistic view of well-being, one that sees health not as the absence of illness but as harmony between all layers of our being. Each kosha vibrates at its own frequency, from the physical body to the blissful essence within, and when these layers move in rhythm, we experience vitality, clarity, and peace.
This ancient framework beautifully bridges modern science and spirituality. The physical sheath aligns with cellular health, the energy body with breath and the nervous system, the mental body with thoughts and emotional balance, the wisdom body with intuitive awareness, and the bliss body with heart coherence.
The koshas remind us that healing unfolds from the inside out. When energy and awareness realign, the body naturally restores itself. Ultimately, the path to health is not about fixing what is broken but about remembering our inherent wholeness, where balance, joy, and connection already reside.
My journey: From breakdown to awakening
I remember the moment everything changed. Diagnosed with a life-threatening illness (encephalitis), my world collapsed. I lost the ability to walk, talk, and even feed myself. Life became a slow, painstaking process of rebuilding from the ground up. Yet, in the midst of that darkness, I was surrounded by light, a radiant, unconditional love that transcended form. It felt like a warm embrace from the universe itself.
Returning to the physical world was not easy. But that glimpse beyond the veil revealed something extraordinary, we are not separate beings. We are, at our core, energetic and spiritual beings having a human experience, constantly in motion and deeply connected to everything around us. Recognising this truth transformed my approach to healing and living. It taught me that genuine health is not static but a dynamic alignment of energy, awareness, and purpose.
Key takeaways: The wisdom of the five koshas
Health is multidimensional: True well-being extends beyond the physical body. The five koshas remind us that health arises from harmony between body, mind, breath, energy, and spirit.
Every layer influences the whole: Each kosha interacts with the others. Stress in the mind can constrict breath and cause body pain, while calm breathing can restore balance across all levels. Healing begins when we nurture each layer.
Integration leads to wholeness: When we align all layers of our being, we reconnect with our natural state of peace and happiness. This alignment, not perfection, is the essence of holistic health and spiritual fulfilment.
The wisdom of the koshas invites us to look beyond symptoms and surfaces, to see health as harmony across every dimension of our being. When we nurture all layers, the physical, energetic, mental, intuitive, and blissful, we rediscover what has always been within us, wholeness, peace, and radiant well-being.
Call to action
If you are ready to move beyond stress and embrace holistic health, to restore your balance, energy, and inner harmony, I invite you to join my Heart-Centered Awakening Program.
Blending timeless wisdom with modern science, you will embark on a transformative journey that harmonises your body, mind, and spirit, gently restoring balance, igniting your inner spark, and unveiling the profound peace and joy that reside naturally within you.
Read more from Dr. Reetu Verma
Dr. Reetu Verma, Transformational Life Coach
Unlock your potential with Dr. Reetu Verma, a Transformational Life Coach, Spiritual Teacher, and Global Speaker. Empowering individuals through holistic health coaching, mindfulness, and energy healing, Dr. Verma integrates modern research with spiritual wisdom, emphasizing yoga philosophy. She shares expert insights on chakra healing, heart-centered living, and emotional freedom at global summits. Through her radio program, Dr. Verma raises awareness on health, well-being, environmental sustainability, and the UN's Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), inspiring positive change and collective action.
Mission to create:
Love in action: a heart-centered community united in care, kindness, and transformative change.
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