September 11, 2025

The Five Sheaths of the Body in Yoga: A Journey Inward with I AM BEING

When I first began exploring yoga, I thought it was simply about moving my body, stretching muscles, and finding balance in difficult poses. Over time, I realised yoga is much more than that. It is an inward journey that invites us to peel back the layers of who we think we are, so that we may touch the essence of our true self.

In yogic philosophy, these layers are known as the five sheaths of the body, or the Pancha Kosha. Each sheath is like a veil, covering our innermost being. By understanding and experiencing these sheaths, we deepen our practice—whether on the mat, in meditation, or in community spaces such as I AM BEING in London, where yoga, cacao, and sound baths become pathways to inner awakening.

Here I am looking to share what the five sheaths are, why they matter, and how I personally connect with each one. By the end, you’ll see how exploring them can transform your life and practice, and why this journey naturally flows into the healing vibrations of a sound bath.

The Five Sheaths (Pancha Kosha)

The word kosha means “sheath” or “layer” in Sanskrit. Together, the five koshas form a holistic map of the human experience—from the tangible body to the subtle realms of spirit. They are:

Annamaya Kosha – The Physical Body (Food Sheath)
Pranamaya Kosha – The Energy Body (Breath Sheath)
Manomaya Kosha – The Mental Body (Mind Sheath)
Vijnanamaya Kosha – The Wisdom Body (Intellect Sheath)
Anandamaya Kosha – The Bliss Body (Joy Sheath)

Let’s explore each one…exciting stuff!

1. Annamaya Kosha – The Physical Body

This is the most tangible sheath: the body made of food (anna means “food” in Sanskrit). It’s the muscles, bones, skin, and organs—the part we nurture through eating, moving, and resting.

When I guide yoga in London, I often remind students that their practice begins with this sheath. The body is our entry point. Through postures, we create strength, flexibility, and grounding. When I stretch into downward dog or rest in savasana, I feel this sheath most clearly.

At I AM BEING, people often come to yoga to feel healthier, release tension from long days in the city, or simply to reconnect with themselves after rushing between work and responsibilities. The physical sheath reminds us that our body is sacred—it is the temple of the soul.

Why it matters: Without honouring Annamaya Kosha, the deeper layers remain hard to access. Think of it like tuning an instrument before playing music—the body must be cared for if we wish to journey inward.

2. Pranamaya Kosha – The Energy Body

Beneath the physical lies the energy sheath, made up of prana (life force). We feel this sheath when we breathe consciously, practise pranayama, or notice the tingling energy after yoga.

For me, this sheath comes alive during alternate nostril breathing. The first time I experienced Nadi Shodhana, I felt a gentle current moving through me, like rivers clearing away debris. It was more than breath—it was energy harmonising.

In our London yoga sessions at I AM BEING, we often weave pranayama into classes. It transforms the room: suddenly, the atmosphere softens, and people feel more present. Breath becomes medicine.

Why it matters: When the Pranamaya Kosha is balanced, energy flows freely. Stress dissipates, fatigue lifts, and we feel vibrant. When blocked, we experience anxiety, sluggishness, or disconnection.

3. Manomaya Kosha – The Mental Body

This sheath is our mental and emotional landscape—the thoughts, feelings, and stories we tell ourselves. In today’s world, many of us live here most of the time, caught in loops of overthinking.

I know this sheath well. In my own practice, I’ve had moments where my mind raced during yoga: “Am I doing this right? What’s for dinner? Did I reply to that email?” This is the Manomaya Kosha at play.

At I AM BEING in London, people often share after class that yoga helped them “switch off” or feel calmer. That is the gift of moving beyond this sheath—it teaches us not to identify with every passing thought.

Why it matters: Understanding Manomaya Kosha is key to emotional resilience. When we bring awareness to it, we can notice patterns, quiet the chatter, and cultivate stillness.

4. Vijnanamaya Kosha – The Wisdom Body

This sheath is about deeper knowing—the intuitive wisdom that guides us. It’s not intellectual knowledge, but inner clarity. It often whispers rather than shouts.

I personally connect with this sheath when meditating. There are moments where insights arise without effort—like remembering who I am beneath roles and expectations. For example, during one meditation at I AM BEING, I felt a strong knowing that my path was to help others connect to their own inner truth. It wasn’t a thought—it was an embodied realisation.

In yoga classes across London, when people rest in stillness, I often see this wisdom flicker in their eyes. It’s the “a-ha” moment when someone realises they already hold the answers within.

Why it matters: Vijnanamaya Kosha empowers us to make choices aligned with our higher self, rather than reacting from fear or habit.

5. Anandamaya Kosha – The Bliss Body

The final sheath is the subtlest and most radiant. It is the layer of pure joy and bliss that exists beyond circumstances. Unlike happiness (which depends on external things), bliss is our natural state when we connect to the essence of being.

I have felt Anandamaya Kosha most strongly in sound baths. When the gongs or alchemy bowls vibrate through me, there is a dissolving of boundaries. The mind quiets, the body rests, and what remains is bliss.

At I AM BEING, many participants say after sound baths: “I felt like I was floating” or “I touched something beyond words.” That is the Anandamaya Kosha revealing itself.

Why it matters: This sheath reminds us that our true nature is joy. Beneath all layers, we are bliss itself.

Why the Five Sheaths Matter

The five sheaths are not abstract philosophy—they are a living map. They remind us that:

We are not just bodies, but energy, mind, wisdom, and bliss.
Healing happens on all levels, not just physically.
Yoga is a journey inward, layer by layer.

By exploring the koshas in yoga classes, meditation, or sound baths in London, we learn to embrace wholeness. Each sheath is like a doorway, and together they open us to the truth of who we are.

Personal Practice: Moving Through the Sheaths

Here’s how you might experience the sheaths in a single session at I AM BEING:

Annamaya Kosha – Begin with yoga postures, grounding into your physical body.
Pranamaya Kosha – Shift into conscious breathing, feeling energy flow.
Manomaya Kosha – Notice thoughts and emotions that arise without clinging to them.
Vijnanamaya Kosha – Allow space for insight to emerge in meditation.
Anandamaya Kosha – Rest into the bliss of a sound bath, beyond words or thought.

This is why our sessions weave yoga, meditation, and sound healing. Each practice touches a different sheath, guiding you deeper into yourself.

The Journey Ends in Sound Baths

Sound baths are one of the most powerful ways to complete the journey through the koshas. The vibrations bypass the mind, soothe the nervous system, and create harmony across all sheaths.

In London, life can feel hectic—emails, commutes, endless noise. At I AM BEING, ending in a sound bath is like exhaling fully. It gathers together the physical, energetic, mental, and wisdom sheaths, and allows us to rest in bliss.

That final resonance—the gong echoing, the bowls shimmering—becomes the doorway into Anandamaya Kosha. And here, we remember: we are already whole.

The five sheaths of the body in yoga are not something to be “achieved.” They are already present within us, waiting to be experienced. Through yoga, meditation, cacao, Reiki, and sound baths at I AM BEING in London, we peel back each layer, softening into the joy that lies at our core.

Yoga is not just about touching your toes—it’s about touching your soul. And when we journey through the koshas, we discover that the soul is always blissful, always radiant, and always here.

Being,

Gizelle Renee Xx