The Deeper Dimensions of Yoga: More Than Just Poses

Dear reader,

In the West, we often see yoga primarily as a physical exercise: a series of postures, sometimes challenging poses... in short: movement on the mat. But did you know that yoga is originally an ancient tradition from India, where the postures are just one aspect of a much broader spiritual and life-oriented path? These poses, or asanas, were used to make the body supple in preparation for deep meditation.

Yoga literally means 'to unite' or 'to bring into connection' (from the Sanskrit 'yuj'), and the original purpose of yoga was to bring body, breath, mind, and ultimately higher consciousness into harmony. At Studio Tree Of Life, I honor these roots and traditions and the wisdom they can offer us.

In this blog, I'll take you through two fundamental concepts from yoga philosophy: the five Koshas (our layers of existence) and the Eightfold Path of Patanjali. By connecting these two, you can gain deeper insight into how a holistic approach to yoga can work on all our layers.

The Koshas: Our Five Layers of Existence

Before diving into the Eightfold Path, I'd like to introduce you to a beautiful concept from the yogic tradition: the Koshas. These are described as five 'sheaths' or layers that together form our being. Think of these layers as Russian matryoshka dolls, where each layer encompasses a more subtle dimension of our existence:

1. Annamaya Kosha (physical body) – Our tangible body, built from food ('anna'). This is the physical shell that we can see and touch.

2. Pranamaya Kosha (energetic body) – The layer of life energy ('prana') that flows through us via subtle channels. This energy nourishes and supports all bodily processes and connects body with mind.

3. Manomaya Kosha (mental body) – 'Manas' means mind. The layer of our thoughts, emotions, and sensory experiences. Here we experience joy, sadness, fear, desire, and all other emotions.

4. Vijnanamaya Kosha (intellectual body) – The layer of our higher intellect, intuition, and wisdom. Here we can consciously reflect on ourselves and our experiences.

5. Anandamaya Kosha (spiritual body) – The deepest layer, where we can experience pure joy and inner peace, beyond all duality and conditioning.

   
   

The beauty of yoga is that it can help us create balance in all these layers of our existence. Each aspect of yoga addresses specific koshas, but together they work as one harmonious whole that can lead us to deeper wholeness. Now that we have explored these five layers, I would like to take you along the Patanjali's Eightfold Path.

The Eightfold Path: A Gentle Exploration

Patanjali's Yoga Sutras are considered one of the fundamental texts within the yoga tradition. The word 'sutra' means 'thread' in Sanskrit. Patanjali's work could thus be seen as a compilation of his 'thought threads' about yoga. In his work, we find the Ashtanga path — literally 'eight limbs' or the eightfold path — that can guide us step by step to lead a meaningful existence.

I'd like to take you through each of these steps and their corresponding Koshas. Out of respect for the philosophy and translations from Sanskrit, I try to stay as closely as possible to the original as I learned it during my yoga teacher trainings. Some terms may feel somewhat 'strict' and intangible. Therefore, try not to see this philosophy as rules, but as a gentle invitation to learn about the source of yoga, which could help you connect more deeply with yourself.

1. Yama: That Which You Refrain From

Yamas primarily focus on the Manomaya and Vijnanamaya Koshas (emotional and wisdom layers). They invite you to refine your relationship with the outside world:

• Ahimsa – non-violence and compassion, in thoughts, words, and deeds

• Satya – truthfulness; speaking and living from sincerity

• Asteya – non-stealing; respecting what belongs to another

• Brahmacharya – moderation; conscious handling of your life energy

• Aparigraha – non-attachment; being able to let go of possessions and expectations

  
  

By practicing these principles, you bring awareness to your interactions and transform the way you exchange energy with the world. Each day offers a new opportunity to choose gentleness, honesty, and kindness – first toward yourself, then toward others.

2. Niyama: That Which You Do

Niyamas work with the Pranamaya, Manomaya, and Vijnanamaya Koshas (energetic, emotional, and wisdom layers). While yamas are about how we relate to others and the world around us, niyamas are personal 'guidelines' that shape our relationship with ourselves:

• Śauca – purity; cleanliness of body and mind

• Santosha – contentment; finding peace with what is

• Tapas – discipline; the inner flame that makes transformation possible

• Svādhyāya – self-study; examining yourself and sacred texts

• Īśvara praṇidhāna – surrender to the higher; devotion to something greater than yourself

  
  

With these rituals, you tend to your inner garden and create fertile ground for deeper connection. Step by step, routine transforms into ritual, and self-care into a gateway to broader awareness.

3. Āsana: The Language of the Body

Asanas work directly with the Annamaya and Pranamaya Koshas (physical and energetic layers). Asana literally means 'to sit' or 'posture' in Sanskrit. The essence of this physical practice lies not in perfection, but in finding stability (sthira) and ease (sukha) in each posture.

Each pose is a conversation with your body, a chance to listen to what it tells you. By acknowledging and softening accumulated tension, you open channels for life energy (prana). This way, you can prepare both your body and mind for meditation – the original purpose of asana.

4. Prāṇāyāma: Dance of Life Energy

Pranayama works directly with the Pranamaya Kosha (energetic layer) and also influences the Manomaya Kosha (emotional layer). 'Prana' means life energy and 'ayama' means expansion or control.

Through conscious breathing techniques, we learn to 'control' the breath. This can make the nervous system more resilient, improve the flow of energy in our meridians (energy channels), and can prepare our mind for deeper meditation. You can see the breath as the bridge that connects the physical and the subtle.

5. Pratyāhāra: Withdrawal of the Senses

Pratyahara works with the Manomaya and Vijnanamaya Koshas (emotional and wisdom layers). In a world that constantly demands our attention, pratyahara is a conscious pause. It is not about suppressing sensory experiences, but developing the ability to observe our reactions to them without being carried away.

By directing our senses inward, more space can emerge between the stimuli we receive and our reaction to them. This important step can teach us: we may not have control over what happens around us, but we can choose where we direct our attention.

6. Dhāraṇā: Concentration

Dharana works primarily with the Vijnanamaya Kosha (wisdom layer). It is the ability to focus the mind on one point – a mantra, an image, or the breath.

We practice bringing attention back again and again as it wanders, as we would train a puppy: with patience and gentleness. This practice can promote mental clarity and is the direct preparation for meditation, where concentration is not a cramped effort, but a gentle attention to a point.

7. Dhyāna: Meditation

Dhyana works with the Vijnanamaya and Anandamaya Koshas (wisdom and bliss layers). Where dharana is a focused effort, dhyana arises as a natural state – a continuous flow of attention, without effort or interruption. All duality – thinker and thought, observer and observed – dissolves into one experience.

In dhyana, there is no feeling of "I am meditating"; there is only meditation. It's like being absorbed in music or being fully present at a sunset, without the need to label this moment. According to the ancient texts, this state can arise spontaneously when all previous steps are consistently applied.

8. Samādhi: The Embrace of Oneness

Samadhi, often referred to as 'enlightenment', is fully connected with the Anandamaya Kosha (bliss layer). It is seen as the ultimate goal of yoga, in which the illusion of separateness completely dissolves. In this experience, any sense of a separate self would disappear and make way for an experience of unity with everything around you.

Yogis describe it as coming home to your true nature, recognizing what was always present. Samadhi essentially gathers and integrates all seven previous components of the path. This state of connection is not the endpoint but a new starting point, from which we can return to daily life - enriched by the insight of our deeper connection with everything around us.

Yoga in Daily Life

I believe that yoga goes far beyond exercises on the mat. For many of us who begin with yoga, however, that is the starting point. Perhaps you first notice that you feel physically better after a yoga class. Along the way, you might also perceive the differences on a mental and emotional level. During the 8 years that I have practiced yoga, I have noticed that I increasingly take the state of yoga that I experience on the mat with me in the rest of my activities. It has expanded my awareness and ensured that I experience a deeper connection with myself.

What I find important to mention: this process may be gentle. You cannot force anything, and you don't need to; you can embrace yourself bit by bit by shining light on all parts of yourself – including the parts you'd rather not see. This lesson in acceptance is perhaps the deepest form of yoga there is.

By approaching yoga as a life practice, we can integrate small elements of the yoga tradition into our daily lives:

• Conscious breathing during stressful moments

• More attention in everyday actions

• A different response to challenges, with more patience and compassion

• Moments of silence and rest to feel more inner joy

• Consciously moving and caring for your body

  
  

An Invitation to Connection

So yoga means unity or connection - connection with yourself, with others, and with the world around you. At Studio Tree Of Life, I invite you to discover and experience this connection in your own way.

Whether you come for the physical benefits of yoga, to deepen your breathing, or to find more peace in your mind - here is space for your unique journey. Yoga is not a destination but a path, a path that we can walk together, one gentle step at a time with respect for where you are now.

I look forward to guiding you during Hatha Yoga, Yin Yoga, or Balance Yoga. I do offer English yoga classes at Studio Tree Of Life, email for the possibilities to: info@studiotreeoflife.nl

I hope you may discover how yoga can enrich your life, not just on the mat, but in all aspects of your life – in all layers of your being.

With warm regards,

Manoek