anna: food
maya: that which consists of
kosha: layer, sheath
and yes, it does consider the actual food you are eating, but that is not the whole of this layer. the annamayakosha is your entire physical body.
the bones, muscles, fascia, veins and blood that allow you to have structure and support as you (literally) move through life. your digestive, respiratory, cardiovascular and nervous systems. typically the layer that you feel the most.
the layer that gives you form, nourishment, strength and ultimately your vitality.
the reason it is called the “food” body, is because it is concerned with what you’re taking in — the foods that you eat, water you hydrate with, movement you partake in and sensory input you consume on a day to day basis.
how do we look after all that sustains your body?
practice in a way that cultivates sustained strength
fluidity and full ranges of movement
deeper awareness to the communication and response within your organs, tissues and bones
interoception: the internal sensory system that allows your brain to perceive, interpret, and integrate signals from inside your body “the eighth sense”
in your yoga practice
all asana brings you into your body. asana literally translating to “seat” indicating that when we are partaking in asana, you are taking a seat within your body. Embodying and inhabiting the vessel and form of your Self.
“we don’t use the body to get into the pose, we use the pose to get into the body”
—Bernie Clark, yin yoga teacher
I often come back to this beautiful reminder that yoga practice is at the foundational level a place to cultivate a relationship to your body that is not based on the outer form, but the feeling. the activation, strength, softening and stability that are consciously cultivated and built through presence.
you can balance annamaya kosha in your movement practices by mindfully being in your body.
sthira & sukha
sthira is the root word in Sanskrit that means strength, stability, structure and engagement.
suhka means sweetness, softening, openness and ease.
in your asana practice, come back to these qualities. can you move in a way where sthira and suhka are existing in balance, simultaneously?
a physical asana practice where the poses feel strong but open is the key to moving in a way that is healthy for your body, promoting longevity, and letting go of control, judgements, forcing your body to be a certain way and ultimately, a relationship with your body that is full of appreciation, gratitude and reverence.
annamaya kosha in life (off the mat)
“if the body is joyous, it will encourage you to go further”
—Sadhguru
keep your body happy and healthy.
“what you eat becomes you” — eat foods that are whole, alive and close to the source of origin, in season. avoid dieting trends, listen to your cravings and investigate what they might be telling you.
hydrate with water and herbal teas. savour a glass of decadent red wine (or a cold beer after a day of hard yakka) rather than guzzling down the bottle mindlessly or out of habit. let the juice of your favourite fruit run down the corners of your mouth, over your chin. DELIGHT is key!
engage all of your senses whilst you consume anything. touch, taste, sight, smell and sound.
cook and eat your meals with a quality of gratitude in your heart. avoid multi-tasking or inundating your senses all at once.
move your body out of joy, respect and love.
touch the earth with your bare feet and feel the sun shine down on your skin (sun-safe of course.)
with these practices integrated in your daily life, your body will no longer feel like an obstacle or something to be ‘fixed’ and instead becomes a stepping stone into the deeper, more subtle layers of your existence.
see next entry pranamaya kosha: the energy body.