The traditions of yoga understand human beings as five distinct, but intertwined layers or "bodies," called koshas. When our koshas are integrated and balanced, it allows us to access optimal health and well-being, as well as deep spiritual connection.

Life's inevitable challenges can knock these layers out of balance. Everything from routine work stress to a car accident or chronic disease diagnosis can contribute to physical and mental stress, which creates imbalances between and within the layers.

Over time, our strategies for coping with big and small stressors develop into conditioned patterns of behavior. Sometimes these patterns help with one stresspoint but cause ill effects in one or more layers.

Anamaya Kosha (physical body)

musculoskeletal imbalances; chronic pain; physical tension; endocrine or immune imbalances

Pranamaya Kosha (energy body/breath)

inefficient breathing patterns; fatigue; restlessness; nervous system dysregulation

Manomaya Kosha (mental/emotional body)

anxiety; depression; trouble focusing; difficulty with stress management

Vijnanamaya Kosha (wisdom body/identity/deeply held beliefs)

crisis of faith; disconnection from community; loss of sense of self

Anandamaya Kosha (bliss body/connection to joy)

disconnected from joy; lack of meaning and purpose in life

The longer we lean into our patterns, the more likely that they will show up as disruptions to our sense of health, ease and well-being.

Yoga therapy is an integrative health modality that brings the koshas back into balance using tools from the yoga tradition (breathing, movement, meditation, mindful awareness, ethics).

With the help of a yoga therapist, you can reduce suffering and increase well-being by improving physical strength, flexibility, stress management, mental clarity and connection to the people and things that are important to you.