Your Second Body
Pranamaya is so much more than just breathing. Have you ever found yourself looking at a stranger, and just by observing them you can get a very clear idea of what their energy is like? Do you pick up a sensation that they are stressed and tense, with agitated abrupt physical movements, or do they appear calm and relaxed, their movements graceful and precise? When you make these observations whilst looking at individuals, what you are actually observing is their pranamaya kosha. In the Yogic sciences, we learn that your energy is what comprises your pranic body, it is generally the second thing you notice after seeing a person’s physical body.
Pranamaya, Energy And Breath
The Pranamaya Kosha is the first sheath that surrounds your physical form, making it your second body and it begins approximately two inches in distance from the surface of the skin. The pranamaya kosha is often also referred to as your etheric /energy body or your aura. It consists and is made up of your pranic life force.
The Sanskrit word Pranamaya translates as comprised of prana, prana, in turn, translates as “the vital force, the force that creates vitality and keeps together and connects body and mind. Prana infuses the entirety of your being and manifests physically as breath. As long as breath is supplied to all of our body, then so life continues.
How You Breathe And What It Says About You
A vibration is given by your pranamaya as to how you are going about breathing. When you are stressed out, tense and ill at ease, your breaths are shallow and rapid, conversely, if you are in a state where you are peaceful, calm and relaxed your breaths are slow and deep. Just that small distance in your breathing gives off a completely different frequency.
Did you know that your predominant dosha describes a lot about how you breathe? For example; Vattas typically breathe shallow, cool and quick breaths, Pittas, because of their consistent heat energy, breathe hot, shallow and fiery breaths, and Kaphas in turn breath, deep, slow and cool breaths.
Your Energy As A Tool For Teaching
When you have an attained balance with your pranamaya kosha you have a distinct connection to your breath. The energy you give off is calming, and you cannot become easily frustrated. You have a sense of awareness regarding others and can pick up on their vibrations. However, when there are times that your pranamaya kosha is unbalanced, it leaves you out of touch with your breath and the way you are breathing. You may well have shallow and fast breaths or experience heated heavy inhalation and exhalations.
This indicates that you are out of touch with your energy and cannot pick up on the energy of others because of it. In order to reconnect with your pranamaya kosha try and practice these simple exercises: Focus on and pay attention to your breath, try to make your breaths deep and slower, taking your breaths from your belly (in the west this is called Diaphragmatic breathing) and is often practised by opera stars or singers to ensure they have the maximum available amount of breath to sing.
You should also practice the breathing technique pranayama, which is discussed in one of our previous blogs and features on our website under the treatments section, Yoga and meditation. Both of these breathing techniques become easier with practice.
