Moving Through the Body, Moving Through the Self…
Uncovering and connecting with the subtle, unchanging Self is a question that many spiritual traditions have contemplated throughout time. Although this Self is ever-present, there often seems to be a natural disconnect—a sense of forgetting—even though it lives within us every day.
It can be jarring to think about how one can actually access this inner self. One way to approach it is to imagine the Self like an onion—layer by layer, we peel away what is not essential, slowly drawing closer to the core.
Each layer then must be acknowledged, felt, and moved through with care and awareness.
In yogic philosophy, these layers are known as the Koshas—the sheaths of the self. Each kosha represents a different aspect of being alive and being human, from the physical to the most subtle levels of awareness. These sheaths both shape our experience and veil our deepest essence: the Atman, or true Self.
The koshas are traditionally understood as:
Annamaya kosha – the physical body
Pranamaya kosha – the energy/breath body
Manomaya kosha – the mental/emotional body
Vijnanamaya kosha – the wisdom/intuitive body
Anandamaya kosha – the bliss body
Each sheath becomes subtler as we move inward. Given this, it’s clear that the most tangible layer—the physical body—is often our most accessible entry point into deeper self-awareness. However, even this first step can be challenging. In modern life, many people either struggle to connect with their physical body or become overly identified with it. Common imbalances at this level include disconnection from bodily sensations, chronic illness, high levels of self-objectification, or the mistaken belief that the body is the entirety of the self.
Ancient yogic traditions offered intentional pathways for moving through—and ultimately transcending—the layers of the self. While some of these practices are still alive today, it can be difficult for modern householders to fully engage in such deep, time-intensive work.
At the same time, many modern yoga practices have become disconnected from their original purpose. Rather than supporting embodied awareness, they can unintentionally create further imbalance in the first sheath. The physical body is often viewed through the lens of objectification or productivity—something to shape, perfect, or perform—rather than a living gateway to deeper self-understanding.
However, across various traditions and modern frameworks, accessing these layers remains possible.
My work with MABT (Mindful Awareness in Body-Oriented Therapy) and interoceptive awareness is a prime example. Through both my personal experience and that of my clients, I have witnessed how this approach supports connection not only with the first sheath but also with multiple sheaths that follow.
The framework of this practice integrates activities and attentional styles across all the koshas. Unlike massage, which primarily addresses the Annamaya kosha (physical body), or talk therapy, which engages the Manomaya kosha(mental/emotional body), MABT and interoceptive awareness can arguably extend as far as the Vijnanamaya kosha(wisdom/intuitive body). Through guided noticing, connection, focused attention, and inner listening, individuals develop a more spacious and grounded relationship with their body. By naming, processing, and expressing to the therapist, they actively engage the Manomaya kosha. This embodied relationship becomes the foundation for deeper exploration.
When the physical body is nurtured and understood—not as an object, but as something we relate to through subjective awareness and embodied knowing—we begin to access the deeper potential of this first sheath.
As we begin to move through the physical sheath, even the most basic sensations can reveal a more subtle experience when we attend closely. In interoceptive awareness work, we often begin with a single physical sensation. At first, it may feel heavy, dense, rigid, or hard to access. But with the support of the MABT framework—through noticing, connecting, naming, and focused attention—we begin to observe how that outer layer shifts. We experience its impermanence. With time and sustained awareness, we can move from the gross experience of sensation into its energetic, emotional, and sometimes even intuitive or blissful dimensions.
Over time, this practice cultivates:
A deeper understanding of the impermanence of sensation
Insight into the multifaceted causes behind bodily experiences
An expanded capacity to remain relationally balanced with sensations, rather than overwhelmed by them
This embodied foundation supports movement into the subtler koshas—opening the door to energy regulation, emotional integration, intuitive clarity, and even moments of deep inner peace.
We can see countless parallels between modern science and ancient wisdom. By respectfully analyzing these frameworks through the lens of Western science—and, perhaps more importantly, directly experiencing them through embodied practices—we begin to validate their truths with our own intuition. This integration allows us to bridge knowledge with lived understanding, deepening both trust and transformation.
How have you experienced direct access to more subtle aspects of your self. What were you doing? How did it make you feel?
I would love to hear more about your personal reflections!
Till next time,
Alexandra
