The Koshas

According to Vedic philosophy, specifically the Taittiriya Upanishad, each of us has five distinct layers of being. These layers are called the koshas (‘sheaths’). Collectively, the give us a map of the body that includes the aspects of the body we’re familiar with (our physical form) but then expands us beyond this to include increasingly subtler layers of awareness and experience.

As a whole, the koshas detail the different facets of our human nature and give us a way of exploring the spectrum of our experience and our potential as humans. They show us how the various levels of our being create the uniqueness of our personality, even as they obscure the light of consciousness underneath.

In this masterclass on the koshas you will explore:

• Source material with specific reference to the Taittiriya Upanishad
• How the koshas work as a complete system
• The individual koshas (the physical body, subtle-energetic body, mental/emotional body, wisdom-based or intuitive body, bliss body) through both lecture and practice
• How the koshas work as a lens for exploring the levels of interaction between purusha and prakriti within us

The course includes a combination of video material, written material (and diagrams) and audio practices.

About the Teacher

Karina Guthrie is a yoga teacher, teacher trainer and mentor dedicated to sharing (and supporting other teachers to share) the deeper dimensions of yoga.

She is passionate about yoga as a physical practice, believing it opens us to the magic of ordinary moments by bringing the body to life. She is equally passionate about yogic philosophy and its ability to help us ask, and answer, those big existential questions that infuse our life with meaning and purpose.

With over a decade’s teaching experience, she teaches internationally, offering philosophy and practice support through her online platform, in-person classes, continuing education programs for students and teachers, 200hr and 300hr yoga teacher training programs and one-on-one mentoring for teachers.

She is currently completing her PhD through Otago University in New Zealand, titled: ‘Negotiating Agency: Women’s participation in Indian Shakta Tantra in the West’.