I was recently teaching the koshas (the 5 layers of the self) on a yoga teacher training and it suddenly occurred to me whilst teaching that one way of explaining the magic of the float tank is that it is able to very quickly melt away the less subtle layers of the body to get you right to a deeper experience of the self. Interested? Read on…
So, according to this teaching, the self (you!) has 5 layers, somewhat like a russian doll, each one more subtle than the next and these layers are called koshas. Below I’m going to share a little more about these layers and how I believe the float tank works on them:
The first, outer layer is annamaya kosha, this is our physical body. Well, the float tank makes pretty quick work of this one, within minutes you cannot actually feel that you have a body so that’s one layer dealt with now let’s dive deeper shall we…
The second layer or kosha is pranamaya kosha, it is also sometimes called the energy body. Whilst invisible to most, most people tap into this layer during or after a float as they comment on their energy levels; “I feel tired” or “I feel energised” – well that’s you going a little bit deeper and tuning into your pranic body. This pranic body is deeply regulated and purified by floating, this is why, I believe many chronic illnesses rooted in the pranic system respond so well to floating.
The third kosha is manomaya kosha. This is made up of our thoughts and emotions.
We gain deep access to this layer when we float, whilst not everyone gains complete spiritual enlightenment in the tank (lol), I can attest that pretty much everyone comes out having a greater awareness of what thoughts or stories have been passing through their mind. Evently, after enough floating, we can begin to see these thoughts as vibrations arising within a greater field of awareness and as such we learn to identify with them less. And what a joy it is not to get stuck in our stories right? Ever noticed how light you feel after floating; that’s you letting a few of stories go.
Now we get to the fourth layer; the one that I really want to talk about; vijnanamaya kosha. This is the space of what we may call “higher wisdom.” Scientists tell us that it is a space of very active theta brain wave activity. It is usually accompanied by a state of deep calm or peace and one can experience visions of intuitive knowledge here. This space is beyond the thoughts and stories of manomaya kosha. It is instead the space that holds these, one could say that it is plugging into the source itself. Now there are several ways to access this layer. But truly, I think that perhaps the best out there is floating! Research has literally proved that floating increases theta brain waves. (https://floatcornwall.co.uk/small-study-finds-that-flotation-has-an-electrophysiological-signature-comparable-to-that-of-induced-relaxation-but-with-a-more-rapid-onset/)
Honestly though, I’m not sure I even need to show you the research, if you float regularly you will already know this to be true, I love this quote by Christopher Wallis which encapsulates this:
“What you think you are is just an appearance within what you actually are.”
There is of course a fifth and final kosha, anandamaya kosha however as this kosha lies beyond thought and concept, I think we will have to leave it there for today. If you interested in experiencing some of these deeper layers of who you really are, please do get in touch.
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