It is human nature to pretend we have a strong handle on reality, but truly there is much more going on than what can be seen in the material world. Often, our rigidly held outlook limits our ability to see beyond preconceived notions. In yoga everything is divided in two, purusa and prakriti. Everything we feel, experience and see is real, including our dreams, ideas and fantasies. That which has always been, purusa, is unchanging and will always be. That is the observer in each of us that even watches our mind think. Everything else is prakriti, impermanent and always in a state of change.

Yoga recognizes our physical body, but also recognizes other bodies, or koshas, occupying the same space as the physical body.

KOSHAS — from ‘Weight Loss Through Yoga, Jewel in the Lotus’

There are five koshas:

1) A physical body comprised of matter.

2) A prana (energy) body. Prana is the Sanskrit word for ‘life force’ that animates all physical and mental activity.

3) A mental body.

4) A knowledge body (knowing beyond sensory perception).

5) An omnipresent, omnipotent, and omniscient body called the bliss body.

Prana, the life force energy, rides the breath.