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Lifestyle, Spirit

You Are So Much More Than You Know

Two big questions that most human beings will ponder at some point in their lives: “Who am I?” and “How can I get more of what I want in my life?”

Some of us may even ask ask them on a daily basis.

One of the things I love about the Tantric yoga tradition is its systematic approach to answering both of these inquiries. The Taittiriya Upanishad, one of the most important yogic scriptures, says that if we really want to know who we are, and get more joy and fulfillment in life, we gotta get to know our subtle anatomy.

Why? Because we are, according to Tantric anatomy, not one, but a composite of five bodies (pancha koshas): the physical body, the energetic body, the mental/emotional body, the inner-teacher or wisdom body, and the bliss body. When we can bring awareness into the deep layers of each of these bodies, we gain access to our highest, most evolved, powerful Self.

Body Mapping

Each of these bodies comes with their own limitations, access points, and super-powers. The more we know about each one of them, and the more familiar we get in their unique flavors, the more we have a relationship to them. And when we can relate them as as layers of who we are, the more they begin to show us their hidden contents.

The teachings go on to explain that what is hidden in these bodies is both our unconscious negative patterning, as well as our greatest gifts and powers. When the patterns that are hidden in the bodies emerge, we are no longer under the pull of the unconscious stuff. We can now get more of what we truly want as we bring the limitations and the latent capacities of the unconscious to the surface. In the end, when we penetrate the last layer of who we are, we are left with an endless power to create, act, and know.

Access Points

The physical. Many activities invite us into the physical body. Asana, for example, is an excellent way to tune in. We can feel our bones and they way they stack on top of each when we come into a Plank Pose. What happens to the tops of your thighs when you do Warrior 1 for long enough? Perhaps a burning sensation or a “shaking with joy.” Dancing will also bring you into the physical. So will a big meal, strong pain, sex, or a sunburn.

The energetic. Commonly referred to as the prana body, this can be felt when we keep the physical body still. We experience prana, according to the teachings, as subtle moving sensations like vibration and pulse, or we see it when we close our eyes as color or light. We can also experience prana as the impulse that pulls breath into the body (without us trying at all), and the force that causes air to leave again. This is one of the reasons the yogis encouraged such a strong connection to the breath. Prana also rides along the many intelligent processes in the body: the heart beat, the circulation of blood, and the capacity of our sensory organs.

The mental/emotional. This is where many of us spend a lot of time. It’s the part of us that thinks, plans, decides, emotes, and reacts. Its also the part of us that over-thinks, obsessively plans, sits in indecision, represses emotion instead of channeling it, and overreacts. Meditation is a wonderful way to access this body in a balanced and helpful way. Simply sitting and watching your thoughts, opinions, and judgements with a sense of detachment can give you more access to witnessing (and being less identified by the pulls of) this body.

The inner teacher.  This is also often called the Wisdom Body. We can think of it as the highest aspect of our intuition and conscience. It’s the part of you that urges you out of bed to meditate or go for a run when you’d much rather lounge in the sheets checking Facebook. It’s the part of us that always knows the right path to take. Just like we would lift weights to make the physical body strong, we strengthen this body by sitting in silence, and sharpening our ability to hear the voice of our soul. When this body is strong, our daily actions become giant steps forward in the direction of our highest life purpose, our calling, our big destiny. We move from a place of knowingness instead of reaction.

The bliss. It’s pretty amazing that the subtlest aspect of who we are, at the core of all the other bodies, is referred to as an ocean of unending waves of bliss. Ironically, we access this body by actually dis-identifying with everything. To practice being in your bliss body, you can try the Tantric practice of neti neti, a word meaning “not this, not that.” In a meditative seat, notice what arises in your field of awareness. A thought about your job pops up and you say/acknowledge, “I’m not that.” You feel your low back ache a little, same thing: “I’m not that.” You feel your desire for more intimate love, “I’m not that.” A hunger pang arises, “I’m not this.” You sense light in front of your forehead, “I’m not that.” You may even feel, for a split second, the bliss. And in that moment, remember,  “I’m not even that.” The more you keep surrendering into non-identification, the more, the teachings promise, the bliss can flow.

~Katie

This article was originally published on the Yoga Journal Blog on June 25, 2012.

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We’re throwing YOU a party (tomorrow)! You’re We’re throwing YOU a party (tomorrow)! You’re not gonna wanna miss this virtual launch PARTY/oprah-style-giveaway/workshop for creatives! (Swipe to see the incredible stuff we’re giving away) ➡️⁣
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TOMORROW 10/3 at 10am ET (US Time) join us for a Morning of Glow, the official virtual launch party for my new book, Glow-Worthy 🧘🏼‍♀️⁣
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We will be:⁣
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✨ Celebrating the release of my new book, Glow-Worthy (!)⁣
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✨ Getting insight into my “secret” process for writing (and how you can use these easy tips for busting through the inner blocks on your OWN creative babies) like imposter syndrome and perfectionism, and how those two little demons were the enemy of getting this thing done. You’re also gonna hear about the book I actually tossed out the window before I wrote this one!⁣
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✨ Practicing some of the embodiment energy meditations from the book ⁣
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✨ Getting showered in love and gifts (yes, we ARE giving away 2 spots for Ayurveda School + TONS of other amazing prizes, swipe through for more)➡️⁣
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We will also dive into some of the core ideas from the book and I will tell you WHY I wrote it and for whom… (you, of course 😉). ⁣
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I cannot wait to celebrate with you! Go get on our email list ASAP (link in bio) and keep an eye on your inbox for the zoom link!
Join us tomorrow for a very special book party onl Join us tomorrow for a very special book party online! We will be giving away TWO free spots to level one Ayurveda school but you have to show up with your best friend and be there for the whole event live! We will also be going deep into our creativity with meditation/journaling. If you are in need of a creative boost and a celebration of soul: Please join us. 🌈🦄💕🩵We are also giving away $8000 in prizes to everyone- all levels of Ayurveda School snd people new to our community welcome! To register simply put your name in our newsletter. Link in the bio and we will be sending emails tomorrow morning with the zoom link.
We’re trading hot girl summer for cozy girl fall We’re trading hot girl summer for cozy girl fall up in the Northern Hemisphere. The theme?? ➡️major permission to start slowing down, warming up, and amping up our witchy Fall self-care rituals. Send this to a friend you wanna plan an Ayurvedic fall self-care day with 🕯️🕯️
With warming ginger, black pepper and nutmeg to he With warming ginger, black pepper and nutmeg to help kindle your agni plus some grounding pumpkin and Ashwaghanda - WHAT more could the vata in each of us need!? 😉☕️🍁🍁⁣
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@ayurveda.bianca is one of our Level 1 grads and she offers personalized Ayurvedic consultations out of Long Island, NY (and also virtually!) She is such a sweet soul and we are honored to call her one of our grads. (She also shares amazing Ayurvedic content on her page so go check her out) 🤍🤍🤍⁣
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Here’s the recipe for this incredible Ayurveda-girl style PSL she’s making:⁣
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1 cup of your choice of milk⁣
1/8 cup of pumpkin purée⁣
1 tbsp of coconut oil⁣
1/4 tsp ground cinnamon⁣
1/4 tsp ground ginger powder⁣
1/4 tsp ground turmeric⁣
Pinch of nutmeg⁣
Pinch of black pepper⁣
1/2 tsp ashwagandha⁣
1 pitted and soaked date⁣
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Blend all the ingredients together until smooth. In a small pot, simmer over low heat until warm. Serve and enjoy!⁣
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Modifications for each dosha:⁣
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Vata - This recipe is perfect “as is” for keeping Vata in balance.⁣
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Pitta - Reduce the heat by removing or reducing the amount of ginger, black pepper, or turmeric.⁣
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Kapha - Substitute 1/2 cup milk with 1/2 cup water, use just one tablespoon pumpkin purée, and/or don’t add the sweetener.⁣
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Want your very own e-book of our FAVE fall recipes? Come to our Fall Rituals and Routines webinar this morning at 11am ET (link in bio to register) and/or come to our Morning of Glow workshop on Tuesday 10/3 (get on our email list to get the invite) - those who attend either of these events will get our Fall recipes e-book for free! 🍁🍁
We are beyond excited to share this incredibly spe We are beyond excited to share this incredibly special gift with you….⁣
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Introducing….⁣
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✨The Glow-Worthy Meditations ✨⁣
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(Yeah, we were gonna wait to give these to you til the Morning of Glow workshop on Tuesday but WE JUST COULDN’T keep it in!!!!)⁣
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But you should still DEF come because that’s gonna be the very first time we steep in the Glow-Worthy energy together!!⁣
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This coming Tuesday 10/3 at 10am ET we’re throwing a Morning of Glow virtual workshop where we’re gonna be practicing some of the embodiment energy meditations from the book! Presence🧘🏽‍♀️ + Love💗 = Glow✨✨✨⁣
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We’re also giving away an INSANE amount of gifts (like $8,000 worth…) during this live party-slash-workshop! Come (you have to be there live to win!) for a chance to receive:⁣
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 ✨2 FREE SPOTS TO LEVEL 1 AYURVEDA SCHOOL! Bring your bestie who also wants IN on Level 1 Ayurveda school and stay for the whole event where the winners will be announced! (Plus you’ll get all the books for class) ⁣
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Don’t worry Level 2 babes, you can still win all the other stuff! 👇🏼⁣
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✨1 WINNER will get a free private coaching session with Katie (Katie doesn’t do this like *ever*) so this is an insanely rare opportunity to connect with her on a one-on-one level!⁣
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✨3 WINNERS will get a personalized love note and signed copy of Glow-Worthy sent to your door. ⁣
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✨3 WINNERS will get Katie’s Winter Skin and Sleep Kit ⁣
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✨EVERYONE! Katie’s Fall Recipe FAVES E-book⁣
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I mean are you as EXCITED as we are!!? Let us know and tag your BFF who you’re coming with❤️⁣
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How to join Morning of Glow: go to our link in bio and sign up for our email list. We’ll be sending out the zoom link to EVERYONE on our list, so mark your calendar for Tuesday 10/3 at 10am ET and then keep an eye out for the link! 💌⁣
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Get the Glow Meditations NOW at the link in bio🤍

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