My implicit bias towards unproven concepts held me back from the experiential portion of this kriyā. I initially ignored the teaching of the “Ten Bodies” and the effects they may have on my direct yogic experience. On the third year working the sequence I began to observe how the practice was unfolding and guiding my understanding of my human experience.

Insight & Awareness to Integration

What makes each of us who we are? How do we fully integrate all the aspects of being human? Our physical bodies, our breath, our mental and emotional states, our intuitive nature and finally our connection to others and perhaps to something larger than our individual selves?

We strive for a sense of wholeness. And what is wholeness? And how do we measure it, even if we have a sense of it? Having this “Ten Body” tool provides a framework to assess, analyze and understand how balance manifests. Is my mental state in negative mind, and if so, why? How do I create more positive mind thoughts? What is neutral mind? Am I conscious of an energy field surrounding my body? If I am a radio station, what is my essence broadcasting every day? What connects me more deeply to myself and others? What is my subtle body and how do I work with it?

If you are new to the Ten Bodies or would benefit from a refresher, let’s begin here…

1. The Soul Body: like your breath, is your constant companion.
This body is beyond your physical body, your personality, your mental and emotional states, even your intuitive state. This first body is your true essence. If anything survives us, perhaps it is the soul?

Can you identify with your soul body?

2. The Negative Mind: protects you, this discerning mind may keep you away from danger.
This judging mind is first present to ensure your safety. And the news and social media culture conditions us to lean towards a negative mind. When out of balance, a pessimistic mind can lead to fear. As you increase your self-awareness you become more conscious of your mental and emotional states at any given time. Remember in each new moment, we are given the power to change our thoughts.

Are you self-aware when you observe negative mind?

3. The Positive Mind: sees possibility and the good.
You know when you are feeling good about yourself and others. Research has shown we can easily be drawn towards negative mind. Our minute to minute news cycles often lead with the negative and may keep us trapped. We can choose to make conscious shifts to the positive mind, looking for possibility, for connection, for solutions.

Are you self-aware when you engage positive mind?

4. The Neutral Mind: assesses the input from both the negative and positive mind.
With unbiased and intuitive knowledge, opinions begin to form. We strive to experience the neutral mind when we are in contemplation. We’re looking for the space between the thoughts. That little gap where there is stillness, when we experience just being. The gap between the thoughts, the breath, the emotions. We want to simply be and breathe.

When do you experience neutral mind?

5. The Physical Body: was created so you can live a human life.
The key to perfecting the human body is balance. Balance in body and mind, body and emotion, body and intuition. Balance in play, purpose, work and rest. Balance in relation to the self and to all of your loving relationships. The body records and responds to everything you experience. Imagine the data collected over a lifetime?

What do you notice changing in your physical body?

6. The Arc line: broadcasts who you are without a word being spoken.
Your strong arc line goes from ear tip to ear tip and may even protect you from negative energy projected by others. This arc line draws us to individuals with like minded energy. If we’re communicating on the same bandwidth we are drawn to each other’s energy.

Are you aware your basic essence is broadcasting to others?

7. The Auric Body: is an electromagnetic field surrounding your body.
This energy field grounds us to the earth and helps protect us. We can sense the auric field of others. This is a physical thing and easily identified when someone you may not feel comfortable with moves closer towards your physical space. You may react by trying to move farther away. We can sense this electromagnetic field when we hold our arms out wide, palms up or palms down.

When do you most experience your auric body?

8. The Pranic Body: is the prana, the life force that rides on your breath.
We come into this world on a breath and we leave this world on a breath. Our lives are comprised of the hundreds of millions of breaths in a given lifetime. When you practice pranayama you learn to be aware of this conscious and unconscious activity. A given sequence may provide more mental clarity, or a rush of aliveness. Our breath tethers us to our deepest sense of self, to each other and to something beyond our individual selves.

Do you feel more pranayama effects while practicing a sequence or when you stop and become still?

9. The Subtle Body: may be the most powerful aspect of being human.
You are developing heightened awareness and internal body wisdom. We’re searching to integrate all aspects of being human. Breath. Body. Mental State. Emotional State. Intuitive State and Greater Consciousness. When we integrate we know what it means to be fully human.

When do you experience your humanness?

10. The Radiant Body: opens a path and good things are drawn to you.
This may be the least understood of the ten bodies. It may be most accessible during śavāsana, the final yogic resting pose when we are fully integrated. A feeling of letting go, a release, a deep relaxation, a sense of well being and broader connection to others is often observed. This is when self-healing is most active. We can also experience the radiant body when we are in a state of flow. Śavāsana (corpse pose) is our teacher. Has your śavāsana shifted over time?

When do you feel most alive?

We have an opportunity to examine our “Ten Bodies” every time we move through the āsana portion of a sequence and when we connect to our breath. I am interested in your thoughts and observations and I look forward to hearing from you. [email protected]

How do you experience your ten bodies?

Rocky Blumhagen, Modern Elder Academy (MEA) Alum 28 Degrees and Deep River. Oxford Next Horizons Scholar. Stanford DCI, Class of 2019 is a yoga and mindfulness practitioner. To read more about Rocky – Click Here