Dying And The Five Koshas Of Yoga

During the deathing process the body goes through a letting go of the different sheaths or koshas. Below is a list of the sheaths, what they represent, and signs and signals of what you can expect from the patient. The different sheaths do not necessarily dissolve in a linear fashion. It is more like a process of letting go of this and that, rather than an exact progression.

Remember that when you are in the presence of a dying person, you are in the presence of grace.nn= = = = =

Element: Earth, Physical level

Kosha: Anamyakosha

Symptomsn • the body weakens, strength sapsn • arms and legs become heavier and heavier

Techniquesn • savasana and scanning the bodyn • guided relaxationn • asanan • mudras

Touching: hand on shoulde
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Element: Water, Mental and emotional level

Kosha: Pranamyakosha

Symptomsn • saliva, urine and sweat become scantyn • lips become dryn • decreased urination or incontinence

Techniquesn • breath techniques (emphasize outbreath, sounding ah breath)
• awareness techniques (breathe through the skin seeing where it leaves off and the air begins)
• yoga nidran • practice dying meditations

Touching: hand on bellynn= = = = =

Element: Fire: Breath and energetics

Kosha: Manomyakosha

Symptomsn • no interest in worldly activities and talking may be limited to only one or two peoplen • digestive activity decreases and food is no longer desiredn • blood pools on the underside of the body; toes may turn blue as the blood withdraws and the body may become cooln • skin becomes mottled
• increasing physical weakness erodes emotional repression so there may be emotional outbursts that seem uncharacteristic like snapping or blowing up about things

Techniquesn • life review, what things were most important, what things are left unfinished, what things need to be said or done

Touching: hand on foreheadnn= = = = =

Element: Air: Wisdom and inner knowing level

Kosha: Vijnamyakosha

Symptomsn • skin becomes translucent and have a slight radiance to itn • breathing can be irregular with the exhalations longer than the inhalationsn • disorientationn • take care of unfinished business with peoplen • develop the capacity to just sit and be rather than do

Techniquesn • meditation (For example, prayer, guided meditation)
• drishti (holding focus on thoughts of divinity, whatever that is to the person)
• practice being the witness

Touching: hand under patient’s handnnn= = = = =

Element: Ether, Bliss, Joy, Peace level

Kosha: Anandamyakosha

Symptomsn • feelings of peacefulness or gentleness surround the personn • time seems to slow in their presence and there is a sense of timelessnessn • person becomes more loving
• lucid dreaming

Techniquesn • holding duality – being present in this reality and feeling expansive at the same timen • spiritual visions, archetypesn • practice letting go

Touching: hand on heartnnnn