Pancamaya and Chronic Pain Libby Hinsley, PT, C-IAYT, E-RYT 500

Pancamaya, or Kosha Model Pancamaya model was recorded in the Taittiriya Upanishad around the 5th or 6th century BCE. The model describes human experience as made up of 5 aspects of prakriti, or “that which changes.” Prakriti can also be thought of as “matter.” Housed inside this changing experience is purusha, or “that which does not change.” Purusha can also be thought of as spirit, or divine consciousness. Human experience is characterized by change; suffering arises when we become attached or identified with a changing aspect of our embodiment. Freedom arises when we remember and identify with the divine consciousness that resides in our changing experience.

pancamaya Annamaya: Structure Pranamaya: Physiology Asana Pranamaya: Physiology Pranayama Manomaya: Intellect Mantra, Concentration Vijnanamaya: Personality Self-Study, Meditation Anandamaya: Heart Prayer, Ritual, Meditation Each of these is an aspect of our changing experience.

Annamaya Structure Questions Related to Annamaya: Associated with the body, the bones/muscles Questions Related to Annamaya: How much do you move your body each day? How do you take care of your body? Does your body hurt? How strong are you? How flexible are you? How deconditioned are your body’s tissues?

Pranamaya Physiology Questions Related to Pranamaya: Associated with the subtle body and the flow of prana to all systems of the body Questions Related to Pranamaya: How’s your sleep? How’s your energy in the morning? How’s your inflammation? How’s your diet? How’s your digestion? How well does your liver (etc.) function?

Manomaya Mind/Intellect Questions Related to Manomaya: Associated with memory, concentration, focus Sensory stimuli, mental states Questions Related to Manomaya: How do you learn things best? When was last time you learned something new? How’s your memory? How’s your ability to focus and sustain attention? How distractible are you? How much sensory information do you take in each day for processing (electronics, news, etc.)?

Vijnanamaya Personality Questions Related to Vijnanamaya: Thought and behavior habits; conditioned reactivity; willpower Coping strategies developed over a lifetime Questions Related to Vijnanamaya: What makes you angry? What’s your relationship with authority like? How critical and judgmental are you of yourself and others? How do you respond to conflict? What are the limiting beliefs you hold about yourself?

Anandamaya Heart Questions Related to Anandamaya: The part of us that feels connection, to ourselves, other humans, and the Divine The emotional experience, often associated with joy Questions Related to Anandamaya: How satisfied are you with your relationships? When was the last time you laughed really hard? What things or activities bring you a feeling of joy? What’s the most important thing about this life? What’s your understanding of the Divine?

BioPsychoSocial(spiritual) The biopsychosocial approach systematically considers biological, psychological, and social factors and their complex interactions in understanding health, illness, and health care delivery. The Pancamaya model is a yogic version of the Biopsychosocial(spiritual) paradigm. Annamaya (Bio) Pranamaya (Bio) Manomaya (Psycho) Vijnanamaya (Psycho) Anandamaya (Social)*

Biopsychosocial(spiritual) The pancamaya aspects of the human system are not separate; they influence each other in all directions. It can be useful to use this model to investigate someone’s experience of pain and the multi-demensionality of it. Chronic pain (and all conditions) will involve all of these aspects of a person, and treating it will require attention to all of these aspects as well.