Exploring our layers of being - an understanding of healing through the combined lens’ of yoga therapy and the Hoffman Process’s Quadrinity Model
In recent weeks, I’ve participated in The Hoffman Process - an intensive residential personal development program which integrates various psychological, emotional, and spiritual techniques to foster self-awareness, emotional healing, and personal transformation. Through a series of exercises and practices designed to bring these aspects of self into balance, an individual can release past traumas, heal old wounds, and develop a more coherent and empowered sense of self.
While on the retreat, I noticed undeniable parallels between the ancient framework of the koshas and modern frameworks of the Hoffman Process's Quadrinity Model. Yoga philosophy’s framework for understanding the different layers of human existence (the koshas) are often described as "sheaths" or "layers of being" that envelope the true self, (or Atman as the yogis refer). From a therapeutic viewpoint, by exploring and working with each layer of being, individuals can achieve a more holistic sense of health and wellbeing.
While the Hoffman Process itself is more specifically focused on helping individuals break free from the limiting patterns of the past; post process, their Quadrinity Model has particularly resonated in an experiential way at how individuals can achieve a deeper understanding of themselves in order to step into a more authentic, connected, and fulfilled life.
Here I explore how these models align and complement each other… and how I have integrated these learnings into my own life. Further, I share how my ‘Heart-Full Connections’ logo represents my appreciation for these two frameworks in supporting individuals to achieve holistic health and wellbeing and how they cumulatively serve as the bedrock for the Heart-Full Connection program that I am currently developing.
Exploring the Koshas: Layers of the Self
The koshas, describes the five layers (or sheaths) that cover the true self.
These layers are:
1. Annamaya Kosha (Physical Body): The outermost layer, Annamaya, is the physical body, comprised of bones, muscles, organs, and skin. In yoga therapy, this layer of being is addressed through physical postures and proper nutrition. The goal is to maintain and enhance physical health, leading to a solid foundation for exploring deeper layers.
2. Pranamaya Kosha (Energy Body): Beneath the physical body lies Pranamaya, the energy body, which encompasses the breath and life force (prana). Yoga therapy engages this layer through breathing exercises and techniques to regulate and balance the flow of energy. A balanced Pranamaya promotes vitality and emotional stability.
3. Manomaya Kosha (Mental Body): The Manomaya, or mental body, encompasses thoughts, emotions, and cognitive processes. In yoga therapy we can calm and focus the mind through practices like meditation and mindfulness. A harmonious Manomaya contributes to mental clarity and emotional resilience.
4. Vijnanamaya Kosha (Wisdom Body): The Vijnanamaya represents the wisdom body, involving intuition, insight, and higher knowledge. Yoga therapy fosters this layer through self-reflection, study, and the cultivation of discernment. Engaging with the Vijnanamaya allows individuals to make wiser choices and develop a deeper understanding of themselves.
5. Anandamaya Kosha (Bliss Body): At the core lies the Anandamaya, the bliss body, associated with pure joy and inner peace. This innermost layer is touched through profound meditation and the experience of spiritual awakening. Yoga aims to provide glimpses of this state, where one feels a sense of unity and boundless joy.
Yoga Therapy incorporates practices that address all five layers of being, promoting a balanced and integrated approach to health. By acknowledging and nurturing each layer, individuals can achieve a holistic transformation that encompasses physical, energetic, mental, wisdom, and spiritual well-being.
In essence, understanding and working with these layers offers a pathway to uncovering the true self, fostering a sense of wholeness, and attaining a state of lasting harmony and peace.
Exploring The Quadrinity Model: An Integration of Self
The Hoffman Process itself is a transformative program designed to help individuals uncover and release negative behaviours and patterns rooted in their past. Central to this process is the Quadrinity Model, a framework that breaks down the human psyche into four interconnected aspects. From the Hoffman perspective , by understanding and integrating these four parts of self, participants can achieve profound emotional healing and personal growth.
1. The Physical Self: The Physical Self refers to our bodily sensations, actions, and physical presence. It includes our habits, behaviours, and the way we carry ourselves in the world. In the Hoffman Process, attention is given to how physical experiences and reactions are tied to emotional and intellectual patterns. Through various exercises and practices, participants become more attuned to their body’s signals and learn to respond to them with greater awareness and care. This holistic approach helps in breaking unhealthy physical habits and fostering a more grounded and balanced physical state.
2. The Intellectual Self: The Intellectual Self represents our cognitive processes—our thoughts, beliefs, and rational mind. This part of us is responsible for analyzing, planning, and making sense of the world. In the Hoffman Process, individuals learn to recognize and challenge limiting beliefs and negative thought patterns that have been ingrained over time. By gaining awareness of these mental constructs, participants can reframe their thinking in a more positive and constructive way.
3. The Emotional Self: The Emotional Self encompasses our feelings, moods, and emotional reactions. It is the seat of our emotional experiences, both positive and negative. The Hoffman Process encourages individuals to fully experience and express their emotions in a healthy manner and involves understanding how past experiences have shaped emotional responses. Participants are taught techniques to release suppressed emotions, so they can cultivate emotional resilience and a greater sense of inner peace.
4. The Spiritual Self: The Spiritual Self is the core aspect that connects us to a sense of purpose, meaning and our higher self. It represents our deepest values, intuition and the sense of being part of something greater. The Hoffman Process encourages individuals to reconnect with this spiritual dimension, often overshadowed by intellectual, emotional and physical struggles. By nurturing the Spiritual Self, participants can experience a profound sense of alignment, inner wisdom and a renewed connection to their life’s purpose.
The power of the Hoffman Process lies in integrating these four aspects—Intellectual, Emotional, Physical, and Spiritual—into a harmonious whole. Participants are guided through a series of brilliant exercises and practices designed to bring these parts into balance. By addressing each aspect of the self, individuals can release past traumas, heal old wounds, and develop a more coherent and empowered sense of self.
In essence, the Quadrinity Model provides a comprehensive framework for personal transformation. It helps individuals break free from the limiting patterns of the past and step into a more authentic, connected, and fulfilled life. By embracing and harmonizing the Intellectual, Emotional, Physical, and Spiritual selves, participants can achieve lasting change and emotional freedom.
Comparing the Models
Physical Layer & Energetic Layer - Annamaya Kosha / Pranamaya Kosha and the Physical Self
Both the Annamaya Kosha and the Physical Self focus on the tangible, bodily aspect of human experience. They emphasize the importance of maintaining physical health and being attuned to bodily sensations. In yogic practices, this is achieved through asanas (movement based yoga), proprioception, proper sleep and nutrition, etc. The Hoffman Process also involves becoming aware of how physical experiences and reactions tie into overall well-being.
The Physical Self refers to our bodily sensations, actions, and physical presence. It includes our habits, behaviors, and the way we carry ourselves in the world. In the Hoffman Process, attention is given to how physical experiences and reactions are tied to emotional and intellectual patterns. Through various exercises and practices, participants become more attuned to their body’s signals and learn to respond to them with greater awareness and care. This holistic approach helps in breaking unhealthy physical habits and fostering a more grounded and balanced physical state.
While the Quadrinity Model does not explicitly include a distinct energy layer like the Pranamaya Kosha, aspects of breathwork and bodily awareness in both frameworks address the flow of energy. Practices that focus on breath and energy regulation can be seen as intersecting with the attention given to the Physical Self in the Quadrinity Model.
Mental & Emotional Layers: Manomaya Kosha and the Intellectual & Emotional Self
Yoga Therapy’s Manomaya Kosha deals with the mind's cognitive functions, including thoughts, beliefs, mental patterns and emotions. Both frameworks recognize the importance of identifying and transforming negative thought patterns to achieve mental clarity and emotional stability and both systems stress the need for emotional healing, encouraging individuals to experience and express their emotions healthily. The Hoffman Process differentiates the Intellectual Self from the Emotional Self; which for me - feels significant - and experientially, made all of the difference.
The Intellectual Self represents our cognitive processes—our thoughts, beliefs, and rational mind. This part of us is responsible for analyzing, planning, and making sense of the world. In the Hoffman Process, individuals learn to recognize and challenge limiting beliefs and negative thought patterns that have been ingrained over time. By gaining awareness of these mental constructs, participants can reframe their thinking in a more positive and constructive way.
The Emotional Self encompasses our feelings, moods, and emotional reactions. It is the seat of our emotional experiences, both positive and negative. The Hoffman Process encourages individuals to fully experience and express their emotions in a healthy manner. This part of the process involves understanding how past experiences have shaped emotional responses and learning techniques to release suppressed emotions. By doing so, participants can cultivate emotional resilience and a greater sense of inner peace.
Wisdom, Bliss & Spiritual Layers: Vijnanamaya Kosha, Anandamaya Kosha and the Spiritual Self
The Vijnanamaya Kosha represents the wisdom body, involving intuition, insight, and higher knowledge. And at the core of our being lies the Anandamaya Kosha, the bliss body; which is associated with pure joy and inner peace. These layers aim to connect individuals to their deeper purpose and sense of unity. The Hoffman’s Spiritual Self is the core aspect that connects us to a sense of purpose, meaning, and our higher self. It represents our deepest values, intuition, and the sense of being part of something greater.
The Hoffman Process encourages individuals to reconnect with this spiritual dimension, often overshadowed by intellectual, emotional, and physical struggles. By nurturing the Spiritual Self, participants can experience a profound sense of alignment, inner wisdom, and a renewed connection to their life’s purpose.
How I’ve Personally Incorporated These Two Models Into My Life (& the Heart-Full Connections Logo)
Body: Physical Layer & Energy Layer
By tuning in to our body, and asking our body what it wants from us today (or in this moment) we can learn a lot. Yesterday, I paused before ordering my brunch. My body told me it wanted the (green goddess breakfast - full of veggies… even though my emotional self was asking for something a little less healthy). By tuning in to my body in that moment, I was able to make the right choice for my body (& my energy)
You can also attune to your energy levels as you move through different environments, situations, times of day / month and as you interact with other people's energy. At any moment, you can tune into your energy & body by coming into stillness. All you need is one minute.
Quick physical check in:
Lower your gaze, or if it is comfortable, close your eyes. With a straight spine, take a moment to notice what is happening in your body in this moment. Where is tension? Where is softness? Cool vs warmth? Bring your attention & softness to your jaw, your eyes, your mouth, your shoulders and your belly. Then notice the breath slowly rising and falling in your body. Take a moment to ask yourself what your body needs in this moment.
The thorax of the Heart-Full Connection Butterfly represent the physical layer.
The black lines of the hearts on the wings of the Heart-Full Connection Butterfly represents the energy layer.
Intellectual & Emotional Self: Mental Layers
Yogic practices to address the mental layers may involve mindfulness and meditation, while the Hoffman Process also includes techniques for emotional expression and release.
Part of my new morning meditation includes a check in of all aspects of myself. After I’ve meditated, I journal about what my Intellectual and Emotional Self needs from me. Sometimes the message is quite clear and practical; sometimes the message is that my emotional self is feeling a big emotion that needs attention; and sometimes the mind is simply too frantic and it tries to override everything. More often than not, by allowing these different aspects of my self to be listened to and to express their needs, I am able to settle myself in a way that I could not, before the Hoffman Process.
The left wing of the Heart-Full Connections Butterfly represents the Intellectual Self.
The right wing of the Heart-Full Connections Butterfly represents the Emotional Self.
The Spiritual Self: Wisdom & Bliss Layers
By connecting with the wisdom & bliss bodies / higher self, we are able to make wiser choices and develop a deeper understanding of ourselves. Practices that I’ve found most nurture my spiritual self include meditation, self-reflection, and intuitive writing.
I personally found the Hoffman Process’s unique visualisation processes & connection to your Spiritual Self made for an easily accessible connection to this sense of unity and boundless joy that at times has remained quite elusive in my normal meditation practice.
The bottom wing of the Heart-Full Connections Butterfly spanning both the left and right side of the butterfly represents the Wisdom / Spiritual Self; and the White Circle Surround the Butterfly with the Sparkle at the top present the Bliss Body.
Embracing & Harmonising Different Aspects of Self
By embracing and harmonising our Physical, Energetic, Intellectual, Emotional and Spiritual selves, we can achieve true well-being, holistic healing and personal transformation to live more authentic, connected, and fulfilled lives.
While I always intellectually understood the koshas, and could easily connect with them through specific practices, such as yoga nidra; my experiential understanding of these aspects cemented on a whole other level when I completed the Hoffman Process. Knowing that I can, in any moment, connect into all aspects of myself to gain insights and knowledge is an absolute game changer.
As I continue to integrate my learnings from the Hoffman Process with my 15+ years of yogic study and practice, I look forward to sharing more about how we can draw from both ancient wisdom and modern therapeutic practices to foster a more balanced and integrated sense of self.
And, please note - that while I am running my own 1/2 day and mulit-day retreats and will soon offer an online program to help support individuals to re-connect to their heart to live more authentically and purposefully, this can’t (and should not) replace the brilliant work being done at The Hoffman Process. I can’t more highly recommend looking into this.