Some days bliss appears to disappear entirely. Be Well Academy Yogic philosophy holds that humans are composed of five levels, much as a deeply layered onion or cosmic nesting doll. True happiness lives in the Anandamaya Kosha, the innermost layer; this is the layer of bliss. Approaching this secret delight cocoon can help to make the daily grind less like walking across molasses.

Searching social media or worrying over your to-do list will not reveal this layer. You have to redirect your focus inside if you are to arrive. Choose a peaceful area on your mat and concentrate on your breathing. Your guide becomes Pranayama, gentle and consistent. Breathe as if there is no hurry; let the rise and fall of your ribcage clear obstructions. Every inhale releases tension; every exhale releases still another layer of anxiety.

Another approach to access this happiness is mantra chanting. One OM first then another. Although chanting by yourself in your living room could seem strange, the energy in the room changes as you let go of needing it to be perfect. The tummy softens; the mind calms; a tiny spark of satisfaction shows up, spontaneous and out of nowhere.

Here the star player is meditation. Your body seems weighty, like a stack of books, but your mind soars free and pure. Time goes by unacknowledged. In these silent times, understanding strikes suddenly—like remembering the words to a song you thought you had forgotten. Concerns become smaller, and occasionally laughing erupts for no apparent reason at all.

One advances it with yoga Nidra, or mindful sleep. It invites thankfulness as well as times of pure, unvarnished delight. You finally reach the peaceful center where serenity lives as you negotiate the layers of body, energy, ideas, and wisdom. It’s just an unspoken “it’s okay,” pulsing through every cell in your body; it’s not loud or flashy.

Bliss is your birthright, a teacher could remark. That first sounds a bit too good to be true. It makes sense, though, after a week of practice and one day when delight finds you unannounced. Bliss does not present itself with fanfare. When your breath is slow and your guard is down, it silently slips into your life when you are not looking.

This bliss layer is not about wandering around in a state of continual euphoria or being happy all the time. The little, quiet undercurrent that underlines the sweetness of the everyday events is It’s the delight in your morning coffee or the way Monday mornings feel somewhat simpler. Although Anandamaya Kosha cannot guarantee to fix all your issues, it reminds us that happiness is always present, silently waiting to be discovered one breath at a time.