In this five-part series, we will discover the significance of the five elements and how they relate to Chinese Traditional medicine and yin yoga. We will then guide you through the process of applying these principles to your yin yoga practice or your yin yoga teaching.
By Amy Suzanne
The Five Elements:
The five elements are a concept of Traditional Chinese medicine or Tcm for short. The are Fire, Earth, Metal, Water and Ether. The concept relates to all that is in existence and our own bodies. The five elements each have a corresponding season, time, body organ, emotion and meridian.
Within nature and within ourselves there is a presence of each of these elements in balance and changes or fluctuations in the amount of one will affect the others. In the diagram you will see the outer arrows of the diagram showing the production cycle of the elements and how they support or increase the next. In the inner star the direction of the arrows shows the way the elements control the next by keeping it in check.
The Zang Fu Organs:
Within Chinese Traditional medicine each element is associated with a yin and a yang organ. The yin organs are responsible for holding and increasing energy and nutrients and the yang for removing them.
The Meridians:
The meridians are the energy channels on the body all associated with organs and elements, tying the Traditional Chinese medicine system to workable points along these channels are practices such as acupressure and acupuncture. The meridians can be stimulated when we practice yin yoga.
Part One: The Water Element.
Water has the qualities of fluidity and adaptability just like a river flowing through different terrains, rocks, soil, mountains, it finds the easiest path and never stops until it reaches its destination. It is a powerful force and one necessary for life and regeneration. Without water there would be no life on our planet, no trees, birds or animals.
Water Element and winter season:
Winter is a season for retreating into stillness, darkness and turning inward into our own deep pool of our true essence. From the winter Solstice to the Spring equinox the Water element takes control. It is a time for internal work, rest and storing energy.
Fear and the water element:
The emotion of water out of balance is fear. This is also related to the adrenal glands located on top of the kidneys. Often this can bring up negative ideas, but fear is actually a fully essential emotion to ensure survival. Fear is a base human emotion processed in the amygdala in the centre of the brain and it plays a really important role in how we survive day to day. Imagine in our distant pasta s hunter gatherers, a bear running towards us, our amygdala would alert us to the risk and we would react by either freezing still, running away or fighting back. The survival instinct is called the fight, flight or freeze reaction and it has kept ius alive for millennia. However, we do not want to become overwhelmed by fear and fearful to the extent that we are plagued by anxiety and unable to function or enjoy life. So, perspective and balance are needed when dealing with fear. Specifically, this fear emotion can become overwhelming in the winter and appear as a worry of not having enough, not being enough or not having prepared enough and it stems from the need to have stored enough provisions for the winter months.
If well balanced the opposite of fear is courage and balancing the water element can help fill up the reserves and allow for us to approach life from the perspective of courage, strength and wisdom.
The Kidney and urinary bladder and the water element:
The kidney and urinary bladder are the water works of the body, keeping the life and water flowing in our bodies. The kidneys filter our water system and transfer the leftovers to the bladder for removal of toxins and waste products from our system.
Remaining hydrated is always important for the water element.
Water element and the Kidney meridian
The Kidney meridian is a yin meridian and begins under the foot and travels up the inner leg along the abdomen finishing at the clavicle.
One of the acupuncture points on this line that is worth mentioning is the gushing spring point located at Kidney 1 point under the foot. It can strengthen the kidneys, increase confidence and release fear as well as ground the body. This point is contraindicated during pregnancy.
Water element and the urinary bladder meridian
The urinary bladder, a yang meridian, is the longest meridian which begins at the inner corner of the eye, travels over the head and down the back in two channels along the outer side of the spine, down the back of the leg and ending at the outside edge of the little toe. It is related with the nervous system which regulates the flight, fight or freeze response we mentioned earlier.
Yin yoga poses for the water element:
When we think about choosing poses for the water element, look at the placement of the kidney and urinary meridians. The kidney meridian runs up the inner thigh abdomen and chest. Whilst the urinary bladder runs up the back of the body. There fore poses which stimulate the inner thighs, spine and stretch the back of the legs will help to balance the qualities of water in the body.
Heres a few poses for you to try:
- Caterpillar pose:
Entering the pose: from sitting, extend the legs, folding forward from the hips before letting the spine round and head move down to legs.
Exiting the pose: slowly roll up to seated.
- Butterfly pose:
Entering the pose: from seated, bend the knees, bring the soles of the feet together as the knees drop outwards. Holding your feet, Slide the feet away from you and let the back round bringing the head to the feet.
Exiting the pose: Press the hands into the floor and very slowly roll up. Bring the knees up with the help of the hands and slide one leg out then the other.
- Anahata asana:
Entering the pose: From table top position (on hands and knees), walk hands forward keeping hips directly above knees, allowing the chest to drop towards the floor. Stretch arms out ahead, ideally at shoulder width. You may use a bolster under the chest the support you if you wish.
Exiting the pose: Either release the hips back into child’s pose or slide forward onto your stomach.
As with any exercise, always seek advice from a medical professional before starting a new practice and having the guidance of a qualified teacher is worth its weight in gold. We provide online yin yoga teacher training and also in person residential yin yoga teacher training at mahi yoga school if you would like to learn more get in touch.