The Five Elements of Nature

A couple of weeks ago we began a discussion about the five elements starting with the water element. This week, we delve a little deeper into the background of the five elements and some of the ways that they apply to yoga and daily life. In the second part of the article we discuss another element: earth.

The Five Elements

The thinking around the Five Elements of Nature comes to the West from Asia via Traditional Chinese Medicine, Ayurveda, and other eastern medical traditions. Today, western medical science is wending its way toward incorporating the five elements into its scientific research. In their peer-reviewed paper, Chung, et al. (2017) posited that the concept of the five elements can be extended to a cellular level when studying of the human body.

Yoga philosophy recognizes five elements. earth, water, fire, air (wind), and sky (space). These five elements are found in the natural world that surrounds us. Reconnecting to nature is a way for us to attune our inner well-being. The five elements manifest the fact that diet, movement and emotions are connected to the natural environment that surrounds us. (Meyer, 2021).

In yoga the five elements are interpreted as

• Earth: solidity, stability and grounding.
• Water: fluidity, adaptability and change
• Fire: energy, passion and transformation
• Air: movement, expansion and communication.
• Sky/Space/Ether: emptiness, consciousness, and intuition (Burgin, n.d.).

Yoga helps us bring equilibrium and integration of the five elements (our natural world) into our daily lives.

The Earth Element

In some philosophies such as Ayurveda, the sister science of yoga, the earth element is considered to be the last one since it is comprised of the four other elements. In other interpretations such as the chakras, the earth element is considered the first element, since this is where the roots are found. Growth begins in the earth. Thus, the earth element is life-giving and life-sustaining.

In the earth element we find solidity and grounding. In our bodies the earth element exists as bones, nails and teeth, anything solid. The Earth element supports inner confidence, resilience, grounding, and strength. I think of the earth element within our bodies as "solid as a rock."

I tend to lead all my yoga and meditation classes by connecting to the earth element. This short period of connecting with the earth helps us settle in, get grounded, find stillness, and peace, before engaging in any deeper or more active mind-body activity.

To get grounded, we start with the parts of the body that are touching the ground (mat) whether you are standing, seated or lying on the mat. These are the parts of the body that are closest to the earth. This grounding activity helps to diminish stress and lessen anxieties as we connect to this primary element. Bringing attention to the breath while settling in helps to connect to those solid places within the body, such as the bones. The breath allows the body to prepare for a deeper connection with the earth.

Yoga poses associated with the earth element include mountain pose, tree pose, eagle pose, and corpse pose. Each of these poses help the body to create a solid foundation. The earth element poses can help us to feel strength, safe, secure and more confident (TINT.Magazine, 2020).

While the above poses are considered to be beginner love, please remember that any yoga activities you undertake should first be cleared by your healthcare provider.

Tonight's yoga nidra will incorporate the earth element. I hope to see you there!

Resources and Further Readings.

Burgin, T. (n.d.). Pancha Bhutas: Yoga's 5 Elements of Nature. Yoga Basics.

Chung S, Cha S, Lee SY, Park JH, Lee S. The five elements of the cell. Integr Med Res. 2017 Dec;6(4):452-456. doi: 10.1016/j.imr.2017.10.002. Epub 2017 Oct 18. PMID: 29296573; PMCID: PMC5741387.

Halpern, M. (2010). The Five Elements: Earth in Ayurveda. California College of Ayurveda.

Mayer, B.A. (2021). The Five Elements: What Science Has to Say About This Chinese Medicine Theory. Healthline.

TINT.Magazine. (2020, June 29). Is the theory of the 5 elements of nature outdated?