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The Sanskrit term mahabhuta refers to ‘great element’ and in Ayurvedic philosophy the 5 great elements are behind everything from our physiological makeup to our psychological responses. Dr. Lad states that “According to Ayurvedic philosophy, the entire cosmos is an interplay of the energies of the five basic elements— Ether, Air, Fire, Water, and Earth”. Connecting with these elements through sensing what is cold, hot, wet, dry, hard, soft, moving, still, open, closed may seem simplistic and it is. It’s so simple in fact that we might not even notice these elemental features in our daily lives. Ayurvedic practitioner, Sunil V. Joshi points out that “ we rarely give much consideration to the effects of akash or space on our lives unless we are on a very crowded elevator, and we tend to take for granted the relative stability of earth unless we are in an earthquake.” Ayurveda asks us to bring awareness to the reality of the elements and their ever-revolving permutations and interactions.
We are intuitively responding to these elements as the body is working towards an optimal state. We crave a hot tea when it’s cold out or are refreshed by the shade on a hot sunny day. This balanced state is different for each individual. Depending on predispositions, preferences and environment, the body can adapt itself in extraordinary ways.
Understanding the Elements
Information adapted from Lad, V. (2002).Textbook of Ayurveda. Ayurvedic Press.
To find the elemental qualities in your life, you could first start generally and consider the region you live in and what qualities/elements you would use to describe it? Is is cold, dry, wet, hot? Are you near water, mountains or a dessert? Are you in a big city (mobile)?
The same can be done for the season you are in at this time.
From here you can progressively get more focused and attentive to current fluctuations of the elements:
What elements would you use to describe the weather patterns today?
What elements describe your home environment and the current time of day.
What qualities were in the last meal you had? Dry and cold (crackers, chips, bread, raw veggies) Warm and wet (soup, stews) Heavy (sweets and fats)
Did it leave you with a feeling of lightness or heaviness?
Observe the elements through other bodily signals. Is there any tightness or mobile qualities in the body? Is there a sense of fluidity? Are you hot, cold or warm?
What qualities would you use to describe your emotions in this moment? Are you cool, fiery, stable, fluctuating?
What elements would you use to describe the breath right now. Does the breath feel open and soft? Does it feel heavy and tight?
What elements would you use to descibe mental qualities. Are you feeling sharp, dull, bright, or fluid? Are thoughts buzzing, firing, rigid, smooth?
Duality to maintain balance
As somatic educator Mary Ann Foster observes: “The body exists in a field of dualities, thus providing endless possibilities of elements to focus on.” When one muscle like the bicep contracts, its antagonist pair (tricep) will relax — a function governed by the nervous system to ensure skeletal health. This dual yin yang dance is constantly at play to ensure everyday functioning. Too much heat invites coolness — too much dryness invites moisture. Bodily systems work on this premise of balancing dual forces. To expel excess heat, the body secretes moisture which then evaporates and cools the surface of the skin and the blood which circulates right below it. The kidneys filter the blood and maintain the right amount of blood volume producing the hormone erythropoietin which stimulates the production of red blood cells when they detect low blood oxygen levels. This maintenance of balance through duality occurs without our conscious awareness in these examples. Ayurveda expands our awareness to understanding and appreciating natural tendencies so we can work with them and not against them.
Reflect: How much is too much? How little is too little?
What is “too much” or “too little” for you with respect to the elements. This differs from person to person, and knowing when you feel you have enough to function, not just well but optimally will serve as a guide for balancing the elements. Remember recent times when you felt alert, agile and clear headed and consider how much of these essential functions contributed to this optimal state:
It is finding the right balance of these elements as they shift, change, increase and decrease through the ages and environment that allows for a deeper connection with the reality of nature and thereafter guides the individual with this awareness to move through their life respecting these elements inside and out.
Sources
Foster, M. A. (2007) Somatic Patterning: How to improve posture and movement and ease pain. Educational Movement Systems Press.
Joshi, Sunil V. (1998). Ayurveda And Panchakarma: The Science of Healing and Rejuvenation. Motilal Banarsidass Publisher.
Lad, V. (2002). Textbook of ayurveda. Ayurvedic Press.