The Five Elements and Ayurveda
Ayurveda and Yoga
According to Ayurveda (the sister science to yoga), we are made up of three doshas (or energies), just like everything in nature. The three energies are; Vata, Pitta, and Kapha. These correspond with the five elements of Ayurveda, which affect different body parts, functions, and senses. Each of these five elements connects with the 7 main Chakras. Follow this LINK to learn what your mind-body type (Dosha) is.
Daily environmental factors, stresses, foods, and seasonal changes all can influence your body and mind causing imbalances in our dosha or mind-body energies. When we get to know our mind-body type (Dosha), we can make changes to help bring more balance and harmony into our body, mind, and living. We are made up of all the Dosha’s and one will be more dominant or a combination of two.
Kevala Health offers live-stream yoga classes on the five elements for every season. You will learn a new element and chakra every month in these live online yoga classes in Australia. Our live-stream Yoga classes are suitable for beginners.
The Ayurveda five elements are very similar to the more traditional Chinese elements theory.
The Five Elements and Chakras
1 - EARTH ELEMENT (Prithvi)
The Earth Element is about matter like bones, and muscles. Plus grounding or stability. The body type of someone with more Earth Element (Kapha) is strong, solid, heavy-boned, and rectangular face.
Dosha: Kapha
Root Chakra: Base of spine.
Season: Late Summer
Balanced Earth Element traits: Feeling grounded and safe, have good health, calm, comfortable in the body, feel supported in life.
Imbalanced traits: Anxious, restless, sluggish, lazy, poor boundaries, disorganized, fearful, Issues with skin/Hair/muscles/Bones.
Chakra Essential Oil Blends for Root Chakra.
Yoga Poses: Mountain Pose, Warrior poses, Balance poses, Backbends, Squats, Standing poses. Stronger, warming movements like vinyasa flow yoga.
2 - WATER ELEMENT (Jal)
The Water Element is about fluids like liquids in our body, lymph, joint lubrication, and transportation of nutrients. Plus nourishment or flow. The body type of someone with more Water Element is soft, round, oily/moist skin, thick hair, and large eyes.
Dosha: Pitta and Kapha
Sacral Chakra: Sacrum, Hips, lower belly, lower back, genitals.
Season: Winter
Balanced Water Element Traits: Nurture self and others, ability to change, have healthy boundaries, pleasure, able to connect with feelings, and be creative.
Imbalanced Traits: Frigid, rigid, poor social skills, resistance to change, lack of desire, suppressed emotions, lower back pains, fatigue, issues with blood and other fluids in the body.
Chakra essential oil blends for Sacral Chakra.
Yoga Poses Flows, Hip Openers, Lower back poses, Standing poses, backbends.
3 - FIRE ELEMENT (Agni)
The Fire Element is about Heat like transformation, digestion, absorption, and heating. The body type of someone with more Fire Element within is of muscular build, warm, angular face, and triangular shape body.
Dosha: Pitta
Solar Plexus: Below the sternum, behind the stomach.
Season: Summer
Balanced Fire Element Traits: Strong willpower, warm personality, Self-discipline, good metabolism, and motivation.
Imbalanced: poor discipline, low energy, digestive issues, low self-esteem, passive, weak will, angry, dominating, aggressive, Irritable.
Chakra essential oil blends for Solar Plexus Chakra.
Yoga Poses: Core poses (Planks, boat), Sun salutations, Warrior poses, Backbends, Heat building poses. Too much Pitta needs cooling, nurturing, and calming poses.
4 - AIR ELEMENT (Vayu)
The Air Element is about movements of non-physical mobility like thoughts, and chemical and electrical reactions in the body. The body type of someone with more Air Element is short, light, slender, dry, and cool skin.
Dosha: Vata
Heart Chakra: Center of the chest.
Season: Spring
Balanced Air Element traits: Unconditional love, joy, forgiveness, contentment, peaceful, healthy immunity, Accepting.
Imbalanced: Judgemental, critical, intolerant, lonely, depressed, lack of empathy, difficult forgiving, anxious, narcissistic, possessive, clingy, jealous, and weak immune.
Chakra essential oil blends for Heart Chakra.
Yoga Poses; More Pranayama (breathing exercises), Mountain pose, Backbends, Heart opening movements. Slow, steady, and calming mind more. Spinal movements and gentle backbends.
More inspiring information here on Chakra health.
Read more on the Doshás and Ayurveda.
5 - ETHER (Akash)
The Ether Element is about space and communication. It’s spaces in our joints, pelvis, space between our systems in the body, and expansiveness. The body type of a person with more Ether Element is tall, has long limbs, a small build, and is light.
Dosha: Vata
Throat Chakra: Neck/Throat.
Season: All
Balanced Ether Element Traits: good communication and listening, truthful, creative.
Imbalanced: Weak voice, shyness, poor rhythm, fear of speaking. excessive talking.
Chakra essential oil blends for Throat Chakra.
Yoga Poses: Meditations and Neck/throat opening poses.
Learn more here about what essential oils to use for balancing all the Chakras and the five elements.