Pause
for a moment. Close your eyes. Imagine standing barefoot by a quiet riverside.
Cool grass beneath you, soft and alive. The gentle murmur of flowing water
soothes your senses. A breeze glides past, carrying the scent of earth and
leaves. Sunlight filters through the trees, warm on your skin. Above you, the
sky stretches wide and open.
Breathe it all in.
This is a yogic moment—still, sacred, and full of life.
This simple
visualization captures something profoundly essential about yoga: our intimate
connection with the five elements of nature—earth (prithvi), water
(jal), fire (agni), air (vayu), and space (akash). Known in yogic
philosophy as the Panchamahabhuta, these elements are not just
external phenomena. They are also the foundational energies that make up our
bodies and minds.
Beyond Asanas: Yoga as Elemental
Harmony
I
used to think yoga was just about physical poses or a way to get fit. But as I
moved deeper into the practice, I came to understand that yoga is really
about balance—within the body, the mind, and life itself. Its true purpose is
to anchor us in the present moment, fully aware of what’s happening around us
and within us.
While
many view yoga as merely stretching or breathing exercises, its deeper
essence lies in balancing the different forces that shape our being.
The same five elements that form the cosmos also shape our physical body,
emotions, and energy. When these elements drift out of balance, we
experience disease, emotional unrest, and inner conflict. Through yogic
practices, we begin to realign these elements, bringing harmony, vitality, and
peace. Each element corresponds to particular
areas of the body, mind, and spirit. Through specific asanas (postures),
pranayama (breathwork), mudras (gestures), and kriyas
(cleansing techniques), yoga offers us tools to connect with, purify, and
strengthen these elements. Let’s explore each one.
The Five Elements Within Us
Fire Element
Agni
or fire is all about heat, energy, transformation, digestion, and
metabolism.
It is this element that makes energy for our bodies. It makes us feel
independent, motivated, confident and strong. But when this element is out of
balance, we may feel angry or easily irritable. In the body, this may show up
as high temperature, digestive issues or inflammation. Helpful yoga practices
to balance this element include: twisting poses, Kapalabhati, and Agnisar
kriya.
Air Element
This element is about circulation and
movement. It includes our breath, thoughts, bodily movements, and blood
circulation. When this element is in balance, we feel buoyant and light. On the
other hand, any imbalance may lead to anxiety, a weakened immune system, and
hormonal imbalances. To harmonize this element, try: Anulom Vilom
(alternate nostril breathing), balancing postures, and grounding sequences.
Space Element
This element is very subtle. It is
about the hollow spaces in the body as well as the space inside our cells. When
this element is unbalanced, it can create certain blockages. We feel
emotionally and physically shut off from the world. There is no openness.
Whereas, when this element is in balance, we feel that we can communicate more
effectively and truthfully. Recommended practices for this element are: meditation,
chanting (Nada Yoga), and mindful breath awareness.
Earth Element
This element is the densest among all
the elements. It is stable, heavy and cool. It is what are bodies are mostly
made up of – skin, muscles, bones. It gives us a shape. When this element is
imbalanced, there may be multiple issues with our body. There may also be
fatigue, loss of appetite and less flexibility. To strengthen this element, focus on: standing poses,
Tadasana, and slow, grounding flows.
Water Element
This element is nourishing and
sustaining. It connects us to our emotions and feelings. When it is in
imbalance, there are changes in the fluids of our body which include saliva,
digestive juices, blood, and the fluids in our joints and reproduction system.
It also causes blockages in our creative expression. Support this element
through: hip-opening postures, gentle vinyasa flows, and free, creative
movement.
Living in Elemental Balance
When we align with the five elements, life becomes more
fluid, meaningful, and vibrant. We no longer live only in our heads but become
in harmony to the cycles of nature—both around and within us. Whether you are
standing in a warrior pose, sitting in silent meditation, or simply walking
barefoot on the earth, yoga offers countless ways to reconnect with your
elemental nature. Let your practice be a holy dance with fire, air, space,
earth, and water. And as you do, you’ll find yourself not just healthier—but
more whole, more grounded, and more alive.
Close your eyes
again.
Feel your breath rise
and fall.
You are the elements.
And they are you.
Satyananda Saraswati,
S. (2006). A systematic course in the ancient tantric techniques of yoga and
kriya (Reprint ed.). Yoga Publications Trust.
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