The Five Elements Create the Universe We Inhabit

All of nature (including humans) are made up of  five elements: Earth-Water-Fire-Fire-Air-Space/Ether. These elements interact with each other to create the world in which we live. When these elements are balanced the world/universe is healthy, we as humans are also healthy-physically and have a healthy well-being. If these elements one or more are unbalanced we will see and feel a sense of disharmony.

The First of the five elements is Water.  The Water Element balances out rigidity, being inflexible, stoicism, and being unemotional. This element gives us fluidity, softness, and adaptability. We  not only find liquid in nature, we also find it within our bodies. 

Water is the river upon which life flows. It is movement & transition.

Water teaches us that we must soften in order to be strong.

YIELDING TO THE FLOW OF LIFE
Water invites Movement.

Movement creates Change.

Change is the essence of life.

Invitation to Sit

• Come to your mat and sit with a blanket or bolster or two block under your sitting bones. As you inhale, "notice the wave of your breath flowing in and out of your body. Let it fill you. Let it empty that which does not serve you. Feel how your body naturally moves with each inhalation and exhalation."

• Close your eyes and begin to ground yourself, letting the weight of your body ground you. Bring your tongue behind your bottom teeth, allowing the roof of your mouth to become spacious. Take a deep inhale and as you exhale allow all the air to leave your body. Take five very natural inhales and exhales, softening your body.

• Resting your hands on your knees begin the move your upper body in a circular motion. As you inhale bring your circle forward, and as you exhale bring your body back rounding your upper back and tucking in your chin. Make your circle flow with your breath. Take your time and enjoy the flow.

• Listen to your body as it speaks to you. Are you feeling tension in any part of your body? If so, use your breath and take it to that particular area, much like a river ebbs and flows so does your body. So, let joining of breath and movement release and soften this tension. 

 Resources:
https://www.doyouyoga.com/the-5-elements-of-a-blissful-yoga-practice/
Five Elements Diagram &  Portions of the Water Meditation Sequence : https://hanumanacademy.com/five-elements/

Dinacharya: What is Dinacharya?

Our Ayurvedic teachings for the day focused on Dinachayra. Dina means "day" and charya means "how you move"; how you enter your day.  According to the article, Dinacharya: Your Daily Yogic Routine by Sophie Miller, "Dinacharya is based on the philosophy that human beings run on a biological clock dictated by the patterns of the sun and the moon."  A daily routine, a daily regime of personal care to re-balance our bodies, to reconnect with the nature that surrounds us externally and internally.

Daily Routine: 

• To bed before 10 pm and awake before or with the sunrise
• Upon waking, think of one think you are grateful for (ex.: god, nature, parents, breath, etc.)
• MOUTH
• Brush teeth
• Scrape tongue
• Oil pulling with sesame or coconut oil
• EYES
• Apply cool water or rose water to eyes
• NOSE
• Neti pot nasal rinse (if you are congested) *not if you have a full blown sinus infection
• DIGESTION
• Drink 8 ounces of warm water upon waking to re-hydrate and support elimination
• Eliminate
• BODY
• Abhyanga: self- massage-using warm herbalized oil, long strokes on the long bones and circular strokes over the joints, from head to toe for at least 5010 minutes. You could sit with the oil on for up to an hour, then shower.
• NOSE
• Nasya oil, 2-3 drops in each nostril (if suffering from anxiety or insomnia 2x's a day)
• BODY/MIND
• Meditate
• Exercise or yoga
• Prepare a warming, nourishing breakfast

Dinacharya: What is Dinacharya?