Five Elements

1. WHAT ARE THE 5 ELEMENTS OF NATURE?
The five elements theory exists in various ancient cultures such as Greek,

Japanese and Babylonian philosophy, Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) – and
Ayurveda. They all specified similar elements with slight linguistic differences.
However, the explanations regarding the attributes of the five elements of
nature and how they relate to natural phenomena and the creation of our world
vary from one culture to another. Usually, they are closely intertwined with the
local mythology and religion, sometimes even personified in deities.
It must be noted here that modern science does not support the theory of the
five elements of nature as being the basis of our world. It rather supports
the atomic theory according to which all substances forming our perceivable
world are made up of smaller subunits: the atoms.
Atoms in turn are classified into more than a hundred chemical elements such

as oxygen, hydrogen, and carbon, forming chemical compounds and mixtures.
These substances can transform into different states of matter such as solid,
liquid, gas, and plasma, depending on environmental factors such as pressure
and temperature.
These different states of matter are similar to the five elements of earth, water,
air, fire, and space. However, these states can be explained due to the behavior
of certain types of atoms at certain environmental conditions rather than being
caused by containing a certain element or type of substance.
Since Ayurveda and yoga are two complementary systems rooted in ancient
India, let’s explore which characteristics are attributed to the five elements of our
body in Ayurvedic tradition and how they relate to your yoga practice.
Earth
The element of Earth is usually referred to as grounding and calming. It keeps
the ego in balance and regulates the energy of bones, muscles, and tissues and
plays a role in inflammations and infections
Water
Water is characterized by its ability to flow, adapt, and bind substances as well
as its healing nature that nourishes and binds the body. It regulates the blood
and other bodily fluids and is associated with health conditions like joint pain.
Air
The element of Air acts as a channel for clear communication and self-
expression. It’s responsible for breath, nervous impulses, and movement. It
influences the ability to act with love and compassion.
Fire
The Fire element acts as a cleanser that burns up toxins and impurities,
thereby keeping diseases at bay. It is the source of heat and power and brings
confidence and courage. It’s the energy of your metabolism and creativity.
Excess in Fire can express itself as anger or hatred.
Space
Space acts as the container for all the other elements and is the element from
which all other elements originate, and to which they all return. It can be cold
when lacking fire, dry when lacking water; it can be immobile due to lack of air, or
lightweight because it lacks the heavy earth. It’s omnipresent since it’s the space
between all the other elements.
HOW DO THE 5 ELEMENTS OF NATURE RELATE

TO OUR BODY?
2.1. Functions of the 5 Elements Within the Body
According to Ayurvedic traditions, these five elements are also represented in
our body and each element is responsible for different structures and functions
in the human body.
 The element Earth forms all solid structures, i.e. the bones and tissues, flesh and
skin, and hair.
 Water forms all bodily fluids such as saliva, blood, sweat, urine, and semen.
 The element Air is responsible for movement and breath.
 Fire creates heat and drives our needs like hunger, thirst, and sleep.
 The Space element is deeply connected to our inner wisdom and intuition and
determines our fears.
Every one of us contains all of these 5 elements in the body – just in different
proportions.
2.2. Balance of the 5 Elements of Nature
Any element of our body being out of balance results in suffering or even
disease. Here, yoga comes into play to help us restore the balance of the 5
elements and to enable us to unfold the powers and abilities of each of the
elements. It’s said that yoga may be one of the most powerful ways to restore
health because it can bring the five elements into harmony.
But what actually happens when the balance of the 5 elements is disturbed?
 Imbalance in the Earth element can lead to overall weakness in the body, high
cholesterol, weight loss or weight gain, bone or muscular pain and issues.
 Imbalance in the element Water can cause cold and sinusitis, asthma, swelling
of glands, blood thinning or clotting.
 Imbalance in the Air element may result in nervous disorders and depression,
blood pressure issues, lung disorders, or muscle pains and spasms.
 Imbalance in the element Fire can manifest itself as extreme variations in
perceived temperature, coldness or fever, skin diseases, diabetes, or mental
disorders.
 Imbalance in the Space element can become visible as thyroid disorders, throat
and speech problems, epilepsy, or ear diseases, etc.
 The Elements in the Human Body are closely related to the 5

elements of nature
 All of the creation is made up of the five elements in different proportions.

The Human body is also the product of these 5 elements in different
proportions. 72% water, 12% earth, 6% air, 4% fire and the rest is Ether.
Usually, the percentages of the first four elements remain constant but
the percentage of Ether can be enhanced. Each element is responsible
for different structures in the body.
 Earth forms solid structures such as teeth, nails, bones, muscles, skin,
tissues, and hair. These give structure and strength to the body. Water
forms saliva, urine, semen, blood, and sweat. Fire forms hunger, thirst,
sleep, the vision in the eyes and complexion of the skin. Air is responsible
for all movement including expansion, contraction, vibration, and
suppression. Space is the most subtle of all elements and is present in
the hollow cavities of the body in the form of radio frequencies, light
radiation, cosmic rays, etc.
 The “Prana” (vital force) in the human body is also directly connected to
these 5 elements. The Law of Nature demands these elements to be in
balance.

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1. WHAT ARE THE 5 ELEMENTS OF NATURE?

The five elements theory exists in various ancient cultures such as Greek,

Atoms in turn are classified into more than a hundred chemical elements such

HOW DO THE 5 ELEMENTS OF NATURE RELATE

 The Elements in the Human Body are closely related to the 5

 All of the creation is made up of the five elements in different proportions.

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