"Health is a state of mind, wellness is a state of being"~J. Stanford
Hope your summer went well and you also created time & space for self-care, yoga and wellness. In this second edition of Holistic Wellness Newsletter, I would like to introduce the five elements (Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, and Water) of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). Towards the end of this season, let's not miss the opportunity to talk specifically about the Fire Element, which is associated with summer.
The three ancient healing systems of Yoga, Ayurveda and Chinese Medicine always emphasises on harmony and balance. Just as in nature, when balanced in our mind and body, the five elements will always support and nourish each other. Each element is associated with specific qualities, organs, emotions, and seasons. It is important to maintain balance within the elements for overall health and well-being. With yoga, we work on freeing the flow of prana as it courses through our nadi channels to balance the chakras (energy centers). In TCM, we work with freeing the flow of qi as it courses though our meridian channels.
The Fire Element is associated with the Heart and its partner organ, the Small Intestine. The meridians (energy channels) for the fire element are; heart, small intestine, pericardium and triple warmer meridians.
Qualities of the Fire Element: The light, hot, active, and expansive qualities of Fire are considered to be very yang (compared to the dark, cool, receptive and downward qualities of water, which is very yin). The colour of the fire element is red and is associated with joy, enthusiasm and passion. The healing sound of the heart is the sound “haaaa”.
When the fire element is balanced, it fosters healthy relationships, emotional warmth and a sense of connection. However, when it is imbalanced, you may experience physical symptoms like excessive sweating, digestive issues and skin issues such as rashes. Mental and emotional symptoms include over excitement, restlessness, emotional disturbances and instability, speech and communication issues, as well as relationship challenges and lack of boundaries.
Balancing the Fire Element: TCM seeks to address these imbalances through various treatments such as yin yoga, mindfulness, meditation, qigong, acupressure massage, acupuncture, herbal remedies, dietary adjustments, lifestyle changes and other modalities to restore harmony and well-being. Cool foods (celery, cucumber, watermelon) and activities that promote relaxation and calmness can help balance an excessive fire element. Whilst nourishing foods (green vegetables) and activities promote joy and healthy social connections to support a deficient fire element.
Yin Yoga poses for the Fire Element: Puppy pose, open wing, seated side lying/seated Bananasana. Awareness and stimulation of the meridians through the armpits, arms, fingers and chest will free the stagnation and balance the fire element.
Note: While TCM and yoga provides a holistic perspective on health, it should not replace professional medical advice or treatment.
For personalised guidance based on your specific needs, click here to learn more about my Therapeutic Movement and Holistic Wellness coaching program based on the TCM principles.
Enjoy rest of your summer and hope to see you on the mat soon!
Om Shanti,
Divya Beste Dolanay
