Alchemy Through Elemental Yoga

Posted by Elemental Growth on January 16, 2020 11:11 am / 0 Comments

Alchemy Through Elemental Yoga

These ideas I am about to share with you are far out for the average person – this is a series written specifically for the people with an open mind, self-awareness and belief that they can heal themselves body, mind and spirit. In my book Be The Change: Your Guide to Elemental Growth I guide you through a year of transformation using the free food and medicine all around you, as well as all my favorite tools and resources which you can also find on my website elementalgrowth.org – To keep things relevant today I am going to get a lot deeper and share my ELEMENTAL YOGA SECRETS soon so stick around!

Earth, water, fire, and air are the four elements of the Universe. They make up all that is and everything we are. Each element has specific, different properties that are found within our inner and outer worlds. Earth is associated with your root chakra, grounding and stability. Water is associated with your sacral chakra, emotion and intuition. Fire is associated with your solar plexus chakra, passion and inspiration and air is associated with your heart chakra, balance and forgiveness.

Get Healthier & Wealthier Using Earth Energy

The Earth element has cleaning power. It symbolizes prosperity, fertility, stability, orderliness, groundedness, sustenance, creativity, physical abundance, nourishment, solidity, dependability, security, permanence, intuition, introspection, and wisdom.

The season we relate to earth is winter because it’s when bugs go deep into our soils and microbes regenerate our earth creating a power and refreshing earth scent. Earth represents matter itself, our physical body, and with it our finances, the food we eat, and our daily routine.

Earth signs are solid and all about foundation. They are dependable, practical and conservative, yet fairly materialistic. They have their feet on the ground but their eyes on the prize. Earth signs are practical, logical and stand firm in their convictions. When we harness earth’s energy we learn through experience, which is never difficult for a curious person like earth signs. To hone these skills yourself set achievable goals and do the work necessary to achieve them.

The element of Earth also confers a sense of duty, responsibility and reliability to those in in contact with them. You can always count on an earth sign to be there when you need them. When we tap into earth’s energy, we can become protective, empathetic, nurturing, and share an inspired love for art and creation.

There are many different ways to connect with and balance the four elements in your body and life: eating certain foods, meditation, visualization, spending time with the elements in nature, or connecting with each element’s symbology.

A grounding yin yoga practice is a fast and effective way to connect you with the Earth. As you settle in each pose, notice the Earth below you. Notice how it grounds you, supports you, and nurtures you. I often recommend my clients spend at least three breaths in each of the following asanas.

Tadasana (Mountain Pose)
Caterpillar pose
Thread the needle
Wide-Angle Seated Forward Bend
Garudasana (Eagle Pose)
Parivrtta Anjaneyasana (Revolved Lunge Pose)
Phalakasana (Plank Pose)
Urdhva Mukha Svanasana (Upward-Facing Dog Pose)
Adho Mukha Svanasana (Downward-Facing Dog Pose)
Sukhasana (Easy Pose with a Twist)
Paschimottanasana (Seated Forward Bend)
Setu Bandha Sarvangasana (Bridge Pose)
Bālāsana (Child’s Pose)

Get Healthier & Wealthier Using Water Energy

The Water element has the power to birth, rebirth and purify. It symbolizes fertility, our emotional self, and creativity. The season we relate to earth is spring because it’s when our entire earth is covered in it. It’s when our environment encourages us to dive deep into our inner self and time to feel our emotions fully.

Water signs are fluid and influential. They are intuitive and sensitive, and they feel emotions deep in their core. Water signs are nurturers, compassionate and they base their decisions based on their senses. When we harness water energy we learn through beauty, which is never difficult for artistic people like water signs.

To hone these skills yourself by taking some time out alone to tune into your environment and feel it on a deeper level. To do this around a body of water would be most powerful. You can collect sea shells, skipping stones or practice asana on the shore. You could grab a stick and draw in the sand or bring a sketchbook to draw out your feelings.

A beach or shower yoga practice is a fast and effective way to connect you with the water element. As you settle in each pose, notice how your body absorbs water into every cell of your body. Notice how it surround you, flows through you, and hydrates you. I often recommend my clients spend at least three breaths in each of the following asanas.

Virasana (Hero Pose)
Hip Circles (especially during pregnancy and during labour)
Anjaneyasana (Low Lunge)
Utkata Konasana (Goddess Pose)
Viparita Virabhadrasana (Reverse Warrior)
Mandukasana (Frog Pose)
Cobra Pose
Vyagrasana (Tiger Pose)
Pada Rajakapotasan (Pigeon Pose)
Setu Bandhasana (Moving Bridge Pose)
Supta Baddha Konasana (Bound Angle Pose)
Paschimottanasana (Seated Forward Bend)

Get Healthier & Wealthier Using Fire Energy

The Fire element has the power transform us. It symbolizes our spirit, willpower, and gut instincts. The season we relate to fire is summer because it’s when we are most exposed to the sun, heat and summer love. It’s when our environment encourages us to step outside of ourselves and our comfort zone.

Fire signs are extroverted and self-assured. They are ambitious, social, and they are often trail blazers. Fire signs spark excitement and naturally take control. When we harness fire energy, we learn to be comfortable with ourselves and others, which brings harmony to our ego and is never to difficult for confident people like fire signs.

To hone these skills yourself by stepping outside of your comfort zone and doing something that will light up your spirit. To do this around in a group-setting would be most powerful. You can join a dance class, invest in a hobby, or have friends over for a bonfire.

Dancing is a fast and effective way to connect you with the fire element. As you move with the music (or your own tune), notice how your body temperature increases and radiates off of you. Notice how powerful you are to create your own heat, move how you feel like moving, and enhance your spiritual energy. I often recommend my clients spend at least three minutes each morning dancing to their favorite song, as well as these empowering yoga asanas & breathwork:

Adho Mukha Svanasana (Downward Facing Dog)
Bhujangasana (Cobra Pose)
Dhanurasana (Bow Pose)
Parivrtta Anjaneyasana (Crescent Warrior Twist)
Parsvottanasana (Intense Side Stretch)
Parvritta Trikonasana (Revolved Triangle Pose)
Kapalabahti (Breath of Fire)
Anjali mudra (Prayer Pose)
Navel Chakra Chant + Meditation

Get Healthier & Wealthier Using Air Energy

The Air element has the power to connect us. Air is my sign and so I will be getting a bit deeper into this one. Air symbolizes our heart, love, and acceptance. The season we relate to air is fall because it’s when leaves dance in the air, the air become lighter and begin to cozy up with our loved ones. It’s when our environment encourages us to gather with our community to share food, music and our gathered experiences from the year before.

Air signs are communicative, intelligent, perceptive, knowledgeable, love to learn, free thinking, imaginative, creative, harmonious, and often soul travelers. This source of life can also, at times, become a force of terrible destruction. When we harness air energy we learn to breathe and open our Soul to personal freedom. Air signs have a strong need to feel liberated and free, which is never to difficult for naturally born nomads like air signs.

Many air signs have a problem fitting into a regular order of their surroundings, no matter if it is their family, workplace, or country. The air signs main goal in life is often just to stop pleasing others, comparing and worrying about others opinions, so they can be able to follow their brightest and most liberating ideas. This is the element that connects all other elements. Air needs to be free to circle the Universe.

Air has a strong tendency to remain in higher frequencies/chakras, where everything is lighter and seems possible – “get your head out of the clouds” is something I heard most often as a kid. To hone the air energy yourself find a way to implement the ideas, intelligence and knowledge you have to make your dreams come alive. Stop talking and start doing concrete, practical moves towards fulfillment. Find your balanced by following a healthy daily routine with proper meals and physical activity. Think through every decision thoroughly and find clever solutions to any challenges. Allow yourself to look at “the big picture” when others cannot and embrace the changes before you.

Air is constantly in motion, even when you can’t see it. This is the same for the mind of a person born of the Air element. Of the four elements, Air is the most concentrated on thought. Air signs are witty and entertaining and are a welcomed guest at any party. They are not rooted in tradition however, and instead go with what makes sense. They don’t believe in doing something because “it’s how it has always been done.” Developing this “radical thinking” and quick mind will allow you to be the hero of your own story.

Heart opening yoga is a fast and effective way to connect you with the air element. As you move with your own flow, visualize your heart-opening and unconditional love flowing through you – this will connect you and as you move through these poses you will create green and blue light, opening you up to universal truth. I often recommend my clients spend at least three breaths in each pose while listening to a song they are drawn to:

Ustrasana (Camel Pose)
Dhanurasana (Bow Pose)
Heart Bench (in a lying position place a block to raise your heart)
Urdhva Mukha Svanasana (Upward-Facing Dog)
Setu Bandha Sarvangasana (Bridge Pose)
Halasana (Plow Pose)
Bitilasana (Cow Pose)
Matsyasana (Fish Pose)
Natarajasana (Lord of The Dance)
Chakrasana (Wheel Pose)
Camatkarasana (Wild Thing)

Sending Love & Positivity,

Ashley Michaud

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