FIVE ELEMENT THEORY

T R I M U RT I Y O G A GOA, INDIA 300HR

 YIN YANG AND YOGA

Yin and Yang tissues are affected much differently with each style.
Yang is considered more dynamic, because it stretches and
strengthens muscular tissues with an emphasis on internal
heating. Yin focuses on the connections in the pelvis, hips, and
even the lower spine. Most yang postures involve standing while
most yin postures involve sitting or laying down. Many yoga
masters feel the combination of yin and yang poses balance each
other out and give the body the full exercise it truly needs. It is
even suggested that practicing only the Yang side of yoga is only
half of the asana practice.

Yin yoga targets entirely different parts of the body than

yang yoga. A complete asana exercise consists of both
parts!
 YIN & YANG TENDENCIES

Yin phenomena are those that exhibit the nurturing

qualities of darkness, rest, moisture, cold, and
structure. Its Chinese character depicts the shady side
of a hill.
Yang phenomena have qualities of energy such as
light, activity, dryness, heat, and function. Its Chinese
character represents the sunny side of a hill.

Yin and Yang are also relative terms: A forest fire is

more yang than a campfire; a campfire is more yang
than a spark. Nothing is purely yin or yang; it is
always a matter of comparison.
 YIN & YANG TENDENCIES

For example, a person who eats cold food (yin) on a

cold, damp day (yin) may experience excessive mucus
(yin). Similarly, a person who performs strenuous
activity (yang) on a hot day (yang) might experience
dehydration with a fever (yang). Some of the traditional
diagnoses sound like weather reports, such as "wind
and cold with dampness" (a yin condition) or a
"deficiency of moisture leading to fire" (a yang pattern).

EXERCISE: TRANSLATE THIS INTO AYURVEDIC

LANGUAGE.what doshas are aggravated in each?
 YIN & YANG ORGANS

The yin organs include the liver, heart, spleen, lungs and
kidneys. The pericardium is sometimes considered a sixth yin
organ. The function of the yin organs is to produce, transform,
regulate and store fundamental substances such as Qi, blood &
body fluid. In general, yin organs do not have empty cavities.

The six yang organs are made up of the gall bladder, stomach,
small intestine, large intestine, bladder and triple burner. The
triple burner does not have a physical structure and is
considered a functional unit. The yang organs are mainly
responsible for digesting food and transmitting nutrients to the
body. Usually, yang organs are organs with empty cavities.
 YIN & YANG IN THE BODY

KIDNEYS the kidneys are considered the source of yin (water)

and yang (fire) for the entire body. If the kidney yin is deficient or
depleted, a person can experience hot flashes and night sweats,
as occurs in menopause when estrogen (yin) levels decline. This
is due to insufficient moisture (yin) to keep the metabolic fire
(yang), which keeps the body warm, under control.

Traditional Chinese medicine applies this ancient theory of yin

and yang in clinical practice. In the case of kidney yin deficiency,
the therapeutic principle is to tonify (fortify) the yin and sedate
the hyperactive yang.

Discuss two ways to effect an energy meridian in Shiatsu

GENERATION & CONTROL CYCLES
 AYURVEDAS EARTH ELEMENT
Earth(Prthvi) Sense - SMELL
The earth element, represents the solid state of matter and along
with water is responsible for the KAPHA constitution of the body.
Bones, teeth, and muscular tissues are considered as earth
elements. Earth connects to the nose and the sense of smell.
EARTH CONTAINS ALL OTHER ELEMENTS.
Earth is cool, stable, heavy, dry, rough, dense, dull, clear and
hard. The earth element is the antidote to symptoms that have
the opposite qualities in the body. It is important to take in the
qualities of earth when you are feeling too warm, ungrounded,
chaotic, emaciated, fluidic, lacking in self-esteem, feeling
insignificant, irritable with a sharp tongue, vulnerable or if you
can not withstand stress.
Exercise find the out of balance dosha for the emotions listed above
 EARTH ASSOCIATED CHAKRA
Muladhara chakra, also called the root chakra is located
in the area of the perineum. The root chakra is our
connection to the earth, giving us stability in the body and
the mind. The bottom rung on the ladder.

The anus is considered an EARTH organ, as we expel back

to the earth

EARTH personality: stable, cautious, protective, rational,

grounded, pensive, advice givers, mother earth, safe

EARTH = anna maya kosha, the physical body

 EARTH ELEMENT AYURVEDA

What does someone with an

aggravated earth element look
like?

Feel like? Act like?

 TCM EARTH ELEMENT
Meridians SPLEEN (SP21) and STOMACH
(ST45)
Season Indian Summer, humidity
Color - YELLOW
Sense mouth, saliva, taste
Smell sweet, fragrant
Emotion worry, sympathy
Sound SINGING
Tissue - muscles
SPLEEN MERIDIAN

YIN
21 points
9am-11am
Starts at medial big toe, along arch
of foot, to ankle and up medial
border of soleus, past knee to
vastus medialis, rectus femoris to
inguinal line, up abdomen lateral to
rectus abdominus, curves laterally
to pec major, then down to axilla

SP6 = Female Tonifier

= 3 yin meridians crossing
STOMACH
Meridian
YANG
45 points 7-9am
Begins under the eye, down to
corner of mouth, along mandible
and masseter, along neck to
clavicle, to nipple, then toward
midline and down along rectus
abdominus to inguinal line, antero-
laterally to rectus femoris, lateral
knee, tibialis anterior, ankle, 2nd toe
ST36 = male tonifier
 TCM EARTH IN BALANCE

When SP & ST are in balance, person has great digestion,

energy after eating, has solid muscle tone & strong limbs,
feels centered and grounded, trusts the universe, sleeps
well, wakes up early, most productive 9-11am, enjoys
community relations and is generous.

Out of balance: excessive worrying, slow or dry digestion,

over plans, feels ungrounded, poor appetite, lethargy, gets
fluey/sniffly, craves sugar, prone to type 2 diabetes
(pancreas is included under SP)

Earth element is stimulated/tonified by FIRE and controlled by WOOD

 WAIT, WHERES THE SPLEEN?

The spleen is the largest organ in the lymphatic system. It is an important

organ for keeping bodily fluids balanced, but it is possible to live without it.
If the spleen detects potentially dangerous bacteria, viruses, or other
microorganisms in the blood, it along with the lymph nodes creates
white blood cells called lymphocytes, which act as defenders against
invaders.
It removes old red blood cells & holds a reserve of blood, which are valuable
in case of hemorrhagic shock, and also recycles iron. TCM = SP/pancreas
The pancreas 2 glands in 1: its exocrine cells produce enzymes to help
with digestion of food. Its endocrine cells release hormones, insulin and
BROADEN YOUR BASE
 MUSCLES REVIEW
FROM THE GROUND UP
HAMSTRINGS AND ITB
NICE BUM, WHEREYA FROM?
FASCIA THE OMNIPRESENT WEB
 ANATOMY TRAINS
WHAT POSES STRETCH THE SBL?
ANATOMY TRAINS

SUPERFICIAL FRONT LINE

ANATOMY TRAINS
LATERAL LINE
ANATOMY TRAINS SPIRAL LINE
REVOLVED HEAD TO KNEE POSE
& TWISTED CHAIR POSE
ANATOMY OF AYURVEDIC ASSOCIATION -
EARTH

REVIEW: BONES & JOINTS

 EARTH BONES JOINTS MUSCLES

What bones are these? Find all 5 elements in the bones.....

 BONES & JOINTS REVIEW:

Function of bones (6)

Red vs yellow marrow
Bones & their membranes
Osteoblast, osteoclast, osteocyte
Landmark lumps: head, process, condyle, crest, spine, fossa
Things found in a joint
Types of joints (3) fibrous, cartilaginous, synovial
Types of synovial joints (6)
Actions at joints: flexion, extension, abduction, adduction,
external/internal rotation, circumduction, supination, pronation,
inversion, eversion, dorsi/plantarflexion, nutation, pelvic tilts,
Axial vs appendicular, sections of vertebrae, curves of spine
OUR AXIS, THE SPINE
 ANATOMY
PELVIC BOWL
ANATOMY OF MULA BANDA & MULADHARA
CHAKRA
PELVIC FLOOR
MULADHARA EARTH CHAKRA
THE OTHER PELVIS..
THE SPHENOID BONE
 Sella turcica = Turkish Seat

AJNA- intuition
Pelvis and Sphenoid - Root &
MInds Eye

Functional Connectors multiarticulate,

midline, supporters/bases for organs &
protect chakra centers

One must have balanced lower chakras

as an anchor in order to have a properly
functioning Ajna Chopra Center

What element is associated with Ajna?

 CREATIVE CORNER / SELF STUDY

Write a yoga flow or meditation that links these

two centers/chakras

How can you use smell as the theme of a

practice?

One must have balanced lower chakras as an

anchor in order to have a properly functioning
Ajna explain how that phrase is Ayurvedic
 SENSE OF SMELL

CHEMORECEPTORS IN CILIA SENSE PARTICLES IN THE AIR, SEND ELECTRIC

SIGNAL TO BRAIN VIA OLFACTORY NERVE, BRAIN TO IDENTIFY, RECOGNIZE,
REMEMBER.
LIMBIC SYSTEM = AMYGDALA & HIPPOCAMPUS BEHAVIOR, MOOD, MEMORY
LIMBIC SYSTEM
Limbus = circle, surround

Decision making
Mood
Behavior
Memory

Three levels of
Consciousness:
Awake, dream,
deep sleep
(4th is samadhi)

YOGA
NIDRA
PRACTICE !
(READ article
Dreaming &
Healing)
WATER ELEMENT IN AYURVEDA

WATER (Jala) Sense - TASTE

liquid, sticky, cold, soft, compact, heavy, and moist
in quality. Water constitutes the liquids of the body
such as urine, plasma, lymph, and makes up most
of our bodily weight. The bodily fluids move between
the cells (interstitial fluid)and through the vessels
of the body carrying nutrients, wastes, antibodies
and hormones. Immunity, cohesion, organ
genitals

Svadhistana chakra located in the genital area

Creativity, procreation, change, passion, orange, intimacy
 TCM WATER ELEMENT
Meridians KIDNEY (KD) and BLADDER (BL)
Season winter
Color blue/black
Sense ears / hearing
Smell putrid
Emotion fear
Taste salty

PANCHAKARMA = NASYA & VAMANA

KIDNEY MERIDIAN
YIN
27 points

Begins on the sole of the foot

Ends on the medial clavicle

The Kidneys are a very important

organ because they are the root of
both the yin and yang energies of the
body. They store our essence (called
Jing in TCM) which our parents gifted
us at the moment of conception and
contain the seat of our vitality.
BLADDER
MERIDIAN
YANG
67 POINTS

BL begins at the eyes, goes

over the head
Runs down the back (SHU
points)
Down the back of the legs,
ends on the pinky toe

**SHU POINTS
 THE BLADDER IS A BIG DEAL.

How can yoga stimulate these points? What poses affect the BL meridia
 MUSCLES REVIEW.....
I GOT YOUR BACK, BUDDY
BOOK TO READ:
How Yoga Works by michael
roach
Investigates erectors as channels of
energy & healing (nadis)
 TCM WATER IN BALANCE

Water types are introspective, candid, careful but curious,

sensitive to energies, almost psychic, fertile,
clever, articulate, and evasive. calm energy that calms
everyone around you. Your mind is lucid and you take in
knowledge as you observe life, making you wiser than your
years would suggest. resilient and constant. You have great
integrity (boundaries) and are not one to compromise your
principles.
Water Element is all about collective intelligence and
DNA. Water is of the winter, when we pull back to our
hibernation dens and rest and renew our reserves. In your
life, the power of the Water Element represents birth, and
death, and allows us to leave our unique mark on humanity.
 TCM WATER COND

OUT OF BALANCE:
When we push ourselves beyond our own limits to the point
of total exhaustion by overworking, over committing, over
analyzing, consuming too many chemical stimulants we
begin to deplete our essence (vitality) and disturb the
Kidneys and Water element. We may begin to experience
stiffness, tightness and joint pain (esp. low back), lose our
initiative and spark for life, become forgetful, more fearful,
develop depression, sexual and sleep disturbances, gravitate
toward addictive patterns, and/or we freeze and develop cold
feet whereby we are unable to move forward and take on life.
Water element is stimulated/tonified by METAL and controlled
by EARTH
 ANATOMY OF WATER
Water collects the
proteins/fats/metabolic waste
it comes across, & carries it to
be processed & filtered out.
Water is powerful enough to
cut through rock & soften
earth, mobile enough to
disperse as steam, big enough
to carry life, small enough to
pass through cell walls.
Lets follow it through the
body.
FIRST, WE DRINK IT.

Our gut passes it to

the blood and to the
interstitial space
 FUN FACTS

Drinking water hits your blood stream in 5 minutes, is

absorbed in 15, and fully absorbed in 75-120 minutes

Drinking water is the only way to completely hydrate your

body

Drinking water on an empty stomach hydrates you faster

You need salts in your body to efficiently absorb water

The kidneys process 200 qts of blood daily, and pull out 2qts
of waste. The kidneys are 1% of our body mass but get 25%
of the blood flow.
 URINARY & RENAL SYSTEMS

The blood/water/plasma cycles through the kidneys for filtration.

Some is put back in to the blood, the excess is sent to the bladder for excretion
Bladder pear shaped muscular storage sack, makes urination voluntary.
PREPARE YOURSELF..
 KIDNEY BEANS
Unit of measure
nephron
There are 1million in
each kidney

If we untangled all
the nephron tubules
theyd stretch 5 miles

Kidneys are the size

of your fist

The KD meridian
stores energy from
parents & universe =
prenatal Jing. This,
plus LU & SP gives
AD + renal = above renal = ADRENAL GLANDS rise to Qi life force
INTERSTITIAL FLUID
 LYMPHATIC SYSTEM

After the fluid is circulated processed through lymph nodes, it is collected

and dumped into the subclavian veins. Left 75% Right 25%.
 LYMPH NODES
Why are there concentrations of nodes in certain regions?

What does a lymph node do?

LYMPH NODES & IMMUNITY
NODES CLEANSE & EXAMINE LYMPH
FLUID
YOUR IMMUNITY TEAM IS BASED HERE:

RED MARROW MAKES BLOOD CELLS

WBCs myeloid or lymphoid

MYELIOD macrophage (eaters)

basophils (trigger inflamm)
neutrophils (EMS team &
phagocytosis)

LYMPHOID Tcells kick in after

infection & remember the trigger,
they tell
Bcells to make antibodies
that remember the trigger
NKCs respond to multitude
of pathogens and destroy
What do lymph nodes look like?
 TYPES OF IMMUNITY

Cell mediated body responds to an antigen & the memory T

& B cells remember this event

Non specific pathogen breaks through bodys natural

barriers and the inflammatory/allergy/fever response kicks in

Specific Active or Passive breast milk & DNA vs. vaccines

Lymph in the gut is called CHYLE. There are pockets of

lymphatic cells in the intestines called Peyers Patches

What can cause us to become immunosuppressed?

MORAL OF THE STORY HYDRATE!