I first got into contact with the 5 elements of Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) when studying Zen-Shiatsu and was amazed by the different perspective TCM sees the world, nature and our body.
Although I am trained and working in biomedicine, the different perspective of TCM and the cyclic nature that it sees life through startled my curiosity. We all carry the qualities of the 5 elements within us and we can influence them in our Yin Yoga practice.
Yin Yoga poses stimulate sinew channels
Yin Yoga is a functional style of Yoga that impacts the denser tissues of the body, the Yin tissues (including our connective tissues and joints). This is approached with rather passive, long held asanas, propped and on the floor so you can release muscular effort.
The areas of the body we do ‘stress’ or put a load on have an effect on the connective tissue that encases the body, muscles, organs etc.. Certain functional lines composed of myofascia (muscles + fascia) have been described by Tom Myers as myofascial tracks, and interestingly, it is thought that energy pathways (meridians) described in Traditional Chinese medicine run along these myofascial chains.
What are the 5 elements?
According to Traditional Chinese medicine there are 5 elements that are fundamental to the cycles of nature; it is what was observed in nature as the year moves through its seasons. Since we are not seperate from nature, we also have these 5 elements within us. The 5 elements are seen as phases of a process rather than a fixed representation; their name ‘Wu Xing’ means 5 movements of the universe – one feeds the next like a mother feeds a child.
The elements are Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal and Water. Each element is associated with its own particular season, emotion and organ system /meridian line.
Meridians are energetic pathways/ channels partly found along the connective tissues of our body. Our life force energy, Qi is flowing along those pathways (similar concept to Prana flowing along the Nadis). We can affect the flow of Qi along those lines by acupuncture, acupressure, tapping or Yin Yoga poses.
In Yin Yoga, the poses can act as a pressuriser stimulating different meridians along the body. When in a pose, we apply gentle pressure over an extended period (2 - 5min). Similar to squeezing a garden hose, the pressure increases inside the tube and upon releasing the hose, the water pressure pushes through the hose. With Yin poses, we dissipate energetic stagnation by compressing the body tissues where the meridians are located.
But we can also create a tug or a gentle pull along tissues of our body where energy pathways are located and influence the flow of energy.
TCM concepts in Yin yoga
A Yin Yoga practice can be tailored to stimulate the area along which a specific meridian runs along, thereby influencing the energy flow along that line/ those lines. The approach can be more broad by theming the practice according to one of the 5 elements, the respective season or associated emotion. We can do this with language that describes the qualities of that element and emphasise this through physical Yin pose. We can also add some acupressure massage to complement the practice and intention.
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When weaving the season as a concept into your Yin practice, we can also focus on its energetic direction. In Spring for example, the energy is rising and expanding, nature is awakening - this energy can be incorporated as a theme or by choosing particular Yin poses that represent this energetic direction but also poses that balance it.
In springtime, we can choose poses that target the outer seam of the body (where the Gallbladder meridian is located) or the inner thighs (where the liver meridian is located). Both the Liver and the Gallbladder form the organ system associated with spring. We can add acupressure massage to our practice or a Qi massage, visualising and sensing the free flow of Qi.
Since most of the meridian lines are running very close to each other, the effect will not be directed only at one meridian line though. The addition of specific acupressure points or verbal cueing to introduce concepts of specific lines/ organ systems can help to theme.
There is a lot of interesting literature out there on the 5 elements which is worth reading, one book I enjoyed during my Qigong studies is ‘Qigong and the Tai Chi Axis: Nourishing Practices for Body, Mind, and Spirit’ by Mimi Kuo-Deemer.
I hope this little excursion inspired to incorporate some of these concepts into your Yin practice.
Best,
Simone x