• Prithvi Mudra - Earth Mudra Earth is the component of tissues, bones, skin, hair, flesh etc. This mudra will help decrease the element of fire within a persons body. Can help reduce fever, inflammation, anger, resentment, and jealousy. Prithvi Mudra will help increase vitality, external/internal strength and endurance. Helps open the mind and free it from irrational prejudices and beliefs. Helps foster self-confidence/belief in the self. Can help those seeking spirituality. Said to activate root chakra / base chakra. Listen to your needs, can practice 30-45 min/day // split into 10-15min 3x during the day How to: Touch the tip of the ring finger to the tip of the thumb finger, lightly pressing them into each other. Keep the rest of your fingers extended without straining them. You can do this one or both hands in sitting, standing, or laying. Affirmation: "I am grounded, I am safe, I am secure. I am self-confident in all that I create. The universe provides me with infinite abundance."
• To strengthen your connection to the earth element: Stand with your feet apart with arms relaxed; inhale, rising onto your toes; hold your breath ad tighten your buttocks; exhale; relax. Repeat 4 times.
• The first chakra is called Muladhara which means root or foundation. In this particular chakra we can begin to transcend the basis of physical nature. Connecting to the earth element here, this energetic center is responsible for everything that manifests in the physical world. It is involved with material and primal survival, our health, bodies and habits.
• *In anatomy, Earth is represented by the organs of Stomach and Spleen. They build and maintain the entire body: Stomach is where food is prepared for absorption, and Spleen helps absorb nutrients, feeding muscle and blood. In Chinese Medicine, Spleen is not viewed as the anatomical spleen (main function to filter blood), but is responsible for digestion and nutrient absorption. Its primary function is converting food into energy, and it is the transporter of Chi, Life Force.Organ tissues assigned to Earth are muscle, fat, and connective tissue.

Earth is nurturing; providing nutrients to build blood and muscles, and creating energy for organs to work efficiently. Emotionally, Earth is nourishing, and grounding when healthy and balanced, and filled with anxiety and worry when out of balance. If we do too much and feel not nourished, or if we cannot stop worrying, the stomach rebels, becoming weak and tired, with loose stools, ulcers or pain in upper abdomen. The Spleen helps generate white blood cells in bone marrow, to support the immune system. Spleen converts food into energy, but excessive worry and over thinking weakens its ability to transform nutrients, resulting in fatigue. It transforms nutrients and transports moisture, controlling the lymphatic system. Swollen legs, edema, poor lymphatic drainage, fatty tumors, and obesity relate to an unhealthy Spleen.

Balancing Earth

In Late Summer, there is rising strength in Earth energy, creating stability, settledness, and a sense of “home”. Earth corresponds with nurturing, the Mother, a sense of self-worth, bonding and formation of trust in relationships.

When Earth is happy and nurtured, the Spleen is healthy with good digestion and elimination. The mind is balanced and secure, with a sense of belonging, grounding and connection. When Earth is imbalanced, we worry or have excessive mental agitation, lack of concentration or memory loss. We feel needy for food or attention, seeking sympathy or distraction. An imbalance in Earth can manifest in exhaustion, loss of appetite, poor digestion or loose stools and diarrhea, easy bruising, excess menstrual flow or other bleeding disorders.

During harvest we store foods to nourish through the winter ahead, and it is time to harvest and reflect. Emotionally and spiritually we begin to consolidate memories and experiences through Autumn and Winter. Much as we harvest and preserve the fruits of summer, Earth provides the impetus to contemplate and reflect.

Taking care of Earth reaps an inner harvest : energy to complete projects and fulfill needs, contentment and love of Life. With a healthy Earth, you feel at home in all situations, enjoying your efforts and have the space to love, relax, and nourish self, family and friends.

Yoga for Earth Season As the organs function in good health, digestion improves, blood sugar regulates and overall good health is promoted. Yoga can provide renewal and rejuvenation to the body’s energy centers, and a meditative and mindful practice brings awareness into an inner world and sharpens self reflection and insight.

Quieting the body mind with space to explore and experience physical, emotional and spiritual transformation is a deeply healing personal experience. Try Restorative poses like Balasana – child’s pose, Supta Baddha Konasana – supine bound angle, Simple Supported Twist and Savasana.

The Liver and Spleen sit on the sides of the abdomen, so lateral bending and twisting can activate these meridians. Liver and Spleen energy travels up the inner legs, so hip opening poses like Eka Pada Raja Kapotasana – Pigeon, Baddha Konasana – Bound Angle and Upavista Konasana – Wide Angle Seated Forward Fold activates these meridians.

The Liver is responsible for the free flow of energy through the body, but anger, frustration and irritation can constrict and stagnate the flow of Liver Chi. Physical movement helps the Liver move energy, so flowing in vinyasa sequences are beneficial.

Kidneys are the foundation of all energy in the body and are the source and storehouse of Chi. nut Fear can constrain Kidney energy, creating dysfunction and draining energy reserves. The Kidneys are in the back body, so uplifted back body bending can activate and tonify Kidney energy. Simple back bending poses are helpful like Setubhanda Sarvangasana – Bridge, Bhujangasana – Cobra, Salmbasana – Locust and Dhanurasana – Bow

Lungs transform the air we breathe into energy and circulates it through the body. If deep sadness or melancholy depresses the Lung, it can manifest into fatigue. To activate and tonify Lungs, use chest opening back bends of Urdhva Mukha Svanasana – Upward-Facing Dog, Ustrasana – Camel, Matsyasana – Fish, Eka Pada Rajakapotasana- King Pigeon, Dwi Pada Viparita Dandasana – Upward Facing Two-Foot Staff

• Eat fresh, nourishing foods. Fresh, local foods and don’t combine too many ingredients
Be moderate with sugar, fried foods, and dairy. In hot, humid weather, avoid overeating. Lightly cooked food on moderate temperature is easier on digestive system. Eat sour or pungent flavors to help disperse dampness and regulate digestion. Get exercise as dampness tends to settle in and make you feel lethargic.

When Earth is off balance, internal cycles may suffer – Earth energy can be over stimulated with hot spices and caffeine. Earth thrives on routine rhythms, which settles the nervous system, stabilises blood sugars and lowers blood pressure. Balancing work, socializing and self care is essential for healthy body, mind and spirit.

Earth is where we are rooted…where we go to renew…and from which we can grow, blossom, and live life. Everything stems from the Earth

• Summer is Fire, one of the Five Elements. Fire is the fiercest yang energy; excitement, assertiveness and exuberance brightening life with light and clarity. It’s associated with the heart and small intestines, clarity and compassion, and the “seat” of the mind. Fire’s highest expression is love, enthusiasm and conscious awareness.

But as the Summer wanes into the end of August, we feel a tiredness, an overdoneness of summer’s fire as we burn into the energy of Earth. This is now the season of Late Summer and Yang Fire has to make its way toward the Yin seasons of cooling weather in the energy of Earth and Late Summer.

Late Summer is Earth, balancing in still tranquility and represented by the Stomach and Spleen as the organs that allow us to be nourished. Earth energy helps thoughts and feelings get processed and digested as emotional and mental food.

Earth is empathy and compassion, but can turn into worry and anxiety, just as in Nature where a barren earth cannot bear abundant harvest. The idea of “decrease” is the energy of Late Summer, yet also the time of extraordinary abundance. This is a time that we can reap the abundance to strengthen the body, cultivate connections toward loving relationships, challenge the intellect and develop our spiritual practice.

Earth is represented by the colour yellow, a balance of Yin and Yang , the organs of Stomach & Spleen, emotions of worry and empathy, and the tastes and climates of sweet and damp. Read more about Late Summer Earth Season here.

SUPPORTING MOTHER EARTH

Late Summer is the transition from Yang masculine energy to Yin feminine energy, and it holds the space between the expanding growth of Spring, active offerings of Summer and the inward, cooler, mysterious Fall and Winter seasons. And the ultimate feminine image of Mother has always been connected with Earth. In the way that both nourish and feed us emotionally and physically, Earth that feeds mind body and soul is the same as Mother who supports, nourishes and cares freely and abundantly.

The patience and compassion that comes with mothering takes time, and our Earth energy may also need time to develop self nourishment and inner compassion. The more we can support our inner Earth, the more we also support the inner Mother who nourishes and feeds our creativity, compassion and connection.

The Stomach and Spleen act in this same way to nourish our bodies, and have the energy to help us process thoughts and feelings and begin to physically and emotionally “digest” our mental food. Taking care of these organs now helps us emotionally as much as physically. If we feel we are taking care of everyone and no one is taking care of us, or are constantly worrying, the stomach and digestive system rebels.

Worry and anxiety can lead us to crave sweet foods, and the taste of sweet must be monitored and not overdone to balance Stomach and Spleen. Too much sweet flavour will irritate the stomach and spleen, creating exhaustion and anxiety. Choosing natural sweet flavours in the fruits offered from Earth to help the body receive nourishment and settle into a calm place.

BALANCING EARTH FIRE

In Late Summer I can feel overwhelemed with the big energy of outgoing Summer Fire season. The heat can keep me up at night, and I feel depleted and lethargic. This is a great time to look inward to calm and cool the Heart Fire, and move into the nourishment of Mother Earth. My yoga practice slows down and practice feel yummier when supported. In the intensity of the heat of summer, there’s lots of energy to do handstands, but that fiery yang energy gets a bit worn out by now, and sinking into a deep supported backbend feels divine!

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Sama Vritti Pranayama

If you do not have a pranayama practice, this might be a good time to add in a simple practice like Sama Vritti – “Equal Disturbance”. It’s a quick energy booster for me, especially on the road and as I teach trainings. They can wipe out my energy and a big, wide, deep breath allows me to recover.

You can lie down or sit up for this practice. I prefer to begin laying down on my back with feet flat and knees up. Support knees with a bolster or blanket roll, and if you are sitting up, use a bolster or blankets to keep hips at a level higher than knees. This helps reduce strain on lower back and supports freedom of the breath. You might even want to start by placing hands lightly on the side ribs and taking a few long, slow, soft, deep quiet breaths.

Exhale completely. Begin to bring the inhale through the nose and exhale through the nose. Close your eyes and begin to notice your natural breath, not changing anything. Begin a slow count to four as you inhale. Then count to four as you exhale. Take three normal breaths Repeat this cycle The pranayama is to match the length of your inhale and exhale. Continue this pattern for as long as comfortable, an change the length of breath to shorter or longer count as needed, just make sure the inhale and exhale stay the same length.

Try to bring your breath to match a longer count as you practice more, and notice the quality, movement, and sound of your own breath inside the chest. It may even begin to feel as though the breath can glide towards the back lungs to support the hearts divine work.

EATING FOR EARTH

A lighter diet feels better, with cool Yin foods. We can balance our diet and activity patterns by looking to Nature and learn how to balance ourselves with environmental and seasonal changes.

As the earth provides nourishment to our bodies, it can also feed mind and spirit. Harmonise Earth with naturally sweet tastes, golden yellow and round foods. Orange and Yellow are connected with Late Summer, following the fiery reds of Summer and preceding the white/off-whites of Autumn foods.

Chinese classify food with energetic qualities of temperature, taste, and ability to strengthen body, so citrus and snowpeas are appetising to me now for their cooling yin qualities, as well as apricots and summer squash.

Food that helps balance the center of the body are corn, millet, carrots, cabbage, chick peas, soybeans, squashes, potatoes, green beans, yams, tofu, sweet potatoes, rice, amaranth, peas, chestnuts, apricots and cantaloupe.

• Yoga Symbol Root Chakra: Location: Root of the spine. Color: Red Representation: Foundation Meaning: Grounding, survival and beginnings. Element: Earth Yoga posture for opening this chakra: Bridge Pose
• As the organs function in good health, digestion improves, blood sugar regulates and overall good health is promoted. Yoga can provide renewal and rejuvenation to the body’s energy centers, and a meditative and mindful practice brings awareness into an inner world and sharpens self reflection and insight.

Quieting the body mind with space to explore and experience physical, emotional and spiritual transformation is a deeply healing personal experience. Try Restorative poses like Balasana – child’s pose, Supta Baddha Konasana – supine bound angle, Simple Supported Twist and Savasana.

The Liver and Spleen sit on the sides of the abdomen, so lateral bending and twisting can activate these meridians. Liver and Spleen energy travels up the inner legs, so hip opening poses like Eka Pada Raja Kapotasana – Pigeon, Baddha Konasana – Bound Angle and Upavista Konasana – Wide Angle Seated Forward Fold activates these meridians.

The Liver is responsible for the free flow of energy through the body, but anger, frustration and irritation can constrict and stagnate the flow of Liver Chi. Physical movement helps the Liver move energy, so flowing in vinyasa sequences are beneficial.

Kidneys are the foundation of all energy in the body and are the source and storehouse of Chi. nut Fear can constrain Kidney energy, creating dysfunction and draining energy reserves. The Kidneys are in the back body, so uplifted back body bending can activate and tonify Kidney energy. Simple back bending poses are helpful like Setubhanda Sarvangasana – Bridge, Bhujangasana – Cobra, Salmbasana – Locust and Dhanurasana – Bow

Lungs transform the air we breathe into energy and circulates it through the body. If deep sadness or melancholy depresses the Lung, it can manifest into fatigue. To activate and tonify Lungs, use chest opening back bends of Urdhva Mukha Svanasana – Upward-Facing Dog, Ustrasana – Camel, Matsyasana – Fish, Eka Pada Rajakapotasana- King Pigeon, Dwi Pada Viparita Dandasana – Upward Facing Two-Foot Staff

• Prithvi (earth) represents the solid state of matter. Earth is heavy, hard, stable, compact, rigid, unctuous, and dense in quality. Bones, teeth, muscles, fat, and the structure of the different organs are derived from the earth element.

Earth is related to the sense of smell. The nose is the sense organ through which we perceive smell. The organs of action is the anus which allow us to excrete matter back to the earth. Muladhara chakra, also called the root chakra is located outside the body in the area of the perineum. The root chakra is our connection to the earth, giving us stability in the body and the mind.

Read more: http://flowingfree.org/the-5-elements/#ixzz2nHFiaaFl