The Five Elements at Home 

According to Ayurveda, the universe is made up of Five Great Elements. These are: Ether, Air, Fire, Water, and Earth. When are ready for a home makeover to create a healing home environment, it is helpful to look at our home in terms of the relationships of these elements.

Ether is the space that connects life together in all of its manifestations.
Air represents everything in a gaseous state, for example oxygen, vapor, and wind.
Fire is the transforming aspect of nature manifested through light, heat, and friction.
Water is the liquid form of nature found in everything fluid and flowing.
Earth is the solid form of nature found in all substances hard, heavy, and dense.

These five elements in their physical forms surround and interact with us in all aspects of our daily experience: what we smell, taste, see, feel, and hear. How we interact with these elements can have a profound effect on our overall well-being. Too much or too little of any element can create imbalances within our body, mind, and spirit.

Harmony and Healing at Home

To create harmony in our living space we can begin by observing each element in its current state, noting any excesses or deficiencies. We can then take steps to rebalance our home environment.

The following suggestions will explore some simple and practical ways to maximize the healing potential of any home environment:

Elemental Home Makeover: Space

ETHER (Akasha): How cluttered is your space? Do you need to clear space in your home in order to induce a sensation of freedom and expansion? Or does your space feel too open creating a sense of emptiness and insecurity?

Clutter often stifles creativity. Whenever possible, keep the center of a room empty. A room’s center is considered the place of Divine Consciousness (Bhramasthana). When kept free from material objects, this spiritual power is free to radiate in all directions.

Remove all unused and unwanted objects from your home.

• It’s best to focus on one room at a time.
• Start with clearing out closets to make room for things you decide to store.
• Consider how each item makes you feel. Does it add to the harmony you are creating?
• Keep it, throw it away, give it away, donate it, sell it, recycle it, or store it.

Elemental Home Makeover: Air

AIR (Vayu): What are the sources of air pollution in your environment? According to the Environmental Protection Agency, levels of indoor air pollutants often measure three to seven times higher than levels outdoors. Prana, the life-force energy, is directly absorbed through the air we breathe. Depending on the quality of air in our environment, this vital element may feed our wellbeing or our dis-ease.

Balance the Air Element

Identify sources of air pollution in your home.

• How many different household cleaners do you use?
• Are you exposed to vapors from paints or stains?
• Are you exposed to fumes from bedding? Polyester mattress pads, sheets, and pillows are typically treated with formaldehyde—an extremely potent carcinogen and respiratory irritant.
• Are you exposed to fumes from furniture? Furniture, cushions, and bookcases are also often treated with formaldehyde and may emit fumes for up to five years.
• Are you exposed to fumes from your clothes? Dry cleaned clothes can fill a home with toxic vapors for a week or more.
• Are you exposed to fumes from outside? Living on a busy street or near a freeway can expose you to car exhaust and airborne particles from rubber tires.

Clean your air!

• Switch to eco-friendly, all-purpose cleaners or make your own. Simple, natural ingredients can be prepared in a variety of ways to clean most everything in your home.
• Move toward eco-friendly paints, furniture, and natural fabrics for your next home upgrades.
• Use eco-friendly dry cleaning services. Hand wash clothing whenever possible.
• Keep a variety of houseplants throughout your home. Many species are known natural air purifiers. They also help offset electromagnetic field radiation from electronics.
• Consider cleaning your home’s vents or having them professionally cleaned annually.
• Invest in a quality air purifier and clean or change its filter regularly.

Elemental Home Makeover: Fire

FIRE (Tapas): How much natural light does your home receive? Are you chronically living in a dark, dim space or are you exposed to extreme doses of afternoon sun? Either end of the spectrum can create chronic imbalances in energy throughout the day and quality of sleep at night. Modern living removes us from direct sunlight, disconnecting us from the natural circadian rhythms. Artificial indoor lighting during evening hours also contributes to the disruption of our natural sleep cycles. Honoring the Fire element by maintaining a balance of natural light has a harmonizing effect on energy, mood, and immunity.

How does the temperature within your home suit you? Is it comfortable or a source of discomfort? Excessive cold or frequent shifts in temperature aggravates vata, the dynamic force of movement in the body. Vata imbalances can manifest as anxiety or digestive irregularity and are at the root of many chronic diseases. Excessive heat or sunlight exposure aggravates pitta, the metabolic force of heat and transformation in the body. A pitta imbalance may manifest as anger and irritability and is the source of many inflammatory conditions.

Balance the Fire Element

To balance excessive darkness:

• Remove any obstructions to natural light. Move plants or rearrange furniture in front of and around windows.
• Consider repainting walls with lighter colors to help reflect natural light. Pastel colors are particularly useful as they increase the qualities of lightness, purity and clarity.
• Change window coverings that are too dark, heavy or obstructing. Replace with sheer, light fabrics.
• Use full spectrum light bulbs throughout your home.

To balance excessive light:

• Use indoor or outdoor plants, drapes, shades and room dividers to buffer sharp sun exposure.
• Consider repainting walls with deep, rich colors. Earth tones absorb light and help create a stable, grounding sensation.

Make any necessary adjustment to the temperature of your home.

• Consider using a space heater or portable AC unit in the room where you spend most of your time.
• Utilize nature whenever possible. Often closing up windows and doors during the day and opening them at night can keep a space cool during hot seasons. Close your room off to drafts by installing thresholds below doors and draft guards at the base of windows during cold months.

Elemental Home Makeover: Water

WATER (Jala): Are you able to flow from space to space freely, or are there physical obstacles in the arrangement of your furniture and home accessories? Are there surfaces that perpetually collect excessive items, or are all of your shelves and bookcases completely filled? Is the balance of moisture in your home right for you? Does it create too much dryness or is it too moist or humid for you?

Moisture and flow provided by water is the basis of life itself. A proper amount of water element within the body (called rasa) is responsible for nourishment of all cells, proper absorption of prana, efficient elimination of waste and emotional contentment. Keeping the optimum quantity of moisture flowing in an environment contributes to a healthy amount of rasa flowing throughout one’s being. Creating fluidity in the structure of a living space allows for ease of mind and inspires the flow of creative juices. Visually representing the water element in a home induces a sense of softness and nourishment.

Balance the Water Element

Incorporate a balance of the physical and energetic representations of water throughout your home.

• Rearrange furniture to create more flow.
• Consider rearranging or removing books and décor on shelves and bookcases to allow for more space and visual fluidity.
• Bring the water element into your home through a simple water feature. Consider using a small fountain, a round vase with floating candles or flowers, or a fish bowl or aquarium.
• Decide if you need to invest in a humidifier or a dehumidifier to balance the moisture levels in your home.

Elemental Home Makeover: Earth

EARTH (Prithvi): What thoughts, feelings or emotions do the objects you surround yourself with evoke? Are you keeping anything because you feel like you have to, even if the items evoke negative memories? How much nature is represented in your home? Evaluate everything from furniture to décor, photos, and artwork. Earth is the grounding, stabilizing force of our natural world. Honoring this element throughout our home can provide us with a sense of protection, strength, and stability.

Balance the Earth Element

Surround yourself with objects that reflect the highest vision of you.

• Remove all things that are not contributing to the balance that you are now creating. Keep in mind the subtle impact that objects hold and mindfully choose what you keep.
• Incorporate aspects of nature that you find harmonious. Plants, clay pots, or décor made from glass, stone or wood can be excellent choices.
• Finish by decorating your home with symbols of Divinity and spirituality that resonate with you.
• Our senses are the gateway to consciousness. Our physical well-being and the evolution of consciousness depends on what we absorb and assimilate through each of our five senses. Clearing, cleaning, and arranging our home environment to reflect harmony and balance will enhance and expedite these aspirations. Honoring the five elements through an Ayurvedic home makeover is an inspiring and rewarding way to encourage positive change.

Mary-Alice Quinn

Mary-Alice Quinn, CAS is dedicated to spreading the practical benefits of living an Ayurvedic life. She conducts her private practice in Los Angeles and is an instructor for the California College of Ayurveda. MaryAliceQuinn.com

The post Ayurvedic Elemental Home Makeover appeared first on LA Yoga Magazine - Ayurveda & Health.

Herbal Teas are Travel Remedies

Whether traveling for business or pleasure, across the country or across the globe, no one is exempt from the toils of travel. Even a short flight can leave us feeling out of sorts, carrying with it a wide variety of traveler’s symptoms – apparently not everything stays in Vegas. Herbal teas can provide powerful solutions for balance.

Ayurveda and Traveling

Thousands of years ago Ayurveda described one of the fundamental causes of disease: deterioration due to time and motion (called parinama). Biological time, the rate at which our cells age, either speeds up or slows down in relation to the pace of our body and our mind. There is no denying that modern-day travel not only speeds up the rate at which we physically move (and yes, sitting still while in a moving plane, train or automobile counts), but planning, coordinating and executing our trips can also get our minds racing.

The Energy of Vata Increases While Traveling

So what are the effects of all of this motion and commotion? How does this accelerated rate of physical and mental movement cause dis-ease? Traveler, meet vata. Vata, the biological force of movement composed of the ether and air elements, is an energizing and inspiring force in nature governing every physical and mental process. In excess, this energy is degenerating and destructive.

Movement increases vata and vata increases movement, the effects of which are an increase in the qualities of dryness, lightness, coldness and ultimately deterioration. As a result, common symptoms of excess vata that can occur during travel include:

• irregular digestion
• dehydration
• constipation
• lowered immunity
• insomnia

Herbal Teas to the Rescue

Thankfully the plant kingdom offers some very simple and effective herbal remedies. When taken as tea, these herbs provide a quick and convenient way to address acute travel symptoms. They can be purchased at your local health food store, from a practitioner, Yoga studio or online and infused with hot water to be enjoyed on a plane, in a hotel or at a restaurant.(Before enjoying these and any herbs for regular or long-term use, while taking medication or during pregnancy, consult with a qualified Ayurvedic practitioner.)

Digestion: (Ginger Root; Zingiber officinale. Adraka-fresh, Sunthi-dry) Travel may cause you to skip meals, eat at irregular times or take foods that you are not accustomed to eating and digesting well. This can increase vata and create irregularity in digestive strength. The effects of irregular digestion include gas, bloating, belching and/or lethargy after eating. One of the best herbal teas for supporting digestion is ginger. Ginger warms the digestive system, improves digestive strength and increases digestive enzyme secretion. If you are prone to motion sickness, ginger is a salutary remedy for this as well!

Herbal Teas to Alleviate Dehydration

Dehydration: (Licorice Root; Glycyrrhiza glabra; Yashti Madhu) If you’ve ever arrived at your final destination feeling more like a raisin than a grape, then you’re familiar with the effects of systemic vata increase. Dry skin, lips, eyes and even sinuses are common effects of travel dehydration. Licorice root tea is an excellent choice for hydration. It acts as a demulcent, nourishing the skin and mucous membranes from the inside out, and is effective in retaining water within the body when rehydration is desired.

Herbal Teas to Alleviate Constipation

Constipation: (Psyllium Husk; Plantago ovata; Sat Isabgol) An erratic schedule, irregular mealtimes, convenience foods and dehydration can all contribute to constipation while traveling. If you notice that you skip bowel movements for a few days during travel, use psyllium husk tea to help decrease vata in the colon and get your bowel movements back on track. The soluble and insoluble fibers it contains provide the moistness and bulk the intestines need to get moving again. When looking for psyllium husk, it is important to buy organically grown, as the non-organically grown varieties can be especially toxic.

Herbal Teas to Strengthen Immunity

Immunity: (Holy Basil; Ocimum sanctum; Tulsi) The stress of travel, exposure to new people and places, and lack of rest can quickly challenge the immune system. You may experience sinus congestion, a respiratory cold or allergies – all signs of compromised defense mechanisms. Tulsi, or holy basil, is an excellent tea to protect and restore the integrity of the immune system and relieve respiratory illness. As an adaptogenic herb, it helps increase the body’s resistance to physical, environmental and emotional stress.

Herbal Teas to Alleviate Insomnia

Insomnia: (Roman Chamomile; Anthemis nobilis; German Chamomile; Matricaria chamomilla) Crossing multiple time zones, shifts in sleep and wake times and emotional restlessness or anxiety can disturb our delicate internal biorhythms. This can create difficulty in falling asleep or staying asleep and can also cause an increase in fatigue and unrest from waking in the pre-dawn hours. Chamomile tea reduces restlessness by calming the nervous system and promoting a sound night’s sleep. Its mild pain-relieving and muscle-relaxing properties can also offset any residual tension and strain from travel.

Herbal Teas as Travel Partners

Being mindful to reduce the factors that can cause typical travel symptoms is your best defense. As part of your prevention or rebalancing strategy, these natural herbal teas can act as your most reliable travel partner. So the next time you venture off, be sure to pack a few herbal teas along with your itinerary. And amidst your travels, follow Ayurveda’s ancient wisdom and schedule some time, however brief, to slow down and enjoy a cup of herbal tea.

Sources For Tea

(Steep the tea in your Libre Tea mug with reusable and removable tea strainer. Mention LA YOGA when you order a mug and receive a 20% discount: libretea.com.)

Teeccino Tee-Bags

Many of the challenging effects of travel can be quickly alleviated or amplified by the choices we make before, during and after our trip. One example is coffee intake, which when used excessively while traveling can exacerbate typical symptoms like dehydration, constipation and insomnia. On the other hand, substituting herbal tea for coffee can significantly reduce the length and severity of these travel symptoms.

If substituting herbal tea for coffee is too far of a leap (before you have even left!), then you may try Teeccino, an herbal coffee alternative. Made from carob, chicory, barley and a variety of other spices depending on the flavor, Teeccino provides all of the hearty, satisfying qualities of coffee without its stimulating, acidic and drying effects. In fact, the energy boost you may receive from Teeccino is from the naturally occurring nutrients of the high-quality ingredients, not from caffeine, and it not only helps reduce acidity, it contributes to restoring the body’s alkaline balance. Helpful for the convenience of travel, Teeccino is now available in one-serving tea bags – another way to travel with ease, using herbal coffee and teas! Teeccino.com.

Mary-Alice Quinn

Mary-Alice Quinn, CAS is dedicated to spreading the practical benefits of living an Ayurvedic life. She conducts her private practice in Los Angeles and is an instructor for the California College of Ayurveda. MaryAliceQuinn.com

The post Travel With Ease Using Herbal Teas appeared first on LA Yoga Magazine - Ayurveda & Health.