Description

Yoga Synergy 5 ElementsSimon Borg Olivier & Bianca Machliss developed the Yoga Synergy sequences together, over a 20 year period. The Yoga Synergy sequences were named in honour of the pancha mahabhuta (5 Great Elements) of Hinduism and Ayurveda that are believed to make up all of creation, including the human body – which, upon death, dissolves into these five elements of nature, thereby balancing the cycle of nature set in motion by the creative force of the universe.Each of the five elements is associated with one of the five senses, and acts as the gross medium for the experience of sensations. According to Hindu thought, the basest element, Earth (prithvi, kshiti or bhūmi) was created using all the other elements and thus can be perceived by all five senses – hearing, touch, taste, smell, and sight. The next element, Water (aap or jala), has no odor but can be seen, tasted, heard, and felt. Next comes Fire (tejas or agni), which can be seen, heard and felt. Air (vaayu, marut or pavan ) can be heard and felt. Ether (akasha) is the medium of sound but is inaccessible to all other senses. Hindus believe that the universal creative force used akasha, the most “subtle” element, to create the other four traditional elements; each element created is in turn used to create the next, each less subtle than the last.EarthEarth is the first of the 5 sequences, and is usually practiced at the beginning of the year after the holiday season to firmly put our feet back on the ground. Summer is hot and the practice needs to be responsive to this by being calm and cooling. The intention with which we practice this sequence is to set the foundations for the year, to create a steady mind and regular practice, the beginning of the advancement towards a long-term, stable practice.