The Building Blocks of Vitality (Woo Woo Version)

I taught a very outside-the-box, very woo-woo, and very thrilling (to me at least!) class yesterday called “Engaging With the Elements,”  at a boutique hotel.  The hotel management wanted to offer an outdoor class that required zero equipment and didn’t entail hiking or going too deeply into the woods, and was for all fitness levels. I said, “I’ve got you.”

As a devotee of Mother Nature, the only question was, Will anyone show up? (Thankfully they did…we had a sweet group of eight.) 

Class was barefoot, and took place creekside, on a patch of grass, on the hotel grounds. Luckily, the weather was near perfect. Here’s what we covered: 

Earth medicine is about grounding, stability, and strong & supple feet. We walked and stood barefoot noticing any and all sensations underfoot. We visualized being fortified by earth’s energy. I discussed the concept of “earthing” and how beneficial it is for the energetics of the body.

➡️ Earth workout tip: go barefoot

Water medicine is about flow, allowing, and hip health & mobility. We did hip circles and an open-eyed meditation, watching and listening to the water as it peacefully made its way down the creek. I discussed the healing benefits of drinking water, swimming in water, and moving like water, which is to allow instead of force. 

➡️ Water workout tip: move with flow

Fire medicine is about circulation, metabolism, and solar plexus region of the body. We did EFT tapping on the solar plexus. In silence, we sun gazed. Some of us had our eyes closed, some had our eyes open. It wasn’t sunrise/sunset time (which would have been more of a “show”) but, if there’s daylight, the sun it at our service. I discussing how the taking in the sun through our eyes and our skin, it taking in powerful information that can support our sleep/wake cycles. 

➡️ Fire workout tip: break a sweat 

Air medicine is about breath, energy, and the heart. We held a long standing back bend. We took a few moments to appreciate the fresh summer air, and did a few minutes of conscious breathing, all while standing barefoot by a creek (so dreamy!). I discussed how the word prana in Sanskrit means both breath and energy. 

➡️ Air workout tip: open the windows when you’re working out indoors

Between city living and indoor lifestyles, we are all, in varying degrees, elementally malnourished. Enough with the concrete jungle and its fake water, artificial air, and annoying light pollution 24/7! Let’s instead, engage with earth, water, fire and air. Let’s get truly “fed.” Mother Nature is nourishment. Her elements charge up/animate/power every cell in our bodies. Earth, water, fire, and air are actually the building blocks of vitality. Up your cosmic nutrients and get elemental.

P.S. And be sure to check out Four Elements Flow workout video on Let’s Move!