The Elements in Yoga Practice

If you've been to a group yoga class, it's fairly likely you've heard things like "feel the earth beneath you," "flow like water," and so on. Yoga teachers like to incorporate the elements in their theming because it's both relatable and useful.

I do the same thing myself. Earth, air, fire, water, and space become these thematic elements where we can connect to ourselves in a deliberate way as we move and breathe.

Not too long ago, I started to feel like there was something missing in these elements. Now, I don't for a moment say that the traditional elements used in yoga (and indeed throughout many traditions) is wrong. But there was something incomplete about them. Every time I entreated the class to flow like water or to feel the air around and within them, I would wonder in the back of my mind what to say if in fact they were NOT connected to those elements.

The missing element was TIME. Sure, we can strive to feel the earth beneath us, but sometimes that's beyond our current capacity. But allow the element of time to enter the picture and everything changes. Say that I feel disconnected from the earth, and my yoga teacher tells me to feel myself grounded. If I can't do that, should I despair? Or should I remember that there is time, there is always time? If not now, then I can strive over time to become grounded and connected to the earth. If my movements are not graceful and flowing like water, perhaps I should allow myself the time to develop the skill and confidence in my practice so that one day I will flow.

Will I feel the fire of transformation in that first yoga pose? Maybe not. But give me some time and I can get there. My body feels clunky and stiff, with little space to move and a density of mind that is hard to get past. But add time and everything changes. I practice in the moment, but over a period of time. It's even there right in the Yoga Sutras!

स तु दीर्घकाल नैरन्तर्य सत्कारा असेवितो दृढभूमिः

When observed constantly with reverence for a long period of time, [yoga practice] is firmly established.

(https://www.yogapradipika.com/yoga-sutra-14#ixzz8YoKD0iP8)

So why would you ever be in a rush? You won't run out of time to practice. Your practice might look different over time, and that's absolutely fine. Give yourself the grace to develop your practice over time, and you will find that it becomes a richer and more meaningful practice than if you were rushing through.