Yoga of the Air - How you can gain new lightness through yoga
The elements of fire, water, earth, and air are the foundation of our being. Humans, animals, and plants receive valuable energy from them. Elemental yoga supports these nourishing and healing processes. Yoga blogger Sandra Buchwald describes which yoga practices are suitable and the contribution of Ayurvedic nutrition.
This article is about the yoga of air.
"I can barely breathe." Or, "It feels like everything is twice as difficult as usual." These are statements made when the lightness of the moment has vanished. Given all the problems 2022 has brought us, this is no surprise. Numerous restrictions have burdened us and made life difficult, literally.
Good to know: Yoga supports you in discovering and enjoying a new sense of lightness and freedom, a sense of carefreeness and ease. This blog post offers ideas on how you can shed restrictive and burdensome shackles through the yoga of air.
The element of air: the lightness of being
There is no movement without breath, and no breath without movement. The rise and fall of your chest and abdomen proves this to you. Every day. Every second. Through your breath, you supply yourself with vital oxygen, which travels through your blood vessels to every tiny corner of your body. Your mind and soul are also moved, nourished, and activated by the breath. Blockages are released. These are all good reasons why asanas and breath are inextricably linked in yoga. Yoga of Air utilizes this connection in a special way.
These yoga exercises make you light and free
Many people work at a desk all day, their upper bodies hunched forward. This is an example of how our natural breathing space can be restricted by everyday life or work. This one-sided posture shortens the chest muscles, and the upper back, as its counterpart, tends to weaken. Yoga, which serves the element of air, also offers valuable asanas that expand the chest area and give you the joyful experience of opening your heart both externally and internally.
Many of these "heart openers," as they are affectionately called by yoginis and yogis, are true classics among asanas. A typical example is the Cobra Pose (Bhujangasana). A well-known and popular asana from both the Sun Salutation (Surya Namaskar) and the traditional Rishikesh sequence, the Cobra Pose is representative of the many backbends found in Aerial Yoga.
An easier alternative to Cobra Pose is the Sphinx Pose, Salamba Bhuangasana. It's easy to perform even for beginners because the forearms are comfortably positioned on the mat. Even more comfortable is Heart Opening from a supine position. Roll vertebra by vertebra into Shoulder Bridge Pose (Setu Bandhasana). There, you can either support yourself with your upper arms and elbows or tie your hands underneath your body to intensify the bridge. Want more effective asanas? Fish Pose and Upward-Facing Dog are also classic backbends and heart openers!
Graceful and effective at the same time are two kneeling heart-opening poses you're surely familiar with: the deep lunge (Anjaneyasana) and the camel pose (Ushtrasana) – both of which are also great hip openers, by the way. If you prefer standing, the Warrior I or Sun Warrior poses are recommended. Both are also great to practice outdoors, so your yoga practice will be enriched with an extra dose of oxygen.
Yoga of the Air: Breathing is the be-all and end-all
Pranayama is an essential component of a yoga practice designed to promote the air element. Both the heart-opening asanas and the breath are perfect for creating a soothing space, a space filled with air, lightness, and freedom. Through backbends, we create the foundation for giving space to our feelings. Through conscious breathing, we connect to a life that, through lightness and permeability, offers precious treasures.
Be light and free – which yoga style suits you?
If you've read the examples of Air Yoga, you'll probably realize that Hatha Yoga provides a solid foundation for it as well. Whether elements from the Sun Salutation or the Warrior Poses, Hatha Yoga and the four elements are inextricably intertwined. The beauty of the Hatha style is the connection between air and earth. It is particularly healing because it recognizes that we need both: roots and wings.
Things get especially airy, however, when you devote yourself to Aerial Yoga. Wrapped in sturdy blankets, you practice yoga poses – completely independent of the laws of gravity. Free floating perfectly supports aerial yoga. Depending on your mood (and, of course, what the Aerial Yoga school offers), this light and airy form of yoga can also be complemented with elements from dance or acrobatics. You can express your feelings in a wonderfully creative way.
Backbends are also well-suited to Yin Yoga. The simplest asana: Place a bolster or folded blanket under your thoracic spine and open your heart space while lying on your back.
Activate the heart chakra
Inextricably linked: Air Yoga and the heart chakra (Anahata Chakra). When you expand your chest with the heart openers, you also stimulate your heart chakra. Located in the center of the chest, it is important for expressing our feelings. This makes us free and light. Try it!
Yoga of the Air and Ayurvedic Nutrition
Ayurveda connects the air element with the Vata constitutional type. This dosha needs a diet that provides calm and warmth. Lightness comes from anything that isn't burdensome and not difficult to digest. Soups and stews are ideal, but risotto is also good. Vegetables should be cooked. Carrots, sweet potatoes, and pumpkin are perfect. If you like sweet things, try warm porridge. Fruit is best made into compote or warmed up. Baked apples are a fragrant example.
Sufficiently warm liquid is important. Teas are especially beneficial. Good flavors that support the air element include vanilla, ginger, and basil.
Be light through meditation
