Five Element Qigong
Qigong originates from the observation of the Universe and of the natural world around us.
Qigong recognises that everything in the Universe is deeply connected and intertwined. We may look at ourselves and think we are separate from our outer world however this is simply not the case. For example, without external energy we could not survive, we need air to breathe, and we need to eat food that has been grown by the energy of the earth, sun, and water. These are two obvious examples of our connection with everything around us however many people can lose all sense of this intrinsic truth.
Regular qigong practice reconnects us with not only our bodies but also our deep and nurturing connection with the Universe around us.
​
The Five Element theory recognises that everything within the universe is made up of these five elements and that they all need to be in balance for nature to thrive.
​
Five Element Qigong applies this theory to our bodies as we come to understand these elements within ourselves and start to discover how bringing these elements into balance can greatly increase our overall sense of inner strength and wellbeing. When our bodies are in balance we experience less ill health as our immune system is strengthened by the open and balanced flow of energy through our body and major organs.
Each of the five elements is linked to both “form” and “formless” energies within our bodies. The “form” energy refers to our physical organs. Each element in associated with paired organs, one of which is seen as “yin” and the other “yang”.
​
The “formless energy” refers to the different emotions that are associated with these organs and the specific element. With regular Five Element Qigong practice and meditation not only are we optimising the physical health of our body but also our emotional sense of wellbeing and inner peace. Each of the elements is associated with different emotions some of which may be viewed as more positive to others. Within this practice we are exchanging our negative emotions for more positive and life supporting emotions.
The Metal element
The Metal element is associated with our Lungs (yin) and our large intestines (yang). The lungs are where your inner energy meets with your external energy and our respiratory and immune system are either strengthened or weakened depending on our emotional experience and how we breathe within this.
​
When considering the emotions that are associated with the metal element and the lungs our Five Element Practice seeks to exchange emotions of depression, sadness and grief with the more strengthening emotions of inspiration, courage and confidence.
Sadness, grief and depression are all part of our lives at one time or another as events happen that cause these emotions to be experienced however, if this emotional experience remains the same for a prolonged period of the time the individual is likely to experience problems with their immune and respiratory systems.
​
When we are feeling sadness, grief or depression we tend to become more hunched over physically and this causes our lungs to be less open and full, our breathing becomes shallow as we have less access to the deeper part of our lungs, the energy or lung “Qi” becomes stale as we no longer breathe with any depth. This can disrupt all the other systems of our body as healthy “Qi” is no longer able to circulate.
However, when we start to exchange these emotions with feelings of courage, confidence and inspiration, which are the emotions we need to experience to move ourselves away from sadness, depression or grief our posture immediately changes as our shoulders go back, we start to stand tall and hold our heads up higher. In this posture we start to breathe deeper and more fully allowing us to bring more life sustaining energy into our lungs, strengthening out immune and respiratory systems whilst clearing away stagnant and blocked energy.
​
Five Element Qigong practice combines stretches, activations, flows and standing postures. All these practices work together to help strengthen and encourage this process leaving us feeling more inspired and open with a stronger sense of courage and confidence within ourselves.
As you progress with this practice the use of colours, meditation and healing sounds are introduced. The healing sound helps to cleanse the lungs of stagnant energy and emotions whilst the mediations use of colour helps to tonify and strengthen the lungs and lung energy.
The Water Element
The water element is connected to the kidneys and bladder. The energy of the water element and kidneys runs deep within our body and its nature can be likened to the natural flow of water in nature which seeks to move downwards and deep. The kidney energy can be felt deep into our bones. The kidneys are closely linked to our endocrine system which produces hormones. When experiencing the fight, flight or freeze fear response the endocrine system is in part responsible for the stress hormones that flood your body at that time.
Many people around us are within this stress response a lot of the time which has a tremendous damaging impact on both our physical body, emotions and mind. We find it hard to relax and feel secure and we tighten up within ourselves. This can again be likened to water as this tension and tightness blocks the flow of energy, like water turning to ice within our bodies.
The kidneys themselves are very much the batteries of our body and they are the main organ in which jing energy lives. Jing energy is your physical essence, playing an important role in your physical and sexual vitality. When your kidney energy is strong within you feel vigorous and full of life force. If your kidney energy is low and out of balance you are likely to feel tiredness, fatigue and a low libido.
Within Five Element practice we are bringing in activations, stretches, flows and standing postures which help to melt the ice, clear away blockages and drop into a much more relaxed state both mentally and physically. We are exchanging emotions of fear and insecurity with the emotions of relaxation, tranquillity and a deep sense of security within ourselves. We begin to gain a deep knowing of who we are and feel at peace.
We are also charging up and tonifying our kidney energy leaving us energised and full of vitality.
Again, as you progress with this practice the use of colour, meditation and healing sounds are introduced.
The Wood Element
The Wood Element connects with our liver and ghoul bladder. Through Five Element Qigong we are strengthening and building the liver or wood energy with the intention of moving us out of a more survival orientated and selfish way of living. By exchanging the emotions of anger, jealousy, agitation and frustration with the emotions of kindness, creativity and generosity we naturally move into a more generous and giving state as we start to fully understand the abundance of life around us.
When we start to exchange anger and resentment for kindness or jealousy and frustration for generosity, we allow our minds to drop away from survival thinking and step into a much more creative space where inner vision can be harnessed, and dreams fulfilled. We understand that the universe is abundant and that nothing is limited.
When our wood energy is strong our liver and ghoul bladder function well. The wood element is also associated with our tendons, ligaments and nervous system so keeping our wood energy strong can also help prevent injuries and neurological disorders.
Again, as you progress with this practice the use of colour, meditation and healing sounds are introduced.
The Fire Element
The Fire Element is associated with 4 organs in the body, two yin and two yang organs. The heart (yin) is paired with the small intestine (yang) and the pericardium (yin) is paired with the triple warmer (yang).
The fire element includes our heart. Our hearts are very much seen to be the ruler of our emotions and within the five-element practice, we are balancing and strengthening our heart or “fire energy”. When the hearts energy is depleted we can start to experience more difficulty dealing with the energy around us, in particular others energy. We can become very drained and weak in our sense of self and sense of control. If our heart energy becomes excessive however we can also run into problems as we can become overwhelming to others in our need to connect. Someone with excess fire energy is likely to talk non-stop and present as very intense in their efforts to connect. Within Five element Qigong we are balancing this fire or heart energy to a point where can find a sense of balance and natural connection to everything around us.
When working with the heart energy within our qigong practice we are exchanging the emotions of hatred, impatience and anxiety with the emotions of joy, happiness, compassion, gratitude and love which we direct both to ourselves and to others. There is an infinite amount of love within our universe that, when our heart is opened and balanced, we have complete access to. This love energy is extremely healing and can be developed and shared in some many beautiful and very powerful ways.
The pericardium is known as the “hearts protector” and physically it is the sack that surrounds our heart. The pericardium, when strong, will protect the heart from the day-to-day negative emotions which we receive from others. It protects us from taking the energy of these emotions on as our own, which can really drain our overall energy and sense of feeling centred. When our pericardium energy is strong we can bring in the emotions we choose and ward off more negative emotions so that we remain in our own power throughout the day.
The pericardium is paired with the Triple burner and within Qigong this is referred to as the “invisible organ” that regulates the 3 main energy centres – the body, the heart and the mind. The triple burner when strong ensures that the head, heart and body are in balance and communicating well with each other. We feel balanced.
The Earth Element
The organs associated with the earth element are the Spleen (yin organ) and the stomach (yang organ)
​
When our earth energy is strong we are connected to the present moment and feel grounded and focused within ourselves. Our thinking is clear and our intuition is strengthened and more accessible.
We become very much more connected to ourselves as we harness our inner strength and power. When our earth energy is weak we can start to lose this sense of connection to ourselves and can begin to lose our sense of power and inner strength. This can lead us to start worrying and cause our thinking to become repetitive as we begin to ruminate on our perceived problems. The energy of the earth element is held within our central energy centre below our navel and if this energy is not grounded and strong it will rise upwards to our heart centre and mind causing increased anxiety and more chaotic, repetitive thinking. We can no longer think with clarity.
Within Five element practice we are strengthening our Earth energy through flows, meditations and the use of sounds and colour.