Winter time, the season of the Water Element
According the Traditional Chinese Medicine and the 5 Elements Theory, Winter is ruled by the Water Element. It is a time when living things are contracted with cold and nature seems to be at rest. Like a seed deep in the cold ground, Qi(vital force) is dormant, waiting for the time to sprout.
Water is the most powerful element for it can move around any obstacle in its path without losing its essential nature.
Water qualities are creativity, sensitivity, reflection, persuasion, effectiveness and desire for life and sex.
The emotion associated with water is fear.
When Water is in balance, fear is an emotion that direct us to remain alert and attentive to our surroundings and situation. It fill us with a sense of readiness and courage to face whatever situation might present itself.
When Water is out of balance, fear becomes an obstacle to movement. We are in survival mode of "flight or fight"but we feel so weak that even when we fight we know we are going to lose.
Physiologically, fear increases adrenalin production, which accelerates the heart rate; we begin to perspire, our muscles tighten, and we hold our breaths. These physical reactions feed our fear and creat a vicious cycle..
In TCM, water's body organs are the kidneys(yin organ) and urinary bladder(yang organ).
When Qi is weak, there can be problems with water metabolism, urination, fertility, or sexuality.
Water types may have a dispotion for urinary problems, bladder infections in women or prostate difficulties in men. Coffee drinking weakens the kidneys
Symptoms Associated With Imbalances in Water
Lower back pain—chronic or acute
Knee pain and weakness
Problems with urinary retention
Fatigue and shortness of breath
Vertigo or dizziness
Sexual problems, including lack of excitement, premature ejaculation, vaginal dryness
Anxiety and excessive fear
High blood pressure and/or occipital headaches
Inflexibility and resistance to change
Dark circles or pouches appear under the eyes
What to do:
-Practice self-acceptance. No need to overcome our fears, just learn to recognize and accept them and move on healthfully
-Nourishing food, rest, meditation, natural beauty
-Calm excercise which strengthens the spinal column and aligns posture
-Avoid overwork and make time and space each day to do nothing
-Spend time in water, drink lots of water, watch rivers, oceans, ponds, sea, keep a bowl of water in your house
Uttanasana=standing forward bend
Rest on your legs, they are strong and they are grounded; bow to mother Earth and feel safe there
Go within, your inner being that it comes closer to the surface in winter; feel your core
Feel the breath in your spine; breath in and feel the life force in your kidneys, breath out in your bladder, the reservoir that collects the impure water eliminated from kidneys.
caution: keep the knees bend