The universe has an infinite amount of energy. The four elements–water, earth, fire, and air are present all around you and bring about balance. Each element comes with its own set of qualities that are essential to our health and well-being.
WATER
Water is a purifier; it cools, lubricates, and nourishes the body. You simply cannot live without water! You should always drink enough water to stay hydrated. Your body uses water in all its cells, organs, and tissues to help regulate temperature and maintain other bodily functions. Because your body loses water through breathing, sweating, and digestion, it’s important to rehydrate by drinking fluids and eating foods that contain water.
You can experience the benefits of the water, whether it be an ocean, lake, river, swimming pool, or bathtub. Submerging your body in water can reduce pain and inflammation and also calm the nervous system, reducing the levels of stress and anxiety in the body and improving your mood.
Seniors, Blacks, and Hispanics are especially susceptible to dehydration. The elderly are among those most vulnerable to dehydration, according to doctors and hospitals. Stick to drinking about eight 8 oz cups of water per day to help keep your temple running smoothly!
EARTH
Grounding is a therapeutic technique that reconnects you to Mother Earth. Scientific research has explored grounding for over 15 years now with regards to inflammation, cardiovascular disease, muscle damage, chronic pain, and mood.
The earth has an infinite supply of free electrons, so when a person is grounded, those electrons naturally flow between the earth and the body. The reason grounding is so powerful is it reduces and prevents inflammation from occurring in the body, which in turn prevents inflammation-related health disorders.
The simplest and most natural method of grounding is to go outdoors and place your bare feet directly on the earth (a grassy knoll)—many people choose to go for a barefoot walk in the park or on the beach. It takes at least half an hour of exposure to access significant health benefits.
The first thing that happens when you’re grounded is that you’ll feel a discharge (that the electrical static on your body drains away). It makes you breathe easier—you just feel better. Other effects, like calmness, and increased blood flow, happen over time.
So get out there, free your feet and let them become one with the earth.
FIRE
Fire stands for light, the sun, and it is a healer. Scientifically, sunshine has a lot of benefits for our bodies.
One of the best (and easiest) ways to get vitamin D is by being outside. Our bodies produce vitamin D when exposed to sunlight—about 15 minutes in the sun a day is adequate. Vitamin D helps your body maintain calcium and prevents brittle, thin, or misshapen bones. Vitamin D is also critical for your immune system, and with consistent exposure to sunlight, you can help strengthen it.
Sunshine boosts your body’s level of serotonin, which is a chemical that improves your mood and helps you stay calm and focused.
A study that followed 30,000 Swedish women revealed that those who spent more time in the sun lived six months to two years longer than those with less sun exposure.
Of course, a little sunshine can go a long way (and too much is harmful to our skin). Depending on the shade of your skin, scientists estimate your body can produce vitamin D in about 5 to 30 minutes in the sun. If you’re wearing sunscreen, you may not produce as much vitamin D. If you’re outside for some much-needed vitamin D, don’t expose bare skin longer than 5 to 30 minutes.
AIR
Absolutely nothing beats stepping outside for fresh air; it can help you de-stress and improve your physical and mental wellbeing. Keep in mind, an open window isn’t quite the same as being outdoors.
Breathing in fresh air can replenish your body with positive attributes while you exhale the processed air. Oxygen is absolutely essential in maintaining healthy brain function, growth, and healing. In fact, the brain uses about three times as much oxygen for healthy neuron function as muscles do. The brain is extremely sensitive to decreases in oxygen levels. Therefore, when a person takes a walk outside, getting to breathe fresh outdoor air actually improves brain function.
Being outdoors, surrounded by nature, and breathing in the fresh air, increases energy by 90 percent. A 2018 study found that exposure to fresh air and nature reduces the risk of some diseases and ailments including, Type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, and even premature death.
Try standing in your backyard breathing in the air if it’s a nice crisp day, but you can also do this on your balcony, outside the office, or even better, in a park, a forest, or a trail outside the city.
