Yoga is very inspired by and connected to the elements of Nature: Earth, Water, Fire, Air and Space.

The Air Element in Yoga

This post will share yoga poses that really help you connect with the Air element, increase feelings of love, contentment and gratitude and open up the chest & shoulders.

❗You NEED more of this in your life if you work on a computer or use a smartphone.

Modern life and technology tends to round/hunch your shoulders and tilt your head/neck forward so it’s important for your posture to counteract that with shoulder/heart/chest opening movements. These postures can also help you breathe better/deeper and reduce or relieve tension in the neck and shoulder muscles.

Studies also show that you feel more confident when you have proper posture with your chest open, spine tall and shoulders relaxed.

Here are some simple ways for you to connect with the Air Element:

▶️ Try this easy, 10 Minute LovingKindness (Metta) Meditation

▶️ Learn How to Do Cloud Salutations (Video) in 5 Minutes to release heavy/negative energy and feel lighter

Explore my 5 Favorite Air Element (Heart/Chest/Shoulder Opening) Yoga Poses

▶️ Enjoy this 25 Minute Air Element Yoga Flow Video

Air is associated with the fourth chakra: Anahata or the heart Chakra. It is located in sternum. Air represents love, openness, freedom, mobility, positivity and intellect.

The sense most associated with the air element is touch.

The season most associated with the Air element is Autumn, but it’s good to keep in touch with all the elements year round.

10 Minute Metta (LovingKindness) Meditation

I had a pretty powerful experience the first time I practiced this meditation with Buddhist monks in Sri Lanka. This meditation is intended to reduce feelings of fear, anger and frustration by increasing feelings of love, kindness and gratitude.

How To Do Cloud Salutations

Lesser known then sun and moon salutations, the goal of cloud salutations is to move energy up, out and away from the body. Practice this gentle sequence any time you are feeling weighed down by heavy or negative energy like doubts, negative self-talk, regret, remorse, grief, anger, frustration, etc. I’ve found it to be a great way to process and even help release these energies and emotions, especially when visualizing the energy floating away from me like dark clouds.

5 Favorite Air Element (Heart/Chest/Shoulder Opening) Yoga Poses

1. Cobra Variation with Wide Arms (Bhujangasana)

Usually, your elbows are bent along side your body and hands underneath your shoulders for cobra pose. In this variation, tent your fingertips wide off either side of your mat and life the body up on the inhale. On each exhale, I like to alternate dipping each of my shoulders down to the mat.

1. Air Element Yoga Poses: Cobra Variation with Wide Arms (Bhujangasana)

2. Cobra Variation with Arms Behind Your Back (Bhujangasana)

In this variation of cobra, you interlace your hands behind your back and especially use your core and back muscles to life yourself up. This is a great shoulder opener to counter all the forward hunching we do in front of our phone and computer screens.

2. Air Element Yoga Poses: Cobra Variation with Arms Behind Your Back (Bhujangasana)

3. Heart Opening Crescent High Lunge (Ashta Chandrasana)

Again, we’re opening up space in the chest and shoulders but in a standing position so you can lean further back into a bit of a backbend. Your clasped hands are reaching towards the Earth. Imagine your heart shining bright in this posture.

3. Air Element Yoga Poses Heart Opening Crescent High Lunge (Ashta Chandrasana)

4. Humble Warrior (Baddha Virabhadrasana)

This pose (also sometimes called Devotional Warrior) flows nicely after the heart opening high crescent lunge. It’s going to require some balance as you lean the torso forward towards the inside of your forward leg. Try to keep your hands clasped and raise them up towards the Sky. Bowing is a symbol of respect, devotion, love, gratitude and humbleness- hence the name. Imagine you are humbly bowing to all of Nature/God/Universe without which you wouldn’t exist.

4. Air Element Yoga Poses Humble Warrior (Baddha Virabhadrasana)

5. Dancer Pose (Nataranjasana)

You may also have heard this called Lord of the Dance Pose. You’re getting a little bit of everything here: balance, stability, back bending and heart/chest opening. Plus you’re creating space for the air element to flow through and around you.

Balance on one leg and find your foot with your hand. Lift the other arm as a counter balance.

Find a non-moving object to focus on (aka Drishti or Yogic Gaze) to help you stay up. Push your foot into your hand and slowly, mindfully lean forward.

If you find balancing postures challenging, practice this with your hand on a wall or tree for extra support.

5. Air Element Yoga Poses Dancer Pose (Nataranjasana)

25 Minute Air Element Yoga Flow Video

This freeing, 25-minute Yoga Flow is great for yogis wanting to connect with the Air element. We’ll start with a meta (loving kindness) meditation follow by anumloa viloma, a balancing breathing exercise (pranayama), then flow through some traditional Hatha asanas (poses) and sun salutations that will open the heart and the chest.

You ARE the Air Element!

We all need air to live. Even if we have nothing else in common with someone, we still breathe the same air.

Focusing on the breath flowing in & out of your nose, mouth and lungs will connect you with the Air Element.

Air Element Health Challenge

Practice breath awareness indoors and then practice it again outdoors. Notice the difference. How is the texture, temperature, taste and smell of the air different outdoors vs. indoors.

Namaste & Have A Great Day!

💖 Miranda