Water: the element of fluidity
Water qualities are movement, flowing, connecting, exchanging, adaptability, power and feeling. The overt expression of water is movement. Its subtle expression is sensitivty. It is embodied in the technique of moving into, out of and between postures: ullola, namaskar and vinyasa.
The arena of water is the pelvis, its source the ball of the foot, its medium the bones, and its key the joints. It is cultivated and expressed by learning to move softly and fluidly into, out of and between different shapes (asana). It is supported by repetition, and expressed in synchronicity between breath and body movement.
The superficial application of water is to synchronise body movement with breathing. This unites body, breath and mind, by inviting breathing to support movement and movement to generate breathing. Its subtle application is sensitivity to sensation: on which every other aspect of yoga practice depends. Sensation is the wisdom of the body speaking. Deep sensitivity to sensation is necessary to access the wisdom of the body and establish action, movement and stillness in integrity.
Establishing water requires the application of sensitivity, the sign of its presence is its opposite, power. It allows the intellogence of the body to replace the intelligence of the mind as the guide and compass of yoga practice. Without water we will not be able to fully utilise stillness. It prepares muscles and joints for the deep potencyof the postures.
