Air

Vayu: The Air Element

Air (Vayu) in Ayurveda is one of the five Panchamahabhutas. Associated with skin and touch, it governs movement and energy in the body. When balanced, it promotes happiness and excitement; when imbalanced, it can lead to anxiety and fear. Key organs involved include the lungs, brain, muscles, and intestines. When the qualities of air are dominant in a substance, it is classified as vayavya.

What is Vayu?

Air is a loose translation of the term Vayu. On a conceptual level, Vayu is the Panchamahabhuta and encompasses all of space, air, fire, water, and earth. For ease of communication, we're using the simplified translation of Vayu as air.³

Key Associations

• Organ associated: Skin¹
• Sense associated: Touch¹

💨 One of the distinguishing characteristics of the air element is that it has a feel or touch.

Effects of the Air Element¹

When we increase our intake of air element-rich items, we experience:

• Roughness
• Repulsion
• Motion
• Energy

Bodily Connections¹

Air moves through the body and primarily involves the following organs:

• 🫁 Lungs
• 🧠 Brain
• 💪 Muscles
• 🔄 Intestines

Emotional Aspects¹

The air element is associated with various emotions:

• 😊 Happiness
• 🤩 Excitement
• 😨 Fear
• 😰 Anxiety
• 😟 Insecurity²
• 😬 Nervousness²

References:

1. Dr. Suhas Kshirsagar - Ayurveda - Ancient wisdom for a Modern Lifestyle
2. Dr. Vasant D. Lad - The Complete Book of Ayurvedic Home Remedies - Part 1
3. School of Ayurveda and Panchkarma - Lectures and Notes