“Water, earth, air, fire”—if you’re a millennial, you might be reminiscing about “Avatar: The Last Airbender” when you read that. It was a simpler time when you would pick an element to “bend” and play-fight with your sibling in the living room. A little over 21 years after the show premiered, we’re now scrolling through social media seeing how the next Mercury Retrograde will affect each zodiac sign.
The concept of the mind-body-soul connection being tied to natural elements actually dates back to several ancient civilizations, with references in Greek, Chinese, and Indian philosophies.
Ayurvedic medicine, a form of traditional Indian healthcare, is one of the world’s oldest forms of medicine and incorporates natural elements. Ayurvedic philosophy is based on three doshas, or bio-energies, which are combinations of the five elements—fire, water, earth, air, and space. The three doshas are Vata (air and space), Pitta (fire and water), and Kapha (earth and water).
While everyone is thought to be a combination of the various doshas, it’s recommended to find the dosha you most align with and to try treatments that fill the elements you’re missing.
If you want to connect with the natural elements, there are several spiritual and wellness experiences in North Carolina you can treat yourself to for some much-needed self-care. Whether you’re a Pitta Scorpio looking to cool down or identify with Uncle Iroh and need some hot tea, there is a treatment for you.
Invigorate your soul with these fiery activities
Fire cupping can melt excess yang away for Pitta types
Whether you are coming out of your villain era and seeking a redemption arc like Zuko, or you are an adventurous Aries looking for a way to unwind, a session of fire cupping at Charlotte Sports Rehab can help you clear out the toxins from your body that are blocking you from reaching your full potential.
Cupping stems from an ancient Chinese practice that uses glass “cups” to create a “partial vacuum” that helps alleviate inflammation, fluid buildup, and blockages in your circulatory system. Fire cupping involves placing a lit torch inside the glass for a couple of seconds; the heat then creates a suction effect when the glass is placed on your body. This is the perfect treatment for Kapha people, as it will help stimulate your internal processes that have a tendency to be stagnant, while providing a warming sensation to your body that is prone to feeling cold.
Cupping also helps restore the Yin-Yang balance in the body by eliminating excess Yang, or heat. For that reason, this may counterintuitively also help soothe people who are Pitta.
Cherokee Bonfire Storytelling is a heartwarming spiritual experience
However, the initial sensation of heat may be uncomfortable for some Pitta people. If that’s you, or you enjoy sipping (and spilling) tea like Uncle Iroh, then participating in a Cherokee bonfire storytelling session in Cherokee, N.C., may just be the perfect spiritual experience.
Starting Jun. 29 and running through Oct. 1, people are invited to attend The Cherokee Bonfire Storytelling Series, which takes place every Friday and Saturday evening at 7 p.m. in Oconaluftee Island Park. While sitting by the bonfire, attendees hear regional storytellers share Cherokee folktales against the ambient sound of the Oconaluftee River cascading over rocks, and sometimes even get to watch traditional Cherokee dance performances.
Participants are encouraged to wear 17th-century attire and even get to eat roasted marshmallows after the session. It’s also the perfect event if your zodiac sign is Sagittarius, as it helps quench the sign’s thirst for immersive cultural experiences.
Wood-burning saunas fire up your body and soul
For Leos who want to get in touch with their inner desire for fire, enjoying a heated self-care experience at Baltic Sauna in Cary, N.C., will do just that. The “resort-style setting” has a fire pit, a Finnish-Baltic-style wood-burning sauna, and a cold shower. The sauna rooms come with a bucket of water and essential oils, allowing you to customize the humidity, temperature, and aroma.
This makes it a more Vata-friendly sauna, as other drier, electric-powered saunas could potentially dehydrate Vata-types. After your sauna treatment, you can order food at the gazebo area, or pay a fee to barbecue your own food in their new smoker.
If you’re Vata and are especially susceptible to a lack of hydration, then you may prefer getting the Abhyanga Massage at The Umstead Hotel & Spa in Cary, N.C. This massage and aromatherapy treatment uses a heated oil that addresses your specific needs and focuses on moisturizing dry skin. You can even book a room at the hotel to extend the spa date into a staycation retreat.
Replenish your body with water-based wellness
Getting into hot water isn’t always a bad thing
Waterbenders are known to be among the most resilient of the four nations, with the gritty yet empathetic Katara as an excellent representation of this. Having to stay strong and tough on the outside, while balancing your sense of compassion, can definitely warrant a day of self-care. That’s why you should visit Hot Springs, N.C., a town in Madison County that has the only natural source of carbonated, mineral-laden geothermal water in the state.
At Hot Springs Resort and Spa, you can reserve one of the hot tubs that source the naturally-heated mineral water for a couple of hours, or stay in one of their cabins overnight. The minerals in the water, such as magnesium, can help relieve sore muscles and alleviate certain skin conditions like psoriasis or eczema. Think of it like a topical application of essential minerals that you also need to ingest in your diet.
Soaking in geothermal mineral water is also known as balneotherapy, and Vata types can especially benefit from the practice. The Vata dosha consists of air and space elements, but lacks water and fire, making them prone to being cold and dehydrated. The heated water will warm their bodies up, while the minerals will restore hydration.
Cancers, known to be fluid and sensitive to their environment, like water in its liquid state, can especially benefit from indulging their love of comfort and self-care while spending quality time with loved ones. So text your family group chat and reserve a hot tub.
Unwind with an essential oil-infused steam room
Pisces is said to be like the vapor of the water signs—light-hearted with a free spirit. That’s why getting a head-to-toe steam treatment is the best way to heal your soul.
Those who are Kapha Dosha can also benefit from a steam treatment. While Kapha types do have elements of water, a light, warm mist can generate much-needed heat, which in turn energizes slower bodily processes and releases any tension that is keeping them stuck.
Rock Barn Country Club & Spa in Conover, N.C., has special day pass packages that include their “signature hydrotherapy circuit.” The essential oil-infused steam room is one of the highlights of the spa’s hydrotherapy services. You can also alternate with cold plunges, whirlpools, grottos, and a heated saltwater pool.
Your scalp also benefits from steam, which helps clear dead skin cells, promotes hair growth, and softens hair. That’s why it’s a good reason to book a Japanese head spa appointment at The Head Spa Sanctuary in Pineville, N.C. The process starts by scanning your scalp to customize your experience, then covering your head with a steaming cap before getting into the personalized treatment.
Take the (cold) plunge and calm your body
Scorpios are like the Atlantic Ocean—they appear calm and still on the surface, but these waters run deep. They are also a force that is to be reckoned with, and during moments that they are tested, Scorpios can transform into the choppy waves you see during a storm.
The sign is also compared to ice, acting very much like the frozen state of water. Beyond their cool exterior, they hold tremendous potential to transform. That’s why the perfect wellness treatment for Scorpios is the cold plunge, and there are multiple options around N.C.
Every February, Special Olympics North Carolina holds a polar plunge in the Outer Banks. Participants get to jump or run into the cold Atlantic Ocean water. According to Outer Banks This Week, cold plunges can boost the immune system, improve your mood, and help reduce muscle soreness from inflammation.
Pitta types can especially benefit from cold-water immersions, as they naturally tend to run hot and can subsequently experience skin inflammatory conditions such as rosacea and acne. So if you’re looking for another outdoor option that allows you to cool down during the spring and summer seasons, look no further than Midnight Hole in the Smoky Mountain area of N.C. The jade-hued lagoon is located within a waterfall off the Big Creek Trail and is the perfect place to take a cool dip.
If you identify with the intelligent, yet hot-headed Sokka of the Water Tribe, you will definitely benefit from a cold plunge, year-round, as well. Try one of the numerous SweatHouz locations across the state that offer contrast therapy (sauna and cold plunge), and a Vitamin C shower. You will strengthen your immune system while simultaneously walking out with a more even-toned, glowing complexion.
Ground your mind with these earthy experiences
Staying grounded isn’t always easy in the era of doomscrolling, distractions, and daydreaming. That’s especially the case if you’re a Pitta or Vata type that lacks aspects of the earth element. Luckily, there are several ways to become one with Mother Earth and get your head out of the clouds.
Hot stone treatments and views of the Blue Ridge Mountains can bring you back down to earth
Vatas tend to run cool and dry. A trip to the spa can help reset your body through hot stone massages and steam rooms. Grove Park Inn and Spa, in Asheville, N.C., is the perfect weekend getaway to help you reconnect with your roots.
The spa offers two hot stone massage options, including the Mountain-to-Sea Salt Stone Massage. Named after the iconic Mountain-to-Sea trail, the massage incorporates heated Himalayan salt stones, seaweed-infused oil, and an energizing aromatherapy blend. The oil will help moisturize the drier skin that Vata is prone to, and the minerals will infuse your body with the natural beauty of N.C.
There are other massages that will help keep you grounded, such as the Mountain View Massage that is set in an outdoor private “pagoda” and offers breathtaking views of the Blue Ridge Mountains, and the Head in the Clouds Massage that focuses on relieving stress in the upper body to “quiet the mind.”
Buying a day pass can be especially beneficial, as you can also enjoy all the other amenities, including the eucalyptus-infused steam room—a must for hydrating and warming Vata types. Known for being down-to-earth, Taurus is a sign that could also benefit from a spa weekend. Taureans are the ultimate comfort lovers who love pampering themselves with rejuvenating treatments.
So if you’re a Taurus, book a stay at Grove Park Inn and take advantage of the numerous self-care options.
Forest-bathing reconnects you with your roots
For Capricorns or Pitta types, disconnecting from technology and immersing yourself in nature is the best form of therapy. Enjoy the great outdoors by partaking in Shinrin-Yoku, a traditional Japanese practice that literally translates to “forest bathing.”
Jackson County, N.C., has two Certified Forest Therapy Trails that were reviewed by the Association of Nature & Forest Therapy—the traditional Pinnacle Park Trail and the all-accessible Jackson County Greenway. What sets these therapy trails apart from other numerous trails in the mountain region is that the intended goal isn’t hiking or strenuous physical activity. These trails offer rich soundscapes filled with melodic birds and gushing streams, sweet fragrances of wildflowers, and plenty of spots that are perfect for meditation.
It’s especially conducive to slowing down and becoming one with nature. If you’re new to forest-bathing, there are guided forest walks you can sign up for by emailing Debby, one of the certified forest consultants.
If you’re in Raleigh and looking for something in the area that doesn’t require travel plans, Dorthea Dix Park also offers free forest therapy sessions that help you unwind in the city.
For our frugal, yet hardworking Capricorns, we know the free part makes it an especially enticing lunch hour break that helps them let loose. The exposure to fresh air and earth can especially help ground a fiery Pitta that tends to have an abundance of fire and water. In fact, breathing in phytoncides, the chemicals that trees release, has been shown to help increase the production of your natural killer cells, rapid-response white blood cells that fight inflammation and stressed cells.
Forest bathing is the perfect wellness activity for those who identify with the GOAT earthbender Toph, as it activates all of your senses and sharpens your natural awareness.
Salt therapy grounds you and helps you let go of toxins
If you’re a Virgo who needs a break from the rigid structures that often rule your life, try booking a Salt Therapy Session at Native Salt Cave and Wellness in Wilmington, N.C. For 45 minutes, you get to sit on an anti-gravity chair in an indoor salt cave that actively disperses and circulates sodium chloride into the air through a Halogenerator.
According to the Cleveland Clinic, salt therapy can help the respiratory system by thinning out congestion and also help boost skin hydration. This is perfect for Virgos, the natural beauties of the zodiac, who love basking in a no-makeup day.
Refresh your senses with airy activities
Reverse the signs of aging with facial oxygen infusion
In our day-to-day lives, we often forget to take those deep breaths. This couldn’t be truer for the effervescent Pitta-types who are always on the go. Although you have the water element in your Dosha, the fire element often takes over and can deplete your skin of moisture.
The need for moisturization, coupled with the lack of the air element in your Dosha, makes you a perfect candidate for a HydroPeptide Oxygen Facial at Restore Hyper Wellness in Charlotte. The facial consists of a two-step oxygen infusion treatment that encourages skin cell turnover and calms inflammation, which reveals more youthful-looking skin. The HydroPeptide mask hydrates your skin and delivers powerful anti-aging peptides that reduce the appearance of wrinkles.
This is also the perfect pampering treatment for the ultimate beauty queen of the zodiac, Libra, whose sign “governs the skin.”
Stop and smell the jasmine-infused aromatherapy
Geminis are “the social butterflies of the zodiac” and, as a result, don’t always make time for an established self-care routine. If that’s you, put your love for spontaneity aside for an hour or two, and make sure to schedule some me-time with an aromatherapy appointment.
The Skratch Spa in Huntersville, N.C., offers a unique experience that involves gently “scratching” your body with brush-like tools while infusing the air with essential oils such as jasmine, eucalyptus, lemongrass, vanilla, sandalwood, etc. You can also add on additional aromatherapy services to customize your experience.
So you breathe in fragrances, and the practitioner scratches your back. Sounds like a win-win.
If you happen to be an Elon University staff or faculty member, you can schedule a 30-min session in the private Aromatherapy/Relaxation Room at the RN Ellington Health Center. The session starts with sitting in the massage chair and breathing in the month’s essential oil, dispersed throughout the room. There is even an essential oil expert who has researched the oils used in the room and can guide you on how to incorporate aromatherapy into your life.
Take a breather in fresh mountain air
Aquarians, the social justice seeker, are known to go off the beaten path and require a lot of personal space. Attending a “Micro-Retreat” by Namaste in Nature will help these fixed air signs unwind physically and mentally through meditation, hiking, and breathwork in fresh mountain air, with beautiful views of the Pisgah National Forest. According to the American Lung Association, deep breathing increases your oxygen levels as you expel accumulated carbon dioxide and inhale fresh, oxygen-rich air.
Kapha-types would also benefit from trying a “Micro-Retreat,” as they lack air and tend to have that feeling of being stuck in the mud, since the Dosha is made up of earth and water. Over time, consistent deep breathing at higher elevations can actually help boost oxygen levels in your blood. The air at higher elevations, like the Blue Ridge Mountains, is lower and results in your body releasing more EPO, which leads to an increase in red blood cell production.
With more red blood cells, you have more oxygen being transported throughout your bloodstream, and this, in turn, improves your cardiac fitness. This is especially crucial for Kapha-types who are prone to circulation issues and will overall feel like a weight has been lifted off their shoulders.
You can have it all with these multi-dimensional elemental experiences
Last but not least, if you always wanted to be like Aang the Avatar and immerse yourself in every element, then you’re someone who wants it all. The good news is that there are several experiences that let you reconnect with all aspects of nature. The North Carolina Zen Center in Pittsboro, N.C., holds four Sesshin (or Zen retreats) each year, which involve full-day schedules of Zazen (seated meditations), Kinhin (outdoor walking meditations), Dharma talks, yoga, and exercise.
Another retreat to check out is The Relaxation Retreat in the Blue Ridge Mountains, which provides experiences from all of the elements, such as solariums, cedar Finnish saunas with essential oils, pure copper soaking tubs, and a steam room with cold plunges.
The Grove Park Inn and Spa also hosts after-hours events at its spa, such as the upcoming one on May 19, which blends elements of fire with steam rooms and saunas. Another way to blend all the elements into one treatment is to get a Five Elements Acupuncture, which combines the Chinese classical elements of wood (the emergence of budding plants in early spring), fire (the plants in full bloom during late spring), earth (the harvest that comes during the summer), metal (the fallen leaves of autumn decomposing into minerals), and water (that holds the minerals until the next spring).
Acupuncturist James Whittle of Blue Ridge Clinic in Asheville has studied the Five Elements Acupuncture and has also been featured on NBC and the BBC. Booking an acupuncture appointment is a great way to connect with all of the elements holistically.
As the great Aang once said, “We’re all connected. Everything is connected,” to which his teacher, Guru Pathik, responsed, “Even the separation of the four elements is an illusion. If you open your mind, you will see that all the elements are one.”
North Carolina is full of nature-based wellness experiences and treatments that will help you become one with the elements and boost all aspects of your health—physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual. Now all you need to do is figure out which elements you need more of in your life, and then prepare your flying bison (or, realistically, your car) for the journey.
This article first appeared on Good Info News Wire and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.
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