What is Pancha?

In Sanskrit Pancha means 5 and is used when talking about the 5 elements pancha mahabhuta: akasha (ether), vayu (air), tejas (fire), jala (water) and prithvi (earth).

As I love to be outdoors amongst the elements, and my practice happens in and out of the water, I named my business after them! I hope to incorporate fire when I can too ;)

These 5 elements are believed to exist in everything in the universe, connecting us to all there is. Balancing these elements is believed to be the key to a healthy body and mind.

Within Buddhism and ancient yoga texts the number 5 has significance in many other discussions:

5 senses of knowledge (Gyan indriyas) - our five senses

5 Pranas (Pancha vayus) - the life force that passes through the Chakras

5 Koshas - the five layers of our being or self

5 Strengths (pancha bala) - faith, energy, mindfulness, concentration and wisdom

5 Precepts - these are refraining from taking life, refraining from taking what is not given, refraining from misuse of the senses, refraining from wrong speech and refraining from intoxicants that cloud the mind. These are in order to avoid causing suffering to others (and produce good karma)

Also, within some Buddhist practices there are 5 buddhas (each representing different qualities)