A Holiday Gift Guide Inspired by the Five Elements
Tap the power of the five elements to offer energetic harmony to everyone on your list.
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Just as balancing your doshas in Ayurveda can improve your health, having the right mix of the five elements—ether, air, fire, water, and earth—in your home can elevate how you live, says Kathleen Cox, a renowned expert of Vastu (an Indian system of design) and author of Space Matters. People with a lot of airy qualities, for instance, might benefit from a grounding, earthy gift that eases frenetic energy; fiery folks who work and play hard might love a dose of soothing water energy. With Cox’s expert advice, we gathered creative gift ideas for each element that can be offered as medicine for the spirit. Tap into intuition, harness intention, and surprise loved ones with these attentive offerings.
Ether
Mandala by Jamie Locke Art
Mandalas represent a sacred geometry designed to trigger a connection between the self and cosmic totality. Place Jamie Locke Art’s Invoke Mandala in any room and stare with abandon.
$375, jamielockeart.com
See also Mandalas and Meditations for Everyday Living
Tea Tumbler by Sacred Lotus Love
Help a loved one wake up and smell the oolong. The Sacred Lotus Love Tea Tumbler comes with a stainless-steel infuser and is made of double-walled glass, so no plastic chemicals interfere with cozy, morning tea ceremonies.
$30, sacredlotuslove.com
See also Rethink Hydration: 6 Myths About Drinking Water
Magnetic Sand Hourglass by MoMA Design Store
Find eternity in the grains of time with MoMA Design Store Magnetic Sand Hourglass. A hidden magnet at the base creates hypnotizing, stalagmitelike formations as you watch the minutes dissolve.
$20, store.moma.org
See also Elemental Yoga: An Airy Asana Sequence to Balance Kapha
Palo Santo by Skeem Design
Incense, with its ghostly upward pull, serves as the perfect reminder of the etheric realms. Infuse any room with the citrusy wood scent of Skeem Design’s Palo Santo.
$20–$30, skeemshop.com
See also Addressing Scent and Sensitivity in Class
Gold Lotus Teardrop Necklace by Satya Jewelry
Even the woman who has everything will appreciate the Satya Jewelry Gold Lotus Teardrop Necklace. The lotus signifies new beginnings and infinite potential, and gold is believed to connect you back to your true essence.
$139, satyajewelry.com
See also A Yogi’s Guide to Finding the Perfect Mala Beads
Buddha Meditation Bell by Sivana
Bells, always used in Hindu temples to awaken the deity, are also said to rouse your soul. Help a loved one get centered with the resonant Sivana Buddha Meditation Bell.
$39, sivanaspirit.com
See also Trend to Try: Sound Off Yoga
Speaker by Ultimate Ears
Wireless and delightfully compact, the Ultimate Ears Wonderboom speaker in lilac (a color signifying cosmic consciousness) will be music to someone’s ears.
$100, ultimateears.com
See also Wake Up and Flow: A 60-Minute Yoga Playlist to Slay the Day
Air
Nectar by Roy Barloga
For those in need of an instant lift, try Nectar Roy Barloga Dotted Feather Print Study 5, a photo printed on handmade Nepalese paper.
$90, shopnectar.com
See also Yoga Gifts $25 and Under
Big Art Set by Xonex
Get creative juices stirring with the Xonex Big Art Set.
$30, dickblick.com
See also Mary Beth LaRue’s Favorite Poses to Trigger Creative Thinking
Ylang 49 by Le Labo
Handcrafted Le Labo Ylang 49 will help a loved one leave wafts of intoxicating patchouli, sandalwood, and ylang ylang in her wake.
$180, lelabofragrances.com
See also Make Your Home Smell Like the Holidays with Essential Oils
Tetraxis bronze star by KO Sticks
The KO Sticks Tetraxis bronze star is a celestially inspired toy that folds and expands.
$24-$40, kosticks.com
See also The Holiday Meditation Gift Guide
Play House Art Blocks by Wee Gallery
Made from durable paper, the Wee Gallery Play House Art Blocks offer six combinations of interactive fun for babies and toddlers.
$19, weegallery.com
See also Good Morning Yoga: A 3-Minute Flow to Jumpstart Your Kids’ Day
Overnighter bag by Birdling
Perfect for the traveler on your list, the cotton Birdling Overnighter bag is spacious with plenty of pockets.
$175, birdling.com
See also 5 Trendy, Functional Yoga Bags for Class and Après
“Am I Blue” mobile by Mark Leary
Bring an airy quality to any room or practice space with the Hanging Mobile Gallery Mark Leary “Am I Blue” mobile.
See also A Room of One’s OM: Create Space for Home Practice
Fire
Heng Balance Lamp by MoMA Design Store
See the light with this clever MoMA Design Store Heng Balance Lamp, which turns on through wooden balls embedded with magnets.
$59, store.moma.org
See also Elemental Yoga: A Fire-Moving Yoga Practice for Pitta
Alchemy Fireplace Match Bottle by Skeem Design
Skeem Design Alchemy Fireplace Match Bottle has a strike-on-bottle design and is silk-screened with a vibrant take on the elemental symbol
for fire.
$44, skeemshop.com
See also Inclusivity Training: Power Up Your Third Chakra to Stoke Your Inner Fire and Strength
Cast-iron Fry Pan by Staub
Exceptional heat retention is one of the hallmarks of the cast-iron Staub Fry Pan, along with durability and rugged beauty.
$99–$199, food52.com
See also Cook a Holiday Feast: Ayurvedic Recipes and Flavors for the Season
Bamboo kids’ dinnerware by Love Mae
Made of eco-friendly material with entrancing tableaus, the five-piece Love Mae bamboo kids’ dinnerware in Forest Feast is a win-win for finicky kids and the planet.
$34, alpinemodern.com
See also Yoga for Kids
Salt Rock Candleholders by Hygge Life
Shine a light on a radiant friend with the Hygge Life Salt Rock Candleholders, which provide an almost molten glow.
$30–$140, hyggelife.com
See also 5 Self-Care Strategies to Outsmart Holiday Stress
Marigold Pillow by Block Shop
Infuse any room with a burst of warmth with a Block Shop Marigold Pillow, inspired by the late designer Alexander Girard’s stylized sun faces.
See also Cushion Comfort
Indian Spice Sampler by The Kitchen Imp
Help rekindle your near and dear’s agni—an Ayurvedic term for the fire of digestion—with The Kitchen Imp’s organic Indian Spice Sampler.
$20, thekitchenimp.com
See also 5 Healing Spices from Indian Cuisine to Put into Regular Rotation
Water
Yoga for Healthy Aging by Baxter Bell and Nina Zolotow
Help make a yogi’s practice sustainable—and lifelong—with the book Yoga for Healthy Aging by respected yoga teachers Baxter Bell and Nina Zolotow. With humor, insight, and maturity, they’ll guide you through a foundational program that’s easy to combine with other practices.
$25, shambhala.com
See also Study Up: The Best Yoga Videos and Books
Eau Good Glass water bottle by Box Appetit
Encourage hydration with the Box Appetit Eau Good Glass water bottle, which has a charcoal filter to remove tap water’s chemical aftertaste.
$35, alpinemodern.com
See also 4 Tips for Getting (and Staying) Hydrated Before and After Yoga Class
Mod Zafu by Halfmoon
In Vastu, the water element is associated with Shiva, the lord of meditation and yoga. For friends in need of an island of sanity amidst life’s constant churn, this Halfmoon Mod Zafu in shibori becomes the best seat in the house.
$90, shophalfmoon.com
See also Use Vastu To Create a More Soulful Home
Sea Glass Necklace by VivaTerra
The VivaTerra Sea Glass Necklace, with its delicate aquatic palette, becomes a touchstone for beachcombers and water babies alike.
$159, vivaterra.com
See also Homemade Sea Salts
Bath Bomb Gift Set by Beauty by Earth
Beauty By Earth Bath Bomb Gift Set will transform a bath into a sacred soak. Made from Dead Sea salts, organic butters, and essential oils, this fragrant set will defuse even the most harried.
$30, beautybyearth.com
See also Bathe in the Elements
Wooden Wave Stacking Puzzle by Imagination Kids
Handcrafted from sustainably harvested wood, the Imagination Kids Wooden Wave Stacking Puzzle offers a glimpse of the ocean for the landlocked.
See also Ocean Yoga Meditation
Cascading Tabletop Fountain by Serenity
Bring the soothing murmur of water into a home or office with the Serenity Health & Home Décor Sunnydaze Cascading Pyramid Copper Tabletop Fountain.
$209, serenityhealth.com
See also Bringing Happiness Home
Earth
Pocket book by Shambhala Publications
Shambhala Publications pocket books offer inspirational messages on every page to help ground you in the present moment.
$13, shambhala.com
See also Need a Good Read? Start with these Yoga Books
Herringbone Flag cutting board by American Heirloom
A tactile, fine-grained wooden cutting board like American Heirloom’s Herringbone Flag is rustic and enduring.
$38, aheirloom.com
See also Cooking from the Soul
Knit dolls by Blabla
Most kids have the intuitive sense that a stuffed animal can help them feel safe and grounded. Adorable Blabla knit dolls Machu the Alpaca and Hercule the Elephant work particularly well as down-to-earth spirit animals.
$58, blablakids.com
See also Child’s Play: Kickstart Your Imagination By Teaching Yoga To Kids
Zen Rock Triple Plant Terrarium by Buddha Groove
The stone, metal, and plant trifecta found in the Buddha Groove Zen Rock Triple Plant Terrarium brings an earthy quality to any room.
$36, buddhagroove.com
See also Elemental Yoga: An Earthy Sequence to Ground Vata
Corona gray/moss blanket by Lapuan Kankurit
Help a friend enjoy hygge (coziness) with a Lapuan Kankurit Corona gray/moss blanket that’s made from 100 percent lamb’s wool.
$125, alpinemodern.com
See also Comfort with Discomfort
Deeply Rooted Chai by Marble & Milkweed
Marble & Milkweed’s Deeply Rooted Chai is an organic blend of pu-erh tea, quality spices, and adaptogenic herbs (they enhance the ability to adapt to stress) like ginger, turmeric, and ashwagandha.
See also Chai Time
The Wooden Owl by Paul Anker Hansen
The Wooden Owl designed by Paul Anker Hansen has a magnetically revolving head and is a charming totem of the reservoir of wisdom that lives in each one of us.
$84, canoe.design
See also The Mudra You Need to Tap Into Your Inner Wisdom
See also The Connection Between Nature’s Five Elements and Yoga