In this episode of “5 Minutes,” Dr. Robert Svoboda explores the water element and the importance of maintaining healthy circulation and movement within the body.

We are on location down by the river in the chilly early morning, so that with the help of the river we can discuss the water element in general and, in particular, the water element as it exists in your body, my body, and the bodies of all protoplasmic beings.

All protoplasmic beings, including you and me, are essentially water. When you become older and less springy, you move in the direction of being about 65 percent water. When you are younger and perhaps plumper, you may be closer to 75 percent water. The important point is that we are mainly water, which means that we need to circulate our water properly if we want to remain healthy.

Looking at a river, there are two important things to notice about water. First, water always moves downhill whenever it has the opportunity. In nature, water flows freely when it has a path downward. Inside the body, water also naturally tends to move downward, and the remarkable thing is that we have developed systems over hundreds of thousands of years of upright existence that allow water to circulate back upward.

When astronauts enter space and are temporarily free from Earth’s gravity, their heads and upper bodies begin to swell because the body’s normal circulation mechanisms depend upon gravity. We are constantly working against gravity, which is why movement is so important.

Even if you are not doing intense exercise every day, you need to walk. Walking is extremely valuable because the muscles of the body act as pumps, helping move blood, lymph, and other fluids back toward the central areas of the body where they can be properly circulated again.

Circulation is the most important consideration when thinking about water. The other important factor is stagnation. When there is too little water, when there is plenty of water but it is not moving properly, or when there is an excessive accumulation of water, stagnation can occur.

When stagnation happens, the body no longer resembles a clear flowing river. Instead, it becomes more like water that has collected leaves, sediment, and other material, allowing algae and other undesirable things to grow because they have become separated from the larger movement of the system.

If you wake up in the morning and are unsure what you should do with yourself, remember a beautiful river that you have spent time near and perhaps connected with. Bring that image of a peaceful, flowing river back into your awareness. Allow it to encourage you to move, to practice yoga, Tai Chi, or other forms of movement, and to go outside and walk, even when the weather is slightly uncomfortable.

Movement is essential. With your mind, remember that where your attention goes, your Prana follows. It is Prana that creates circulation throughout the organism. When your mind is in the proper state and encourages healthy movement and flow, you help facilitate the circulation of the water element within yourself.

Maintaining this flow is one of the most important things required to preserve health now and into the future.