Five Elements - Element of Metal

Yin Yoga + Acupuncture Workshop

Autumn is the season of Metal — a time to let go.

In Traditional Chinese Medicine, the Five Elements — Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal and Water — offer a way of understanding the changing rhythms of nature and ourselves.

Metal is the energy of Autumn.

As nature begins to turn inward, trees shed their leaves and the days shorten. It is a natural time for us, too, to consider what we are ready to release — physically, mentally and emotionally — and what we want to carry with us into Winter.

But letting go isn't always easy.

Emotionally, Metal is associated with grief, loss and our sense of self-worth. Mentally, Metal brings clarity, discernment and an appreciation of order. When out of balance, those same qualities can become rigidity, perfectionism or a tendency to hold on too tightly.

Where might you be holding on when it is time to let go?

This two-and-a-half-hour workshop with Lucia O’Byrne and Susan Ní Dhubhlaoich offers an opportunity to slow down, breathe deeply and explore the qualities of Metal through Traditional Chinese Medicine, acupuncture and Yin Yoga.

Together we will explore:

• An introduction to Five Elements Theory and the energy of Metal
• The Metal personality — its strengths, challenges and signs of imbalance
• Breathwork to nourish and support Lung Qi
• An acupuncture experience focused on the Lung and Large Intestine meridians
• A deeply grounding Yin Yoga practice designed around the Metal meridian pathways

Yin Yoga and acupuncture work with the body's energetic pathways — the meridians — supporting the smooth flow of Qi and inviting greater balance between Yin and Yang.

Expect a quiet, nourishing afternoon designed to help you slow down, create space and let go of what you no longer need.

Saturday 7 November
2pm–4.30pm
€55

About Lucia O'Byrne

Lucia is the founder of Aspire Health, a holistic health practice dedicated to supporting wellbeing through integrative therapies.

After taking a career break from a busy career in IT, Lucia entered the world of integrative medicine and never looked back. She holds a degree in Acupuncture and has also trained in yoga, reflexology, Swedish massage and other holistic therapies.

Lucia completed her clinical acupuncture studies at Shanghai Sixth People's Hospital, affiliated with Shanghai Jiao Tong University. She worked for many years across holistic centres, hospitals and addiction services before establishing Aspire Health in 2006.

About Susan Ní Dhubhlaoich

Susan is co-founder and senior teacher at Mandala Yoga, a welcoming, community-centred yoga studio in Dublin 2.

Susan has practised yoga for more than 16 years and completed her first teaching certification in 2009. She has since trained extensively across a range of yoga traditions and has been teaching Yin Yoga since 2014, following training with a number of international Yin Yoga and meditation teachers.

Susan is also a qualified massage therapist and travelled and taught extensively overseas before co-founding Mandala Yoga in 2018.

What is Yin Yoga?

Yin Yoga draws on the ancient Chinese philosophy of Daoism and the relationship between Yin and Yang — complementary forces such as stillness and movement, darkness and light, rest and activity.

In Yin Yoga, poses are typically held for several minutes, creating gentle, sustained stress through the body's connective tissues and the energetic pathways associated with Traditional Chinese Medicine.

The practice is slow, quiet and deeply meditative, offering an opportunity to turn inward, release tension and settle the nervous system.

What is Acupuncture?

Acupuncture is a practice within Traditional Chinese Medicine in which very fine needles are placed at specific points on the body.

From a TCM perspective, these points are used to influence the movement of Qi through the body's meridian system and support greater balance. Acupuncture is commonly used as part of an approach to pain, stress management and general wellbeing.