Ether is the first of the five elements of the universe as described by Ayurveda, a sister science of yoga. Ayurvedic teachings state that the universe is composed of five elements: ether, air, fire, water and earth. Ether is considered to be the most subtle of the five elements.  Ether is sometimes referred to as space because it is the space that the other elements fill. Ether has the properties of lightness, airiness and spirituality. It has also been equated by some with the concept of consciousness. Yoga practice can help increase one's awareness of ether.  The Sanskrit name for ether is akasha.

Earth  has rooted power. It symbolizes prosperity, fertility, stability, orderliness, groundedness, sustenance, creativity, physical abundance, nourishment, solidity, dependability, security, permanence, intuition, introspection, and wisdom. The season related to Earth is Winter and the associated direction is North. The element is symbolically represented by an inverted triangle with a horizontal line running through it.

Water is accorded cleansing power. It is symbolic of dreaming, healing, flowing, fluidity, purification, regeneration, stability, strength, change, fertility, devotion, receiving, and unconditional love. It symbolizes death as well as rebirth. It is life-giving, but can also be destructive. Fresh Water stands for life and good health, while polluted/stagnant Water is symbolic of bad health. It is associated with the Autumn season and the West direction. An inverted triangle is the symbolic representation of the Water element.

Fire is the first element that was born when the universe was created. Fire is attributed to transformational and purifying powers. It can give warmth and enable life, and it can also burn and destroy. In the spiritual plane, Fire stands for Light and in the physical plane, it is the Sun or Flame. The element symbolizes incredible energy, activity, creativity, passion, freedom, power, love, vision, anger, strength, will, assertiveness, courage, and dynamism. It is associated with the Summer season and its corresponding direction is South. The symbolic representation of Fire is a triangle pointing upwards.

Air is associated with the breath of life and attributed to cleansing power. Air symbolizes communication, intelligence, perception, knowledge, learning, thinking, imagination, creativity, harmony, and travel. This source of life can also, at times, become a force of terrible destruction. Air is associated with the Spring season and its corresponding direction is East. The Air symbol is an upright triangle with a horizontal line going through it.