“Yoga takes you into the present moment. The only place where life exists.“

– Patañjali

Astro Yoga can be based on two methods:

  • The first is to do yoga that reflects the timing of the planets and the seasons in the current moment. For example, when there is a new Moon in the sky we focus on new postures, when it is evening time – you cool down your body by doing Moon Salutation, when the planet Mercury is going retrograde – it is encouraged to discuss with participants what they have improved and what they want to change .
  • The second AstroYoga method is to perform yogic practices according to your personal astrological chart (Your Sun, Moon, Mars sign or even ascendent) and maybe add planetary transits (planet movements in the current sky). AstroYoga classes is based on specific zodiac sign and concentrates on that body part and system which is related to it. At the same time, it pays attention to the chakra that is associated with that zodiac sign character and body part.
  • And of course, we can add same crystals, related to the chakra which we are working on or choose any crystal intuitively.

In essence, the zodiac signs relate to various body parts and systems; the planets relate to the chakras, while the Sun and Moon relate to the Nadis (channels or flow which help to bring energy to the organs and part of the body that eliminate toxins and waist).

“Look at the stars… It helps you to remember that you and your problems are both infinitesimally small and conversely, that you are a piece of an amazing and vast universe.”

– Kate Bartolotta

Cardinal Sign: Aries

Ruling Planet: Mars

3 Chakra: Solar Plexus

Element: Fire

Symbolized – Yellow lotus with ten petals and by a ram (male sheep), which stands for assertiveness and energy.

Body Associations: Head, Face, Blood, Brain, Muscular system, adrenalin, glands
Key Phrase: “I am”
Motivations: Survival and Independence
Energy:  Masculine
Day: Tuesday
Mantra: RAM

Crystals which related to solar chakra are: Tiger eye, Citrine, Chrysoprase, Aventurine.

Question: How are you holding your head in your daily yoga? How do you feel when your heart is above your head or head is above your heart? Do you place your heart forward when you do forward bend?

Fix Sign: Taurus

Ruling Planet: Venera

1 Chakra: Root

Element: Earth sign

Symbolized – Red lotus with four petals and by elephant with 7 trunks, which stands for stability and solidarity.

Body Associations: throat, vocal cords, tonsils, and thyroid, ears, cervical vertebrae, metabolic system
Key Phrase: “I establish”
Motivations: Security and Consistency
Energy:  Feminine
Day:  Friday
Mantra: LAM

Crystals which related to root chakra are: Obsidians, Hematite, Dalmatian Jasper

Question: Do you keep your neck long in your practice? Is either the throat more open with the head tilted back? Where do you set your gaze in your practice? How do you feel when your chin is tucked to the chest.

Mutable Sign: Gemini

Ruling Planet: Mercury

5 Chakra: Throat

Element: Air

Symbolized – Light blue lotus with sixteen petals and by white elephant which stand for right understanding and discrimination

Body Associations: arms, shoulders, lungs, hands, nerves, the nervous system, upper ribs, breath, bronchi, capillaries, oxygenation of blood
Key Phrase: “I communicate”
Motivations: Learning and Interacting
Energy:  Masculine
Day: Wednesday
Mantra: HAM

Crystals which related to Throat chakra are: Amazonite, Angelite, Lapis Lazul, Sadolite, Blue opal

Question: What do you enjoy about weight bearing on your arms? What do you find challenging about it? How do you hold your shoulders as you move through practice?

Cardinal Sign: Cancer

Ruling Planet: Moon

2 Chakra: Sacral

Element: Water

Symbolized – Orange lotus with sex petals and by a crocodile which stands for the subterranean movement of the karmas

Body Associations: chest, breasts, nipples, stomach, esophagus, diaphragm, pancreas, serum of blood, gastric fluid
Key Phrase: “I Care”
Motivations: Healing and Nurturing
Energy:  Feminine
Day:  Monday
Mantra: VAM

Crystals which related to sacral chakra are: Agates, Desert rose, Green fluorite, Bronzite

Question: How do you feel in forward fold or backbend? Do you prefer sustained holds in postures or moving in and out on the breath?

Fix Sign: Leo

Ruling Planet: Sun

3 Chakra: Solar plexus

Element: Fire

Symbolized – Yellow lotus with ten petals and by a ram (male sheep), which stands for assertiveness and energy.

Body Associations: heart, spinal cord, upper back, aorta, vena cava, thymus
Key Phrase: “I shine”
Motivations: Performing and Leading
Energy:  Masculine
Day:  Sunday
Mantra: RAM

Crystals which related to solar chakra are: Tiger eye, Citrine, Chrysoprase, Aventurine, Pyrite, Rutilated quartz

Question: How does your upper back feel during forward folds and backbend? Do you prefer rigorous practice or easeful practice?

Mutable Sign: Virgo

Ruling Planet: Mercury or Eris

5 Chakra: Throat

Element: Earth

Symbolized – Light blue lotus with sixteen petals and by white elephant which stand for right understanding and discrimination

Body Associations: Abdomen, intestines, lower liver, alimentary canal, spleen, thymus secretions, pancreas
Key Phrase: “I serve”
Motivations: Maintaining and Fixing
Energy:  Feminine
Day:  Wednesday
Mantra: HAM

Crystals which related to throat chakra are: Lapis Lazul, Angelite, Blue Opal, Sadolite, Labrador, Amazonite

Question: How particular are you in your practice? What benefits or limitations does your approach offer you? How do you feel when you twist? Do you leave space in twists for spinal length and breath?

Cardinal Sign: Libra

Ruling Planet: (Venera) or Pluton

4 Chakra: Heart

Element: Air

Symbolized – Green lotus with twelve petals and by an antelope which stands for alertness and compassion.

Body Associations: digestive tract and the low belly, lower back, skin, external sexual organs, bladder, kidney, ovaries, medulla, blood
Key Phrase: “I balance”
Motivations: Balancing and Analysing
Energy:  Masculine
Day:  Friday
Mantra: Yam

Crystals which related to solar Heart are: Green Aventurine, Rose Quartz, Rhodonite, Ruby Fuchsite, Jade, Malachite

Question: How do you find balance in your yoga practice? Do you maintain a long, curvaceous spine in your asana practice, or does it shift as you change postures? If there are shifts, where do they occur? How does your spine feel after a yoga practice?

Fix Sign: Scorpion

Ruling Planet: (Pluton) or Neptune

6 Chakra: 3 Eye

Element: Water

Symbolized – Dark blue lotus with two petals

Body Associations: Genitals, colon, sex organs, gall bladder, rectum, urogenital system, pubic bone
Key Phrase: “I transform”
Motivations:  Regenerating and Penetrating
Energy: Feminine
Day:  Tuesday
Mantra: OM

Crystals which related to 3 eye chakra are: Amethyst, Lapis Lazuli, Unakite, Honey Calcite, Brecciated Jasper, Fluorite, Scolecite

Question: Do you prefer stable, sustained postures or dynamic motion? Why? As you practice yoga, how connected do you stay to the earth and to your root chakra? How do you feel when you close your eyes while you are practicing any yoga poses?

Mutable Sign: Sagittarius

Ruling Planet: (Jupiter) or Uranus

2 Chakra: Sacral

Element: Fire

Symbolized – Orange lotus with sex petals and by a crocodile which stands for the subterranean movement of the karmas

Body Associations: Hips, Thighs, Sciatic nerves, Lower spine, liver, autonomic nervous system, sacral region, pelvis
Key Phrase: “I master”
Motivations:  Experiencing and Exploring
Energy:  Masculine
Day:  Thursday
Mantra: VAM

Crystals which related to sacral chakra are: Agate, Green fluorite, Bronzite, Desert Rose, Aventurine

Question: How do you feel in twisting positions? What postures in your asana practice make you feel most aware of your connection to higher consciousness? What is your relationship to hip opener exercises?

Cardinal Sign: Capricorn

Ruling Planet: Saturn

1 Chakra: Root

Element: Earth

Symbolized – Red lotus with four petals and by elephant with 7 trunks, which stands for stability and solidarity.

Body Associations:  knees, joints, skeletal system, teeth
Key Phrase: “I achieve”
Motivations:  Producing and Succeeding
Energy: Feminine
Day:  Saturday
Mantra: LAM

Crystals which related to root chakra are: Lava, Hematite, Obsidian, Shungite, Snowflake obsidian, Smoky Quartz, Orthoceras Fossils.

Question: Do you tend to lock your knees in postures, or to keep a bend in the knees? How much consideration do you give to alignment? To what extent does this help or hinder you?

Fix Sign: Aquarius

Ruling Planet: (Uranus) or Jupiter

4 Chakra:  Heart

Element: Air

Symbolized – Green lotus with twelve petals and by an antelope which stands for alertness and compassion.

Body Associations: ankles and circulatory system, lower legs, calves, electrical impulse of the nerves, elimination, circulatory system
Key Phrase: “I socialize”
Motivations:  Networking and Envisioning
Energy:  Masculine
Day:  Saturday
Mantra: YAM

Crystals which related to heart chakra are: Green Aventurine, Rose Quartz, Rhodonite, Ruby Fuchsite, Jade, Malachite, Pink opal, Chrysocolla

Question: How does it feel to stand on one foot? Do you have a preferred side for balancing? How do you feel in standing and seated postures?

Mutable Sign: Pisces

Ruling Planet: (Neptune) or Ceres

7 Chakra: Crown

Element: Water

Symbolized – Violet or white lotus with thousand petals

Body Associations: feet, toes, lymphatic system, all bodily fluids
Key Phrase: “I imagine”
Motivations:  Dreaming and Spiritualizing
Energy:  Feminine
Day:  Thursday
Mantra: none

Crystals which related to crown chakra are: Serpentine, Moonstone, , Transparent quartz, Apophyllite, Howlite, Selenite, Quartz Geode, Celestobarite, Amethyst

Question: What is your relationship with your feet in yoga practice? Do you ground the blades of your feet and lift your arches in standing postures? How do your feet interact with each posture that you perform?

Planets in Harmony

The Relationship Between Chakras and Planets

There are seven planets that rule us. They are Sun, Moon, Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn. There are seven chakras in our body that balance our spiritual, mental and physical aspects. The relationship between the chakras and planets is that the seven planets govern the seven chakras in our body.
Chakras are the centres of energy in our body. They run from the base of the spine to the crown of the head. The word Chakra means “wheel” in the Sanskrit language. The chakras are located in the centre of a network of nerves called plexus. These chakras are also responsible for keeping us spiritually, mentally and physically balanced.
All the seven chakras should be aligned for one to stay happy and healthy. Different chakras relate to different aspects of your life. Every chakra also relates to specific functions carried out by your body. When there is no balance in the chakras, one may not face major consequences. The chakras and planets in astrology have a significant relationship. One of the seven planets rule each chakra. As a result, every chakra displays the nature of its ruling planet.

Root Chakra
ruled by Saturn

The first chakra is at the base of the spinal cord. It is the foundation of our entire system, the building block on which all other chakras rest. It governs the material world and our earthly concerns, like our physical bodies, our health, survival, resources, sustenance, and our ability to focus and manifest our needs. The essential task of the Root Chakra is to establish and maintaining stability and security.

The Root Chakra is ruled by Saturn. Saturnian energy is cautious, disciplined, security-oriented, and practical. Saturn is slow, methodical, plodding, and patient. Saturn knows that self-discipline, realism, and consistency over time— no matter how boring and tedious— are what brings success. Saturn is the ultimate focuser of the will, as it is the function by which ideas and dreams are manifested into concrete reality.

Sacral Chakra
ruled by Moon

The Second Chakra is located between the groin and pelvis, and it governs desire, pleasure, sexuality, instincts, passions, and your ability to “flow”, respond and surrender. The second chakra is the seat of pleasure, and thus is the seat of personal power, creativity, and your ability to relate to and connect with others. The essential function of the Sacral Chakra is self-love, self-honoring, and instinctive bonding or relating.

Your Sacral Chakra is ruled by the Moon. Lunar energy is reactive, responsive, instinctive, and unconscious. The Moon holds the secret to our conditioned responses, acquired in childhood, and our emotional habit patterns, as well as what kind of energy we spontaneously bring to the ebb and flow of life, including to our relationships. The energy of the Moon is “automatic”. Your emotions and affections are not things you consciously design; they just are what they are.

The Moon represents what makes you feel like you to yourself, and your natural style of connecting to other people. Integrated lunar energy means that we have an inner sense of worthiness because we feel our inborn right to feel however we feel. It also means we have healthy self-esteem and the ability to view ourselves positively. We can react spontaneously and honour our emotional reactions without repressing, hiding, or judging them, and in general, relate to others with balance and authenticity.

Solar Plexus Chakra
ruled by Mars

The Third Chakra is located right below the lungs in front of the diaphragm. This Chakra governs your sense of identity and your ability to assert yourself in the outer world. The key activities of this Chakra are making choices and taking action. In this Chakra, your tastes and preferences are translated into decisions, plans, and manifested activity as you move toward what you want and claim it for yourself.

The Solar Plexus Chakra is ruled by Mars. Mars’ energy is self-assertive, bold, courageous, energized, and ego-centric (in both good and bad ways). Through Mars, we feel our uniqueness and our own specialness, and we claim the territory that we want for ourselves. Mars is self-empowered and follows decision through with concrete action.

Heart Chakra
ruled by Venus

The Fourth Chakra is located within the region of the heart and governs our ability to freely give and receive unconditional love. Here we transcend the ego and learn the secrets of integration, which necessarily involve the abilities of acceptance, forgiveness, tolerance, and compassion. Here we learn the kind of non-egoic love, which does not need or ask anything in return, and even will take on great personal sacrifice or burden for the good of a loved person or cause.

The Heart Chakra is known as the “gateway” because it is the border between the lower Chakras, which are more bodily and ego-centric, and the higher Chakras which are more spiritual and involve awareness of all creation as One being. The task of the Heart Chakra is integration or acquiring wholeness within the personality. It is where we digest our experiences from the outer world—both good and bad— and work toward finding emotional peace with ourselves and others.

Your Heart Chakra is ruled by Venus. Venus’ energy is warm, radiant, tolerant, fun-loving, generous, attractive, attracted, and kind. Venus is open-hearted and rules the functions of passion, love, and attraction. Venus is the force that draws us all together and connects the human race.

Throat Chakra
ruled by Mercury

Your Throat Chakra is the centre of self-expression and the formulation of ideas, opinions, and personal truth. It is located at the centre of your throat. This Chakra is the seat of our ability to authentically communicate to others, and even to ourselves.

The Throat Chakra rules the lymphatic system and the thyroid, organs responsible for processes of purification in the body, and it also governs these processes on the emotional and mental level. The Throat Chakra helps you “purify” the data of life, by sorting out what is true from what is not, and eventually distilling your own personal truth. The Throat Chakra shows our ability to express this truth to others, as well as the ability to listen to and receive the truths of others.

Your Throat Chakra is ruled by Mercury. Mercury is the planet of writing, speaking, communication, and technology. Mercury is verbal and brings the ability to synthesize information into clear statements. Talking is actually a form of thinking; there is a reason that many people have to make use of a journal before they even know their own opinions and feelings. Activities like journaling, therapy, deep conversation, and expression through art help us discover our personal truth being by organizing and giving form to what had been abstract, disorganized, and inchoate.

Eye Chakra
ruled by The Sun

The Third Eye Chakra governs sight— both “inner” and “outer”. The Third Eye rules faculties of perception and how you “see” the world. This is, of course, are highly coloured by the lenses of your values, morals, spiritual ideals, and imagination.

This Chakra governs your ability to “see the bigger picture”, find “insight” int your life, and apprehend the deeper meaning of events. The Third Eye is the seat of intuition, our most trustworthy (and sometimes sole) guide for seeing our way through difficult situations, and it also is where we form the inner images that are the blueprints for shaping our reality. Here in the mental planes, we are not constrained by time or space, or even the formation of language, and we can dream of the life that we wish to have— a necessary prerequisite for attaining it. Your Third Eye is the seat of imagination, where you envision all that you want for yourself.

The Third Eye Chakra is ruled by the Sun. The Sun indicates the essential quality of your unique spirit and the basic inner force that motivates everything you do. The Sun gives us our sense of individuality and our essential values, mainly through revealing what brings us JOY. Solar energy indicates the fundamental quality of your consciousness and what is most important to you. Solar energy, of course, shines! When you are really “in the flow state” you are freely channelling the Sun, because you have come into total alignment with your truest Self.

Crown Chakra
ruled by Jupiter

The Crown Chakra is the portal between the individual and the Universal. On the level of the Crown Chakra, all is One. Here is where we receive illumination, revelation, understanding, ecstatic religious experience, and states of bliss. Through this Chakra, we receive information from higher planes and can access divine intelligence. We acquire a multi-dimensional perspective of ourselves and creation. This is the seat of what is called “enlightenment” or super consciousness.

The Crown Chakra is ruled by Jupiter. Jupiter rules religious experience, higher learning, and the noble realms of the Spirit. It is endlessly on a quest for knowledge and seeks out answers in a spirit of adventure and open-mindedness. Jupiter is an exuberant, joyous, and generous energy, with unending faith in the benevolence of life, and boundless enthusiasm for seeking and understanding.