Yoga and Astrology: How To Align Your Body with the Stars

Knowing how to integrate astrology into your yoga practice can be a great way to align with the cosmos and your own unique natal chart. In my experience as a yoga instructor and astrologer, I’ve learned that yoga and astrology go hand in hand. In case you haven’t thought of this beautiful synergy before, think about the 4 elements, the feminine and masculine energy, and the body part rulership that are present in both yoga and astrology. Incorporating the cosmic bodies like which zodiac sign the sun and moon are in is a good start in figuring out what type of yoga practice, chakra, or body part to focus on. Following the cosmic energies plays a pivotal role in sustaining a balance of your body health, emotions, and energy. And it’s one essential practice I personally strive to attain everyday.

The Elements

First, we’ll talk about the elements. It is our essential life force. Without them we wouldn’t be here. The elements are essential and respected in every culture in the world. The Tahitians show gratitude to the elements using song and dance and the Native Americans base their directions on them. Getting to know each of the elements and which zodiac sign and chakra it correlates to is one methods to start integrating your practice with astrology. Below is a list of each of the 4 elements with the 3 zodiac signs that they correspond to.

You don’t have to be a yoga instructor or professional astrologer to know what to focus on in your yoga practice on. Start with your sun sign. Your sun sign is what gives you your life force energy. Now take a look at the chakra list below. I’ve listed the 4 elements along with each chakra that it corresponds to. You’ll notice that not all of the chakras are listed here which I’ll touch on that later.

Now you’ll take your Sun sign, figure out what element it is, and match it to the chakra that corresponds to the same element. This is the yoga practice you’d want to do if you would like to increase your zodiac energy to its fullest potential. For example, I am a Capricorn which is an Earth sign. The chakra associated with the Earth element is the root chakra. I would find a root chakra yoga practice or meditation in order to tap into my Capricorn strengths of feeling grounded, calm, and stable.

Feminine and Masculine Energy

In astrology, fire and air signs are considered masculine energy while earth and water signs are considered feminine. Note that this is not gender based, but the energies of masculinity and femininity. In yoga, the masculine and feminine energy corresponds to Ida and Pingala, the channels (nadis) in which energy (prana) flow through. Ida and Pingala represent the duality of energies within us, the logical vs. the intuitive, the masculine vs. feminine energy.

Take a look at your astrological natal chart and see your balance of elements. Below is Rihanna’s chart, she has strong masculine chart: 5 planets in Fire, 1 in Air, 3 in Earth, and 2 in Water. Note that AC, Chiron ⚷, MC, and North Node ☊ are not considered a planet and does not add to the elemental balance of your chart. If you have more fire and air (masculine energy) like Rihanna does, then you may need to bring in more feminine energy, the Ida. Instead of heat-building yoga classes like kundalini, bikram, or vinyasa, try focusing on a slow-paced restorative or yin practice.

Body Part Rulership in Astrology

If you are a sun sign Aries, you are more susceptible to headaches or migraines. This is because every astrological sign also rules a part of the body that increases or triggers its sensitivity. The chakras also correspond to different body parts of the body. For an Aries, I would propose meditation focusing on the third eye or crown chakra, which in turn might alleviate your headache. See below the list of correspondences:

• Aries: Head
• Taurus: Neck and Throat
• Gemini: Lungs, Arms, and Fingers
• Cancer: Stomach and Breasts
• Leo: Heart and Spine
• Virgo: Intestines
• Libra: Bladder
• Scorpio: Genitals
• Sagittarius: Thighs
• Capricorn: Knees
• Aquarius: Calves
• Pisces: Feet

• Root Chakra: Feet, Legs, Base of Spine
• Sacral Chakra: Pelvis
• Solar Plexus Chakra: Naval and Low Back
• Heart Chakra: Lungs, Heart, Ribs, Chest, and Mid-Back
• Throat Chakra: Arms, Hands, Shoulders, Neck, and Throat
• Third Eye Chakra: Midbrain, Space in between and slightly above your eyebrows
• Crown Chakra: Space above your head

Connecting Chakras and Zodiac Signs

The chakras are not traditionally linked to the zodiac signs. However, as our collective understanding of astrology increases, we begin to draw parallels to what chakra each zodiac sign best embodies. Take for example the Throat Chakra – the chakra of listening and communication. Basic understanding of astrology tells us that the sign that closely resembles listening and communication is Gemini. You may not be a sun sign Gemini but come Gemini season, a yoga practice focusing on the throat chakra or aligning the neck and shoulders would be perfect. The list below is my own opinion of which zodiac sign aligns with which chakra.

• Root Chakra: Capricorn, Virgo
• Sacral Chakra: Scorpio, Taurus
• Solar Plexus Chakra: Aries, Sagittarius
• Heart Chakra: Leo, Libra, Cancer
• Throat Chakra: Gemini
• Third Eye Chakra: Aquarius
• Crown Chakra: Pisces

Benefits of Yoga and Astrology

The goal of yoga is to find a balance of sweetness and strength in your body and in your daily life. It’s a balance of liberation and manifestation. Astrology on the other hand helps us plan for what’s coming, let’s us become aware of our life lessons, and brings to light our unique traits. Yoga has many different styles. If one style doesn’t work for you, it may be in your astrological chart that you favor one type of style over another! Maybe the cosmic bodies in the sky are making you feel super emotional and tired and a slow-paced yin practice to release emotional tension is just what you needed (hello, Full Moon in Cancer).

Find a yoga practice that is right for you!

Additional Resources

• Book a 15 Minute Natal Chart Reading and a 45 Minute Personalized Yoga Session based on your natal chart
• Book a 15 Minute or a 60 Minute Birth Chart Reading
• Subscribe to Victoria Nicole Yoga on YouTube to get free weekly videos that align with the stars
• A blog post about how to align your yoga practice with the moon