The Planets as Poses Part 1
Introducing… Planetary Yoga!
My interpretation of embodying the planets in our sky through Yoga Asana as an Astrologer & Yoga Teacher. Through my own yoga practice and my observation of the characteristics of each planet, I found that we can understand the planet’s symbolism further by feeling it in our own bodies! Connecting to its cosmic essence.
Join me on the journey below to feel the energy of the planets within yourself. Try out these poses and let me know if it expands your understanding of these planets’ meanings!
The Sun
The Sun in Astrology represents our life force, our identity and is a major part of our personality which is why popular astrology puts so much of a focus on it.
In yoga we salute the sun in a breath to movement sequence “Surya Namaskar” or Sun Salutation. This flow activates the solar plexus chakra, our personable life force. To do a sun salutation:
Start in a standing forward fold
Inhale halfway lift: place palms on shins or thighs
Exhale fold
Inhale rise to standing, reach the arms up to the sky for extended mountain pose
Exhale bring palms together in prayer and slide prayer hands to your heart
Inhale reach arms up to extended mountain pose
Exhale forward fold
Inhale halfway lift
Exhale plant the hands on the floor, Inhale step back to a plank (or on your knees for an alternative)
Exhale chaturanga: lower halfway with body hovering from the ground. Or lower all the way to belly if on knees
Inhale backbend: upward facing dog (pictured) or baby cobra if on knees
Exhale: curl the toes and shift into plank and transition back to downward facing dog
Mercury
The next planet closest to the Sun is the coy and swift Mercury. The planet of communication, learning, intelligence and technology.
The Romans anointed this planet as Mercurius, the Greeks: Hermes. The messenger god in both traditions delivered messages between heaven and Earth. Bridging communication between mere mortals and the gods.
Knocking on Heaven’s door embodies the quick nature of Mercury, as it’s the fastest moving planet in our sky and you swing your arms side to side as you twist your torso. Imagine yourself as the messenger god, knocking on heaven’s door to deliver a message.
Venus
Venus the next planet closest to the Sun and is the Divine Feminine presence in our sky next to our moon. Representing love, beauty, aesthetic, connection and resources. As she moves slowly, she gives the Sun a chance to marvel in her beauty as she elongates her stretch across our sky. Fun fact: if you use a telescope you can see the phases of Venus in our sky during certain parts of the year!
Open your heart to the love Venus reminds us to behold with Anahatasana or melting heart pose. Also known as “puppy pose”, lift the hips over the knees as the chest melts into the mat. Reach the arms in front and rest your chin or forehead on the mat. This pose opens the muscles of the pectorals (chest) to provide a “heart-opening” effect. Anahata is the Sanskrit word for “heart”.
Earth
Our home planet with a force of gravity perfectly attuned to our human bodies. Gravity allows us to “ground”, something we can’t necessarily do on the other planets. Mother Earth is rich with nutrients, plants, animals, elements and life that nourishes all who inhabit it with our unique biomes.
Feel the grounding and nourishing qualities of our Earth in corpse pose or Savasana. Often the final resting pose to complete the cycle of a yoga asana practice, this posture reminds us that in death, our bodies all eventually return to Earth in some way, shape or form.
The Moon
The perfect planetary pairing to our Earth, the Moon is the most visible body in our sky that keeps the Earth’s cycles in a unique rhythm. Often known as the “Mother” in astrology, the Moon represents our inner light, soul, mood, and deep emotions. This nurturing reminder teaches us the balance of Yin and Yang.
Anjaneyasana or “Crescent Moon” resembles the crescent moon shape from the backside of our body, the line from the back foot to the fingertips. But the story behind this asana speaks even more to the motherly side of the Moon. Anjaneya means “son of Anjani” because the myth behind this pose is a story of how a mother, desperate for a child, prayed to the gods with her hands outstretched and receive grains of rice in her palms from the wind god. She ate the rice and became pregnant with Anjaneya (or Hanuman) a demi-god with half-human, half-divine qualities.
Mars
Mars is the fiery hot red planet representing action, motivation, and passion. He was associated with the god of war in Roman and Sumerian cultures.
Exalted Warrior demonstrates this proud fighter within us, through honor rather than rage. Leading with the deepest desire and passion into thoughtful & necessary battles rather than bloodshed riddled with reactivity is the highest expression of Mars.
Start in a Warrior I stance, open the arms out long as you twist towards the bent leg, flip the front palm up and back to enter Exalted Warrior.
