 Aquarius, the Water Bearer Theme: Creating alternatives Keywords: Freedom, individuality, visionary January 20 - February 18 Ruled by Uranus Fixed air Rules throat, shins, and circulatory system Sign description: Individual freedom is the song of Aquarian energy. The individual is paramount because it is only through individuals that the human collective can be changed. The Aquarian energy destroys old paradigms, old modes of thinking. Aquarius energy works through the mind, whereas Leo, her polar opposite, relies on feelings. Yoga postures associated with Aquarius: When your feet are above your head, as in the shoulder stand series, you look at the world from a different perspective. That's exactly how the nature of the energy of Aquarius, which opens us to new alternatives, new ideas, new and original ways of looking at things. Aquarius is also a bridge between new and old and, therefore, the bridge postures symbolize the transition from past to future. The shoulder stand invigorates the entire body. In fact, the Sanskrit name for the series, Sarvangasana literally means, Ôall parts pose.' In particular, you stretch the neck and upper spine. Like all inverted postures, you stimulate the thyroid and pituatary glands, which control sexual energies. An inverted posture, it reverses the flow of blood as well as the direction of gravity on the body, allowing the heart to rest and bringing more blood to the brain. The bridge postures, which are counterposes to the shoulder stand, strengthen the lower back, neck and shoulder muscles. The poses improve flexibility of the spine and wrists, and also stretch the abdominal muscles . |