[one_third][/one_third][two_third_last]CosmoMuse yogi, Brooke Musat, brings us some Libra Season love with 2 poses that help us balance our yin & yang energy for the current season. Photography by Bus Couch.

When the sun travels through a constellation, it brings vitality to all of us through the traits of the astrological sign that rules that constellation. For most of October, Libra is our reigning queen, gracing all of us with enhanced access to harmony, romance, balance, and diplomacy. Relationships are a focus as is fighting for equality in the things that we care about.

It is no surprise that Libra begins her reign at the autumn equinox (or spring equinox in the southern hemisphere) – the perfect balance between summer and winter, day and night and light and shadow. One of the four cardinal signs of the zodiac, Libra kicks Fall off with grace and style, while charming us all into believing beauty lives around every corner.

With Venus as Libra’s planetary ruler, venturing into design, pleasure and romance, are areas perfectly suited for us to leave indelible marks during this season.  

This year’s Libra Season brings good news and fortune into our lives as Jupiter has just moved in and is planning an extended stay in this sign – until October of 2017! Fluff the pillows, dust under the rug, and do your best to make Jupiter feel welcome, because Jupiter is a lucky planet. Jupiter loves the airy sign of Libra and feels the freedom to expand its infections optimism around all things harmonizing and equalizing over the next 12 months.
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[full_width]Let Jupiter’s luck be a vehicle through which you pursue beautiful endeavors. Avoid allowing the yang energy of the Libra sign to take over when deciding between passions. Procrastination due to heavy deliberation, or relying too much on what others say, could introduce an anxious fog that distorts your desires. Treat your desires like you would a relationship: pay attention, be thoughtful, and maybe even romance them from time to time. After all, Libra is our zodiac’s relationship expert and romantic guru!

Practice the yin and yang poses of Libra Season to find beauty in balance and elegance in embracing luck when it finally comes your way. Whether you are a Libra by birth or at heart, there is Libra energy available to all of us at this time.

Fire Log Pose helps pacify Libra’s airy tendencies in a rooted seat. With a stable base made by stacking the legs on top of one another, you’ll begin to invite yin energy in. Just as shorter trees and low-lying shrubs weather strong winds better than those that are tall, Fire Log Pose will protect you from strong shifts in energetic currents.

Practice Upward Plank Pose to reenergize the entire back body and boost adrenal function in a healthy way. With support originating in the soles of the feet and the palms of the hands, you’ll embody balance between floating and grounding sensations.
Read on for how to adopt the yin and yang postures of Libra Season for your sign’s fire, earth, air or water element.[/full_width]

[one_third padding=”18% 0 0 0″]YANG POSE
Upward Plank :: (Purvottanasana)

Pose Benefits:

o Strengthens arms, wrists, and tiny muscles in the hands

o Tones calves, hamstrings, and back

o Stretches fronts of shoulders, chest, and tops of ankles

o Opens heart

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[full_width]Fire Signs (Leo, Aries, Sagittarius):
Fire signs, be cautious not to enter this pose with too much ego. Instead, ease into it one breath at a time. Resist the tendency to tighten through the chest so the fronts of the shoulders can open. Practicing this pose in the early morning or as a midday pick-me-up is recommended.

Earth Signs (Taurus, Virgo, Capricorn):
Earth signs try a variation of this pose by alternating bent knees. Draw attention to the areas of your body that are suspended in space (head, back, legs, etc).

Air Signs (Gemini, Libra, Aquarius):
Air Signs, if you have the option, it is encouraged to strike this pose in a warm humid space. Focus should be on holding this pose for as long as it feels physically appropriate. Tendencies may be to touch the pose and move on, but try to meditate on if your desire to move is a call from the body or the mind.  

Water Signs (Cancer, Scorpio, Pisces):
Water Signs, practice this posture somewhere peaceful, but not void of emotion (corner of your bedroom, home, etc). Be open to hosting whatever emotions come to the surface, but be cautious not to let them take over. Use small movements or adjustments (slightly bend the knees, gently turn the head side to side, wiggle the toes, etc) to move through uncomfortable moments.
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[one_third padding=”10% 0 0 0″]YIN POSE
Fire Log Pose :: (Agnistambhasana)

Pose Benefits:

o Deeply Stretches hips and buttocks

o Opens groin

o Strengthens calves

o Quiets a busy mind

o Can help to reduce anxiety

o Releases built up tension in the lower ½ of the body
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[full_width]Fire Signs (Leo, Aries, Sagittarius):
Fire Signs, practice this pose to cool off after a morning run, or in the evening after a long day. If the hips allow, invite more calm into the mind by leaning forward and resting on the elbows. Let the head hang passively.

Earth Signs (Taurus, Virgo, Capricorn):
Earth Signs, invite movement of the torso while in Fire Log Pose. Consider initiating tiny cat and cow movements of the spine with your breath. Inhale for cat and exhale for cow.

Air Signs (Gemini, Libra, Aquarius):
Air Signs, find stillness in this pose and focus on spreading deeper mental roots. A great visualization would be to imagine a gentle pressure on the top of your head pressing your sacrum more firmly into the earth. Between these two points, (the top of your head and the bottom of your sacrum) is a long spine.

Water Signs (Cancer, Scorpio, Pisces):
Water Signs, use this posture as an opportunity to retreat inward. Bring hands to heart center and tuck the chin toward the chest. Lean forward slightly on the inhale, and return to a neutral spine on the exhale. Extend the length of each breath, and match your movements accordingly.

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