Wellbeing is far more than just physical health; it involves feeling centered and strong on emotional and spiritual levels as well. You may have noticed that feeling physically unhealthy or even just low-energy can throw off the balance of your entire system, and the same is true of emotional depression and spiritual disconnectedness. Thus, achieving a state of wellbeing depends on feeling balanced in all areas of our lives. Fortunately, the Zodiac holds keys to creating that harmoniously centered sense of stability. Based on your Sun sign’s Element — you are either a Fire sign, an Earth sign, an Air sign or a Water sign — along with certain other specifics of your sign, you can learn vital ways of promoting a greater and more integrated sense of thriving in body, mind and soul.
Aries, Leo and Sagittarius — The Fire Signs
Naturally filled with vital energy, the three Fire signs tend to have less trouble than other signs when it comes to fighting illness. In fact, if you’re an Aries, Leo or Sagittarius, you might seem to just burn off fevers, colds and other physical ailments. But the harder you push your body and yourself, the sooner you may start feeling burned out. If you notice yourself being more aggressive or irritable than usual, or feeling uncharacteristically gloomy, take it as a sign that your inner fire is burning low and needs refueling. Yoga, meditation and other calming and centering practices can be essential for the Fire signs when it comes to staying in peak shape, mentally and physically. Impatient Aries has the hardest time embracing this type of slower-paced, mind-and-body practice; Sagittarius, on the other hand, tends to be the most open of the Fire signs to the mind expansion that comes from such disciplines. Remember that meditation doesn’t have to mean simply sitting quietly, focusing on your breathing. Rhythmic or repetitive physical exercises including gardening, distance running, cycling, and swimming laps can bring similar benefits.
Holistic health cannot be achieved without paying due attention to emotional wellbeing. Many Fire signs are inclined toward irritability, aggression and a quick temper. Simple practices like breathing in deeply when annoyance begins to rise can help keep that fire at bay. So can making a daily effort to treat others kindly and compassionately (whether they seem to deserve it or not!).
Another important aspect of wellbeing is diet. For Fire signs, cooling foods such as yogurt, cucumbers and herbal tea help temper that inner fire. Be sure to drink water regularly, to keep your internal sizzle from flaming out of control. If your fire starts to sputter, signaled by low energy or lingering illness, try stoking the flame with stimulating foods and spices such as garlic, cinnamon and ginger. And be sure to include fish or flax seed oils in your regular diet to gain the brain and heart benefits of Omega-3 fatty acids.
Each Zodiac sign is associated with certain body parts, and should be aware of the potential for related illness. Aries is associated with the head and may be prone to tension headaches. If so, try combating them with relaxation techniques; again, deep breathing and meditation can be very helpful here. Another effective technique is to apply an ice pack to the base of the neck at the first sign of tension or pain. Since Leo is associated with the heart, a healthy diet and regular cardio exercise will go a long way toward keeping yours strong. Finally, Sagittarius is associated with the hips, thighs and liver, so be sure to include squats and lunges in your exercise regimen, and steer clear of toxins like excess alcohol and fatty foods that could put undue strain on the liver.
Taurus, Virgo and Capricorn — The Earth Signs
Naturally patient, grounded and possessing strong endurance, Earth signs often push through injuries or illnesses, even when they shouldn’t. It’s important for Taurus, Virgo and Capricorn to live within some type of routine when it comes to getting regular exercise, food, sleep and downtime. Capricorns are especially likely to ignore bodily cues like hunger and fatigue, or emotional ones like loneliness, in favor of maintaining a jam-packed schedule; but all three Earth signs might push themselves too hard, simply because they can. Flexibility, balance and stretching are especially important for these signs, so include them in your workouts to help avoid stiff joints and aching muscles.
Holistic health cannot be achieved without paying due attention to emotional wellbeing. Many Earth signs tend toward obstinacy and resistance to change, so make slow, deep, conscious breathing a daily practice to encourage the release of stubbornness and tension. Deep breathing also helps open your mind to new structures, experiences and perspectives. Practicing yoga or stretching daily can also help keep your body and outlook as flexible as possible.
Another important aspect of wellbeing is diet. Of the three Earth signs, Taurus is most susceptible to lethargy and overeating, but Virgo and Capricorn can experience these as well. Earth signs tend to have the slowest metabolisms of the Zodiac, so strive to stick to the rule of moderation. Smaller portions help keep your weight under control, along with your blood sugar and other physical factors. For optimal health, include plenty of vegetables, leafy greens, grains, healthful fats such as avocados and olive oil, and broth-based soups in your diet.
Each Zodiac sign is associated with certain body parts, and should be aware of the potential for related illness. Taurus is associated with the throat and neck; protect these by drinking warm tea and wearing scarves when the weather is cool. Tea with lemon juice and honey can provide effective treatment for laryngitis or a sore throat. Tension headaches often originate in the neck; if you’re prone to these, try deep breathing or apply an ice pack to the base of the neck at the first sign of pain. Since Virgo is associated with the nervous and digestive systems, probiotics are especially important for this sign’s digestion. Be sure to eat yogurt regularly, or fermented foods such as kombucha or miso soup, and steer clear of foods that upset the system, such as greasy or heavy items. Meditation, deep breathing and regular exercise can all help soothe anxiety, as can building a support network of close friends and confidants. Finally, Capricorn is associated with the knees, teeth, joints and bones, so get plenty of calcium through sesame seeds, dairy products and dark, leafy greens. Also be sure to visit your dentist regularly, and keep your bones strong through weight-bearing exercises like jogging or walking.
Gemini, Libra and Aquarius — The Air Signs
As the Zodiac’s intellectual signs, Air signs live in their heads. Their thoughts move quickly, and connecting with other people, and especially with other brilliant minds, is a great source of pleasure and motivation for Gemini, Libra and Aquarius. Of course, when your mind starts to race or your thinking becomes cloudy or disjointed, focus and grounding are needed. To achieve this important effect, you must get out of your head and into your body, which usually means engaging in challenging physical exercise. Strength training, running, dancing, martial arts and skiing are all perfect choices for Air Signs, especially if you do these with a friend or workout buddy, so you can talk while you keep each other focused. Making love is also a very effective way to reconnect not just with your partner, but with your physical self.
Holistic health cannot be achieved without paying due attention to emotional wellbeing. Centering activities like yoga, gardening, fishing and knitting can help ease restless thinking and restore your mind to a state of calm and clarity. Counseling and meditation can also help you embrace your emotional nature, which is especially important for Air signs, since these signs often intellectualize their feelings.
Another important aspect of wellbeing is diet. Brain-boosting foods like nuts, fish and flax seeds, along with ginkgo biloba and other supplements, will help keep your thinking and memory in fine form. Yogurt, cucumbers and other calming foods are also helpful in quieting the mind and keeping the body in great shape. Air signs should steer clear of greasy, heavy and rich foods, all of which weigh down the mind as well as the body. It’s also a smart choice to eat smaller portions more frequently rather than fewer, larger meals.
Each Zodiac sign is associated with certain body parts, and should be aware of the potential for related illness. Gemini is associated with the lungs, making regular cardiovascular exercise important for your health. Steer clear of smoking and anything else that might harm your lungs; singing, on the other hand, is wonderful for promoting healthy lungs as well as even-keeled thoughts and feelings. Gemini also is associated with the hands and arms, so pamper yours with weight-training exercises as well as daily lotion use and nail care. Libra is associated with the skin and kidneys, so it’s especially important for you to detox by regularly drinking water, especially with lemon juice, to keep your system flushed, and to use sunscreen daily. Finally, Aquarius is associated with the calves and ankles; regular walking will help keep these areas strong.
Cancer, Scorpio and Pisces — The Water Signs
Since Water signs are especially sensitive to other people and their surroundings, it can be tricky for Cancer, Scorpio and Pisces to maintain a holistic state of wellbeing. Being in any type of high-stress environment — anger-filled relationships, for example, noisy crowds of people, or a demanding workplace — can lead to all sorts of physical and emotional symptoms that signal a system out of balance. Perhaps unsurprisingly, the Water signs find great benefit in all things related to water, such as an invigorating swim, a day spent fishing, or a relaxing soak in the bath, pool or hot tub. But whenever you feel ill or simply off center, whether physically, mentally or emotionally, remember that these systems are intertwined.
Holistic health cannot be achieved without paying due attention to emotional wellbeing. Especially for Water signs, many physical conditions are closely bound with the emotions; unhappiness and stress, for example, can manifest in the body as muscle strains, headaches or digestive problems. Thus, in order to gain the most comprehensive picture of your health possible, it’s important to consider not just individual physical or emotional complaints, but to see these as interconnected. Many sensitive Water signs can be somewhat moody, so find an outlet for your emotions, whether that means confiding in a close friend or a therapist, or keeping a regular journal-writing practice. Cancer and Scorpio are most likely to bottle up hurt or angry feelings until they boil over or simply stagnate within your soul. Pisces, on the other hand, tends to feel overwhelmed by the intensity of feelings such as grief or anger. For all three signs, it is important to write or talk honestly about these emotions in order to process them and defuse their power.
Another important aspect of wellbeing is diet. Drinking plenty of water will help flush and support your system. When you’re dehydrated or experiencing sleep problems, turn to melons, cucumbers, grapes or any other food that contains lots of water for relief. On the other end of the spectrum, excess mucus in the system can be aggravated by consuming too much water; vigorous exercise can increase your metabolism and help correct the imbalance. Water signs need to be especially wary of emotional eating — using unhealthy comfort foods to combat feelings of sadness, anger, loneliness or stress.
Each Zodiac sign is associated with certain body parts, and should be aware of the potential for related illness. Cancer is associated with the stomach and chest, so steer clear of greasy, heavy or rich foods that might upset the digestion. Core strength training is also important for keeping the abdomen, back and chest strong. Since Scorpio is associated with the reproductive organs, it’s especially important for this sign to maintain a healthy sexual relationship with yourself as well as your partner. Finally, Pisces is associated with the feet, so wear supportive shoes, take regular walks, and incorporate balancing exercises into your exercise regimen.
