The fourth chakra, the heart chakra,rests in the center of the chakra system, at the core of our spirit. Its physical location is the heart, upper chest, and upper back. The fourth is the balance point, integrating the world of matter (the lower three chakras) with the world of spirit (the upper three chakras). Through the heart chakra, we open to and connect with harmony and peace. The health of our heart center registers the quality and power of love in our life.
In Sanskrit, the heart chakra is called Anahata, which means “unstruck” or “unhurt.” Its name implies that deep beneath our personal stories of brokenness and the pain in our heart, wholeness, boundless love, and a wellspring of compassion reside.
Being an even-numbered, feminine chakra, the heart center naturally yearns to release and let go. When we feel fearful, there is no room for love, and our bodies show contraction. When we choose love, the fear melts away, and our practice takes on a joyful quality.
Doing backbends develops the trust and surrender we need to open the heart fully. In many backbending poses, the heart is positioned higher than the head. It’s wonderfully refreshing to let the mind drop away from the top position and instead lead with the heart.
Some signs that the heart chakra is overpowering your life can include co-dependency, possessiveness, jealousy, heart disease, and high blood pressure. For these symptoms, forward bends are the best antidote, because they are grounding and foster introspection. While people with deficient heart chakras need to open to receive love more fully, those with excessive heart chakras find healing by slowing down to discover inside themselves the nourishment they have been seeking from others.
Love is our interconnectedness to all. Boundless love for all. This is out Connection to others, self and life.
Air is lightness, breath, freedom. Breathe fully to open the heart chakra.
An open heart chakra facilitates healing on all planes. Helping others, being of service, random acts of kindness are all heart chakra work.
The most powerful way to open, energize, and balance not just the heart chakra but all of our chakras is to love ourselves and others. Give and receive love.
Love truly is the greatest healer.
Yoga Postures—eagle, camel, bow, cobra, bridge.
Essential Oils—lavender, cypress, lemon, orange, whisper blend and sandalwood. Apply to the heart area.
Crystals—rose quartz and green tourmaline.
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