Yoga is SO good for the heart; physically, mentally, & spiritually. Yoga actually helps decrease cardiovascular risks, like high cholesterol, triglyceride, and blood sugar levels (health.harvard.edu). A consistent yoga practice promotes regular heart beats and blood flow to the heart, as well as improving the circulatory system. Yoga incorporates breathing practices, or pranayamas, such as three-part breath and ujjayi breath, which are thought to clear the respiratory system, resulting in good, clean oxygen traveling to the heart (everydayhealth.com).
In yoga class, we practice postures that are called “heart openers” or focused to stimulate the heart chakra, Anahata. These postures open the heart physically, in the sense that they make space around the heart, releasing holding patterns or tight muscles in the upper body for better ease of motion & overall increased blood flow to the heart. Often difficult for many of us who carry our worries on our shoulders or sit at computers all day, these postures nudge us to relax the shoulders & bring the heart to the highest point of focus, so that any tension can literally roll off our backs. Mentally and/or spirtually, heart openers can release blockages that may restrict us from moving forward. The idea of opening the heart physically also has an emotional connection. The heart chakra is directly related to our ability to give and receive love; when imbalanced, it can be difficult to find love, peace, and compassion. Opening the heart, in turn, can heal the body of its emotional distress & physical ailments that can manifest from it being closed off. The heart chakra is a major energy center, in which I believe can be directly nourished through yoga. I invite you to an open heart through heart bench—
Heart Bench is one of my favorite postures, and not only because it opens the heart, but because it just feels great! I can be found doing this pose everyday before bed and during my yoga classes that I lead. I recommend getting two yoga blocks. These blocks will be your best friends in offering the support you need in your practice. You will want to create a “T” with your two blocks, and you can place them on the high or low setting, whatever you find most comfortable to you. The vertical part of the T will support the spine, aligning the top of the block just under the shoulder blade, opening the heart, of course adjust as needed. The horizontal block will be used to support the back of your head, keeping your neck lifted with no strain. As you settle into the Heart Bench, allow the shoulders to relax and melt down the back, imagine the heart rising. Allow deep breaths to encourage you to release and relax through the shoulders, letting go of any tension. Let the arms float out down beside you. Allow the feet and legs to straighten down to the bottom of your mat or feel free to bring the soles of the feet together if that is more comfortable to you. Focus on openness through the mind as well as through the heart. For me, I find myself in this pose every single day, partly because I often carry tension in my shoulders (one of the things my ballet teachers always corrected me for) and I tend to lean forward into my computer at work (a common problem for office workers and students) but most importantly, I really believe that opening the heart with physics shape reminds me to be compassionate and to do all things with love, opening me to the idea of moving forward after a day is done.
I hope that you will find these tips to be helpful in your life, even if you do not have a regular yoga practice. Maybe you are just concerned with your posture and can use the spinal adjustment that it gives. Maybe you have trouble forgiving or are holding onto something that is creating a blockage for you to love. Maybe you are hoping to find deeper connections with relationships and committing to openness can solve your problems. No matter what you are looking to achieve, allow your focus to come to the heart, and I hope that it will guide you.
Happy February, Happy Valentine’s Day, and happy heart health to you!
xoxo,
Lee-Ann
