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INTRO TO CHAKRAS: Our LOVE

Picture yourself in child's pose at the beginning of a yoga class - as you're breathing, imagine the instructor saying something similar to this:

"I would like you to picture someone or something that fills your heart up completely....maybe it's a specific person, or it might even be a passion of yours.  Today I offer you the chance to practice with that person or intention in mind.  Or, maybe your practice today allows you to open your heart to take in some love that you're so deserving of...."

This is exactly how I started my Heart Chakra themed class earlier this year.  Our Heart chakra, or Anahata, is located exactly where'd you expect.  While most people associate our heart with Valentine's Day colors red or pink, this area is actually represented by the color green, and is considered the "air chakra" due to its relationship with nature.


  With it being the 4th out of 7 total chakras, Anahata is considered the balance point (or center) of all our energy bodies. 

"Love is the foundation of ALL things.....for it CREATES, GIVES, and SUSTAINS life."
 
With the quote above, it makes sense why our heart center is considered our body's midpoint, as well as the greatest healing place on earth.  This space is where we are connected to others not just by love, but other emotions such as forgiveness, sincerity, joy, nurturance, faith, and trust. 
 
During supta baddha konasana, (reclined resting posture) halfway through my power yoga sequence, I had students reflect on the following statements:  "We all experience love in our lifetime...but heart break is also inevitable.  While putting up walls seems like it would protect us, it actually shuts us down from living and experiencing lift to the fullest....In turn, that creates loneliness, anger, & bitterness; when what we really crave is joy, gratitude and compassion.  When all else fails, know that YOU have the right to love and be loved."  Later on in the flow (during a peak heart-opener posture), I related compassion (-to be with) and the art of yoga/meditation (-to sit with what is).   Yoga and mindfulness never guarantee your feelings or emotions will be easier just because you practice regularly.  What it CAN do for you is help you improve your responses or reactions.
 
 
"You, yourself, as much as anyone in the entire Universe
deserves YOUR love and affections."  --Buddha
 
 If our heart is guarded, none of our other chakras will be aligned.  It won't matter how rooted we are, what relationships we've made or what personal power we possess.  If those traits have nowhere to go, we won't be able to express (5th chakra), see (6th) or understand (7th) our truth further.  We may spend a majority of our lives working to gain appreciation from others, but without our own self-love, the external doesn't matter.  You need to show grace to yourself if you desire to give/receive the same to or from others. 
 
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YOGA POSES:  Backbends and shoulder openers are just a few of the poses that energize this chakra by expanding the front half of our body.  Some of my personal favorites include Bhujangasana (cobra pose), Ustrasana (camel pose), Arda Purvottanasana (Reverse Table pose), Purvottansana (Upward Plank pose), and Utkata konasana (Goddess pose).
 
No matter where you're at in your journey of heart "health," take a moment to repeat the following mantra if you need a pick-me-up or guidance on where to start:
 
I LOVE
I love myself.
I am a being of compassion.
I share this love with everyone.
I live in balance, with grace and gratitude.
I release all fear, concerns, and worries about giving and receiving love.
I know forgiveness.
I am one.
ANAHATA.
I. LOVE.
 

Namaste.
 
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