Daily Insights: Open Your Heart!

"This is love: to fly toward a secret sky, to cause a hundred veils to fall each moment. First to let go of life. Finally, to take a step without feet." ~ Rumi

At some point in our lives we may have experienced some kind of pain or abandonment from a loved one - it is our natural tendency to protect ourselves and our heart after experiencing any form of hurt.

We put up barriers that close off our heart centers, which blocks our ability to receive and give love openly and unconditionally. A typical "symptom" of someone that has closed off their heart center, is someone that is desperately looking for a loving relationship.

So, how can we open our heart center and allow ourselves to feel confident in our hearts?

There are a few simple ways to open your heart, and allow the creative energy to flow from our hearts towards ourselves and others:

1. Daily affirmations can build strength and trust around our heart.
2. Acknowledging and releasing the emotional memories so, that you may heal your heart - this can be done through writing, meditation and visualization.

Along with these "self-help" heart-opening exercises, we can also open our hearts through movement.

There are specific Yoga asanas that open the heart on a physical and energetic level.

Try this short Yoga practice at home:

1. Find a quiet space - start by sitting in an easy seated position and bring your hands into Anjali mudra (hands to heart center) - close your eyes and set your intention to open your heart.
2. Then, come to lying on the floor and bring yourself into Matsyasana (Fish pose) - laying flat on the floor take in a deep inhale, press your forearms into the floor, draw your shoulders under and lift your upper torso and head away from the floor, then gently release the crown of the head to the floor (there should be very little weight on the head). Your legs can be bent or straight, if they are straight keep your legs active. (You can modify by bringing a yoga block under the chest area/between the scapula).
3. Stay in this position up to 30 seconds or longer. Breathe freely allowing your heart to open - visualize your heart chakra opening, releasing old emotions and healing it with a brilliant pink and green light.
4. When you feel that you have been in the pose long enough, take in a deep inhalation filling your lungs with love and light.. and then, exhale as you lower your torso and head to the floor. Then, draw the knees into the chest and give yourself a big hug!

Other Yoga asanas that open the heart: Ustrasana (camel), Dhanurasana (bow), Setu Bandha Sarvangasana (bridge) and Urdhva Dhanurasana (wheel).

Fish Pose, Ustrasana (camel).

Remember, to practice safely and within your limits.

Trust and follow your open heart.

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Namasté