Yoga… “Awakening the Heart”: Anahata Chakra

You can see Part 1 of this series, on the Base Chakra (Muladhara), here: “Grounding with Yoga”…

Part 2 of this series, on the Sacral Chakra (Svadisthana), here: Yoga… “Go with the Flow” 

Part 3 of this series, on the Solar Plexus Chakra (Manipura), here: “Empower Your Yoga…”

In Sanskrit, the fourth chakra is called Anahata. Which means the “unstruck note”. It is otherwise known as the Heart Chakra, and positioned in the middle of the chest, at the “heart centre”. It represents feelings of love – primarily the love for creation. It is also related to hope, longing, lustfulness, devotion, arrogance, anxiety, and incompetence.

The Anahata Chakra is the centre of our luminous body, and is the midpoint of the seven chakras, also known as the gateway to higher consciousness. The Heart Chakra is associated with the element of Air.

The Anahata chakra is linked to the colours of green and pink. This chakra can conjure up issues related to passion, rejection, inner-child conflicts and simple tenderness.

The health of one’s physical heart is connected to both mental and physical issues. The health of our heart can improve if we release past traumas, emotional pain and critical judgement of others. However, sexual issues need to be resolved and processes via the Base and Sacral Chakras.

The associated endocrine gland is the Thymus Gland, which mainly initiates movement of the body’s defences during injury and illness.

To rebalance the heart centre it is important to seek advice if you are suffering from any mental anguish or instability. Research different types of healing therapies. Practice positive techniques to help your self-esteem. Practice mindfulness and gratitude. Give someone a hug. Get a massage. The power of touch is incredibly healing.

We have all met someone in our live that is positively magnetic and radiant. These are people who are open to love, and are deeply compassionate. Unconditional love neutralizes any negative energies.

The crystals to use for treatment, to balance the Anahata Chakra are: Green Peridot to activate, and pink topaz, pink/lavender kunzite, or rhodonite to calm, and rose quartz or watermelon tourmaline to bring back to balance.

The main essential oils that have a sympathetic resonance with the Anahata are Neroli and, of course, rose.

How does this all connect to Yoga?

Due to the location of the Heart chakra, the most beneficial Yoga poses are those that open the heart centre, filling us with a sense of joy, truth and bliss.

• Bhujangasana/Cobra, Urdhva Mukha Svanasana/Upward Facing Dog

Active: This posture is powerful on the spine, and allows the beautiful heart centre to expand and open up. The posture should never be forced, only performed within one’s comfortable range of spinal flexibility and strength.

• Chakrasana/Wheel

Active: Another posture that is powerful on the spine. Wheel is an advanced posture, that releases a lot of tension across the chest region, whilst opening the shoulders and heart centre. Throughout this pose remember to breathe calm and smooth.

• Janu Sirsasana/Head-to-Knee Forward Fold

Passive: This pose stretches and lengthens the spine and backs of the legs. It also loosens the hips, tones the abdominal organs. Ensure you are sitting up tall on your buttocks, flatten and lengthening the spine as much as possible as your lean forward over the extended leg. This has the gentle effect of opening the Heart Chakra. 

Lastly, the beautiful Heart Chakra directs life-giving and healing body energies – which we all have the ability to tap into. Remember to give love to others and yourself. Wear turquoise, pink or green coloured crystals. Practice your Yoga asanas. And drink some Thyme Tea!

Check out this blog on the Heart Chakra by my wonderful friend and Chakradance instructor, Rebecca Flynn: The Perfect Heart.

Stay tuned for my next blog on the Throat Chakra.

Feel free to subscribe to Infuse… Yoga and Wellbeing along the top right of this page to receive further posts direct to your email!

Love and Light, Amy xo

Empower your Yoga… Manipura Chakra

You can see Part 1 of this series, on the Base Chakra (Muladhara), here: “Grounding with Yoga”…

Part 2 of this series, on the Sacral Chakra (Svadisthana), here: Yoga… “Go with the Flow” 

In Sanskrit, the third chakra is called Manipura. Which means the “lustrous gem”. It is otherwise known as the Solar Plexus Chakra, and located in the abdomen, above the naval. It represents feelings of power and expansiveness.

The Solar Plexus is the last of the lower three chakras which are principally concerned with the physical body, and the world we perceive through our senses. It is connected to not only power, but also the ego, fear, stress, anxiety, introversion, opinion and growth.

The Manipura chakra is associated primarily with the Pancreas. Digestive problems, eating disorders, cancer and diabetes are all linked to the Solar Plexus, which can occur with an over-active or under-active chakra. However these all link back to stress. This particular chakra is positioned over one of the main regions of the body that reacts to stress, and these nerves can be felt as a tight knot between the navel and sternum.

Yellow is the colour of the Manipura chakra, and it is represented by the element of fire. It is the place of deep belly laughter, warmth and vitality for life! It is the seat of fire in the body as it is the chakra of Life-Force.

Check out this site if you are interested in Chakra art. The following is the Solar Plexus Chakra artwork:

Feeling like a victim, or having a low self-esteem, along with the physical issues such as eating disorders and digestive issues, are all signs of an under active Solar Plexus.

The crystals to use for treatment, to activate the Manipura, are: Topaz, Yellow Tourmaline and Yellow Sapphire.

Anger, perfectionism, hatred, and an emphasis on power, recognition and status, can reveal an over active, excessive Solar Plexus.

The crystals to use for treatment, to calm the Manipura, are: Emerald and Sapphire.

To balance the Solar Plexus Chakra, Citrine is a highly recommended crystal. It has a strong resonance with pranic energy coming from the sun. It acts powerfully to cleanse, warm and energize. It balances our vibrational field.

The main essential oils that have a sympathetic resonance with the Manipura are: Geranium, Clary Sage, Juniper, lavender and rosemary.

How does this all connect to Yoga?

Due to the location of the Solar Plexus chakra, the most beneficial Yoga poses are those that massage the Pancreas, stimulate the kidneys, and work the abdomen, which help diabetic conditions, and are associated with imbalances of the Manipura.

• Paripurna Navasana/Boat Pose

Active: The Boat Pose helps to improve digestion, whilst stimulating the kidneys, intestines, and the thyroid and prostate glands. I also helps to not only strengthen the abdomen, but also the hip flexors and spine.

• Gomukasana/ Cow Pose

Active: This posture stimulates the kidneys and pancreas. The crossed and locked knee position and the arm position cause vital energy to be focused at the Solar Plexus Chakra. Draw the breath in as yellow light, deep into the abdomen. Cow Face also stretches the ankles, hips and thighs, shoulders, armpits and triceps, and chest.

• Ardha Matsyendrasana/ Sitting Spinal Twist/ Half Lord of the Fishes Pose

Active: Ardha Matsyendrasana energizes the spine, and benefits the kidneys, pancreas and liver in a similar way to Gomukasana. It stimulates the digestive fire, relieves menstrual discomfort, and stretches the shoulders, hips, and neck. The pose helps to detoxify the internal organs, by “wringing” them out. 

Lastly, in regards to our senses, the Solar Plexus Chakra is linked to our sense of sight or vision.

Check out this blog for a great article on the Manipura Chakra in more depth!

Stay tuned for my next blog on the loving Heart Chakra!

Feel free to subscribe to Infuse… Yoga and Wellbeing along the top right of this page to receive further posts direct to your email!

Love and Light, Amy xo