Opening your Heart Chakra

 By Jasmin Lim

Give yourself the gift of love this Valentine’s Day by opening your heart chakra

Love is the key to a meaningful life, and our capacity to love ourselves determines our capacity to love others. We can so often forget this, and allow ourselves to be consumed by feelings of resentment, hate, regret, grief, jealousy and anger. So lets celebrate this momentous day of love not with jewelry, flowers or chocolates, but with heart openers instead - giving us the ability to forgive and forget, and fill our hearts with love and compassion for ourselves, and others.

First off, what is the heart chakra?

The heart chakra, also referred to as the anahata chakra, is located at the centre of the chest and includes the heart, cardian plexus, thymus gland and lungs. The literal Sanskrit translation of “anahata” is “unhurt, unstuck, or unbeaten”, implying that deep beneath our personal stories of suffering and pain lies boundless love and compassion. Wouldn’t it be nice to tap into this next time you’re overwhelmed with anger, jealousy or hatred?

Why open your heart chakra?

When your heart chakra is open, you are flowing with love and compassion. You are forgiving, and accept others and yourself. A closed heart chakra can give way to grief, anger, jealousy, and hatred towards yourself and others. Everyone encounters feelings of hurt, grief, anger and jealousy, but you can choose to hold on to them, or feel them fully before letting them go. By letting them go, you are able to open your heart to new people and experiences, as well as feelings of compassion, love and acceptance.

How to open your heart chakra?

  1. Be open with your emotions and don’t cling on to them. Allow yourself to feel and express them fully before letting them go.
  1. Practice the art of acceptance. If you can’t change it, forget it.
  1. Any yoga pose that opens the area of the chest will help balance the heart chakra. Some poses include camel, eagle, standing bow pose and any back-bending practice.
  1. Support heart chakra balance with essential oils to awaken feelings of love, compassion and kindness towards yourself and others.

How to use essential oils to open the heart chakra this Valentine’s day

The scent of rose is related to our heart, and enhances feelings of romance and love. It also helps calm the mind, alleviating depression and insomnia. Try mixing it with coconut or olive oil, and applying it to the heart chakra area. Alternatively, place a few drops into a bath and add some rose petals for a truly romantic experience.

So why not focus on not only expressing your love for others this Valentine’s day, but on loving yourself whole-heartedly and completely – enhancing your capacity to love others too.