Are you constricted in your chest, both externally and internally? From the pressure of daily activities, we get closed in a way that even our spirit becomes exhausted and our posture becomes weak.
This can reduce the amount of fresh air our bodies take in and it changes our mood too. What if there was an easy out you could use to let out this stress and allow your heart to be happy?
Heart opening yoga poses are that solution. These poses tone the chest, shoulders, and back muscles and assist the heart, love, and compassion centers in the body in opening up.
Here, I will explore top heart opening yoga poses for that lighthearted experience.
What Are Heart Opening Yoga Poses?
Heart Opening Yoga Poses are those specific types of yoga postures that are said to open the energetic or spiritual heart or chakra.
Chest expanding yoga poses or more specifically heart area opening yoga poses establish on lifting and expanding the chest.
These poses correct the mechanical positioning of the joints, enhance lung capacity and enhance feelings.
Yoga poses like the fish, camel, and the upward bowing pose open the heart and transform a hunched back and forward pulling shoulders of our current lifestyle. [1]
Of course, heart opening yoga poses is definitely a little bit of an exaggeration, but in the excitement, preparation, and effort one puts in before attempting it, it is true.
How To Prepare For Heart Opening Yoga Poses?
The following instructions are necessary before starting the heart opening poses in yoga:
- The practicing aspiration one must wear comfortable clothes and search for a solitary place.
- Bring in accessory items such as a mat or blocks or a bolster.
- Mentally, clear your intention, What do you want to get from opening your heart; do you want to open your heart to let go of stress, attract love or better posture.
Warm-Up Exercises For Heart Opening Yoga Poses
Stretching of some part of the body before going to poses that opens the heart is very important.
Start with gentle stretches targeting the shoulders, neck, and spine:
Cat-Cow Pose: They are loosely derived from the back and flow to the shoulders warming up the spine area of the body.
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Shoulder Rolls: Relaxes a hold muscle by rolling shoulders in circles.
Neck Stretches: Stretches the muscles at the back of your neck are carried by rotating your head from side to side.
These exercises warm your body to the different heart opening positions you are likely to encounter in the practice.
How To Perform Heart Opening Yoga Poses?
Here are some top heart opening yoga poses:
Camel Pose (Ustrasana): Stand with your feet and hips width apart and slowly get down on your knees with the mat.
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Put your hands at the lower back of your back and bend backwards , in a manner of touching your heels.
The pose here is quite good as it opens the chest and helps stretch the muscles that are in front of the body.
Bridge Pose (Setu Bandhasana): Lay on your back with your knees flexed and your feet surface.”
Push your heels hard into the carpet, and raise your pelvis in the air as far as possible. This position extends the chest and also develops the back.
Bow Pose (Dhanurasana): Lay on your stomach and bend your legs and hold your ankles with the back of your hands.
Contract your abdomen and, with straight legs, lift your upper torso off the mat and press your thighs up towards the crown of your head.
Heart Opening Yoga Poses Benefits
Practicing yoga poses for heart opening offers many benefits:
Improved Posture: Prevents slouching, thus the individual will not have hunched back.
Enhanced Breathing: Enhances the bellows action to allow maximum breath intake.
Emotional Release: The practice assists to strove away the accumulated negative energy so that joy and love can fill one.
Heart Opening Yoga Poses Modifications
If you’re new to yoga or have physical limitations, try these modifications:
Camel Pose: If possible, have your hands on blocks near your feet, so that you can more easily extend your legs towards the wall.
Bridge Pose: Place the yoga block under your sacrum so as to have some support.
Bow Pose: If you have difficulty reaching your feet, then you should encircle your ankles with a yoga strap.
There is no excuse for such forms of exercise that exclude some people because they are not flexible enough or healthy enough to do so; these modifications make heart-opening poses possible for anyone.
Tips And Tricks For Heart Opening Yoga Poses
Listen to Your Body: Take your time because the whole process should be deliberate, and you ought to be sensitive to how you feel. [2]
Breathe Deeply: Take a breath to the chest and another to relax out; that is where tension usually lies.
Use Props: It has accessories such as blocks, straps, and bolsters which make your practice more unique.
Safety Precautions For Heart Opening Yoga Poses
Practice heart opening poses with care:
Avoid Overstretching: Do not put your body in a position it cannot manage, this will only result in more harm.
Consult a Doctor: If you have some problems in the back or in the heart, please, do not attempt to complete these positions without your doctor’s permission.
Practice Mindfully: Don’t continue if you see that it causes you pain or discomfort in any way.
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Healthinpedia Final Words
Open-heart yoga poses are a powerful way to release stress, improve posture and invite positivity into your life.
Incorporating these postures into your practice can help you feel more open, connected, and understanding.
In this article I have mentioned almost all the points according to my experience and knowledge of heart opening yoga poses.
Learn by reading.
Source:
Yoga Journal. (2022, May 26). Chest-Opening yoga poses.
10 Heart Opening Postures | Yoga poses | CorePower Yoga. (n.d.).
HealthinPedia Author
Elyce, a Wellness Writer and Content Creator from Adelphi University, is also a Yoga and Meditation Coach, Outdoors Enthusiast, and Breast Cancer Survivor. With over 20 years of experience as an E-RYT 500, she brings a deep dedication to yoga and meditation. Elyce's wealth of knowledge and experience shines through in her role as a teacher, writer, and mentor. She is the co-founder and content creator of the Refined Flow 200-hour Yoga Teacher Training program, as well as a core faculty member at Omega for 11 years. Additionally, she is a teaching staff member at the Radiance Sutras Meditation Teacher Training.
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