Introducing the 7 Chakras: The Heart Chakra
February 10, 2025
The next chakra in our Introduction to the 7 Chakras series is the fourth of the seven main energy centers, the Heart Chakra, or Anahata in Sanskrit. Anahata translates to “unhurt,” “unstruck,” or “unbeaten.” Located in the center of the chest, this chakra is associated with the color green and the element air. The Heart Chakra represents a voluntary sharing of energy, linked with love, compassion, and joy. Serving as the center of love for ourselves and others, the Heart Chakra relates to compassion, empathy, and forgiveness.
Signs of a balanced Heart Chakra
● Love for yourself and others
● Feelings of compassion and empathy
● Strong, trusting relationships
● Inner peace and stability
● Ability to forgive and let go of negative emotions
Signs of an imbalanced Heart Chakra
● Emotional numbness
● Feelings of loneliness
● Difficulty trusting others
● Trouble forming healthy relationships
● Inability to forgive or release negative feelings
Asanas
Poses that stretch and strengthen the muscles of the chest and upper body help stimulate energy within the heart space. Examples include:
● Ustrasana (Camel Pose)
● Bhujangasana (Cobra Pose)
● Chakrasana (Wheel Pose)
● Dhanurasana (Bow Pose)
Breathwork
Bhramari pranayama, or Humming Bee Breath, is a breathing technique that calms the mind and brings awareness of the heart space through vibrations. To practice:
1. Find a comfortable seated position.
2. Gently plug your ears and close your eyes.
3. Take a deep breath in and slowly exhale while making a continuous humming sound from the back of the throat.
For a more heart-centered variation, place your hands over your heart space to enhance the vibrations within the chest. This is one of my favorite techniques and has many variations to explore!
Mudras
Mudras are symbolic gestures used to direct the flow of energy in the body. Mudra translates to “seal” in Sanskrit.
● Anjali Mudra (pressing the palms together in front of the chest) brings a sense of gratitude and emotional balance. It is a gesture of peace, respect, and prayer. Anjali means “to offer” or “to salute” in Sanskrit.
Focusing on the heart chakra can help us to experience more joy, compassion, and empathy and to forgive others as well as ourselves.
“If you go deeper and deeper into your own heart, you’ll be living in a world with less fear, isolation and loneliness.” – Sharon Salzberg, author and meditation teacher.
