The winter sunshine warmed our hearts this weekend, and we will bring some of that sunshine into our Yoga for the Heart (Anahata)Chakra practice this week at DOWNdog!

It’s Valentine’s Day on Thursday so I thought it was fitting to do a heart warming, heart opening practice.   From the root (muladhara) chakra, our foundation chakra,  we will explore the connection to the heart.

This week we will focus not only on how to do the poses but how the poses nourish a more open and braver heart.  For example, in low lunge Anjanyasana), the heart opens and is lifted from a place of strong rootedness.  In child’s pose (Balasana) the heart learns to trust as it surrenders to the present moment.  When bringing awareness to the heart, this is when the pose truly opens up and transforms into a wonderful sense of just being.

The Warrior poses (Virabhadrasana) will be our apex poses. Sinking into the warrior heart can be quite empowering especially when we imagine ourselves as being Virabhadra*, the fearless warrior!*  We will conclude with Fish pose (Matsyasana), a classic heart opening pose.

In yoga, the heart and the mind work to become more aligned.   When strong, this alignment gives clearer direction to our lives.  We feel more empowered. It helps us better deal with the twists and turns along the way.

 An AWEsome practice awaits you this week at DOWNdog!

Jocelyne and Dr. Jake

*Who is Virabhadra in Hindu mythology?  Next week in the DOWNdog post!