Of the eight widely recognised chakras, the heart corresponds to the heart chakra, often considered the centre of pure love and compassion. However, what if our epicentre of expansive joy feels diminished to the size of a pebble, or worse yet, what if we cannot feel it at all?
With a few simple exercises, you can help your heart expand, soften, and begin to open to your full potential as a vibrant emotional and spiritual being. Through this process, old wounds will start to heal, your heart will release, and your loving relationship with yourself and others will flourish.
Below are some simplified practices of what is known as Energy Therapy. Given its gentle approach, energy therapy is particularly beneficial for those recovering from operations or dealing with challenging issues such as PTSD. Some of these exercises may seem unusual at first, and it is perfectly fine to be sceptical. I urge you to try them anyway. At best, you will feel a loosening of the tension and constrictions on your heart that may be preventing you from being the person you are capable of becoming.
Heart-Focused Breathing
- Heart Focused Breathing
– Focus: Shift your attention to the area of your heart. Place your right hand over your heart, slightly to the left of the centre of your chest. If comfortable, place your left hand over your right hand and begin to breathe slowly and deeply. Close your eyes if you wish.
– Breathe: Focus on the heart and breathe deeply—five seconds in, five seconds out. Imagine you are breathing through the heart. Continue this for a few minutes.
– Envision: Evoke a sense of appreciation or care for someone or something in your life. Think of something easy to love, such as your child, a flower, or a puppy. Hold that feeling for 30 seconds while breathing deeply. Then imagine this feeling radiating throughout your body for about ten minutes. Ask your heart what it needs right now and, if possible, give that to yourself.
Body Awareness Exercise
- Body Awareness Exercise
– Preparation: Get comfortable and relaxed. Pay attention to your breathing, noticing how your breath goes in and out. Observe how your body contacts the chair and how your feet touch the floor.
– Attention to Heart: Focus on your heart. How does it feel? Observe without judgement. If you struggle, simply relax and continue the exercise. Breathe slowly for ten minutes, allowing all sensations to surface without judgement.
Heart Chakra Energy Clearing
- Heart Chakra Energy Clearing
– Clearing Exercise: Imagine your hand is magnetically charged to collect stagnant energy from your heart. Using your palm or fingers, slowly move your hand counterclockwise. When your hand feels heavy, shake off the excess energy. This begins to release blockages. If emotions surface, maintain witness consciousness—feel the emotions, continue clearing, and remain non-judgmental. If uncomfortable, stop.
– Closing: Move your hand clockwise until you sense a settling of the chakra.
Colour Breathing for the Heart
- Colour Breathing for the Heart
– Preparation: Calm your mind with a brief meditation, focusing on deep breathing for two minutes. Bring awareness to your heart chakra, envisioning it as a pink or green light. Observe and breathe in the colour on the inhale. On the exhale, observe the light without visualising it. Repeat until the ingoing and outgoing colours match.
Toning the Heart Chakra
- Toning the Heart Chakra
– Exercise: Centre your attention on your heart chakra. Using the vowel sound “AH,” open your mouth and intone softly. Focus on your heart chakra, feeling the vibration. Repeat seven times, experiencing the energy centre coming into openness and comfort.
Through these practices, you will begin to develop an authentic sense of the subtle, multifaceted structure of your chakras and how they work together as a unified whole. This will support you in becoming a more fully integrated human being.