Getting to know your heart chakra

You may recall many moons ago, I did a weekly run down on the chakras of the body, where they were, what they were connected too etc.  After treating a client the other day, the experience reignited my interest and that's what I'd like to share today, as it really is a fascinating subject.

The client was in a very dark place emotionally, with a long history of depression, anxiety, low self esteem among other things.  I've seen her several times before and always do my best to alleviate, if only for a short time, some of these negative feelings.  This particular day, rather than trying to specifically release her tightened shoulder & neck muscles, I decided to perform a relaxing, flowing, soothing treatment to give her mind peace and the opportunity to release negativity.

I had only placed my hands on her back when the area where the heart chakra would be immediately turned an angry red and became hot and remained so throughout the treatment.  Afterwards, she had a good old cry which she felt she needed.  I explained the heart chakra to her and how hers had shown itself to me as it were, so massage not just for physical ills, but emotional ones as well.  Read on to learn abut the heart chakra, poached from chopra.com and modified for length.

The fourth chakra is at the centre of the seven chakras with three below and three above. This is the area where physical and spiritual meet. The fourth chakra, also referred to as the heart chakra, is located at the centre of the chest and includes the heart, cardiac plexus, thymus gland, lungs, and breasts. It also rules the lymphatic system. The Sanskrit word for the fourth chakra isAnahata, which means “unstruck” or “unhurt.” The name implies that beneath the hurts and grievances of past experiences lies a pure and spiritual place where no hurt exists.                                     
When your heart chakra is open, you are flowing with love and compassion, you are quick to forgive, and you accept others and yourself. A closed heart chakra can give way to grief, anger, jealousy, fear of betrayal, and hatred toward yourself and others.
The best way to receive love is to give it. Author and motivational speaker, Leo Buscaglia, used to teach that we should give and receive 12 hugs a day for optimal health. So give hugs and kisses. Other ways you can give love:

• Smile at everyone you see daily, even if you don’t feel like smiling. It’s contagious.
• Forgive and move on. Life is too short to hold grudges.
• Give friends, family and co-workers positive affirmations and feedback.
• Try to go one day a week without criticizing anyone or anything, including yourself.

Take any opportunity you can to foster love and loving feelings. Love is a currency and whatever you give will come back to you.
Any yoga pose that opens the area of the chest will help to balance the heart chakra. Some poses include camel, standing bow pose, and cow face pose.
The mantra sound corresponding to the fourth chakra is the sound YUM. A special mantra to help expand love and compassion is OM MANI PADME HUM. You can repeat this mantra in meditation to gain greater access to these qualities.
The colour is emerald green and the gemstones associated with the heart are emerald, malachite, jade, and rose quartz.

Til next week
MB