Anahata: Heart Chakra

​In August (and a little of September) classes we will be working on bringing balance to Anahata in our practice of asana, breath work, hasta mudra (hand gestures), meditation and relaxation.

https://www.chakras.info/heart-chakra/

Anahata, meaning “unstruck”, is the heart chakra. The fourth chakras which is located at the centre of the chest at the level of the physical heart. This is the centre of love, compassion, healing and acceptance. Anahata is also the powerful junction between the lower earthly chakras and the higher spiritual chakras.

Here we experience refined emotions and can also become more aware of the emotions of others. Anahata is associated with the sense of touch and its awakening enables healing of others, either via direct touch or by radiation of energy. It is the centre of divine love and the generator of emotion and devotion.

​Anahata is linked with the element of air and is often symbolised by a green lotus with 12 petals and the bija mantra is Yam (Saraswati, 2016). Often it is depicted with 2 triangles that form a star. The downward one symbolising spirit descending downwards through the body, whilst the upward one represents the matter rising from the root to meet the spirit. Anahata is associated with deep compassion for others and the self, and the development of self-acceptance (Simpson, 2016).
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I sometimes think that people’s hearts are like deep wells. Nobody knows what’s at the bottom. All you can do is imagine by what comes floating to the surface every once in a while. Haruki Murakami

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It is vital to pay respect and acknowledgement to our sources:

Judith, A. (2015) Chakra Yoga. Woodbury: Llewellyn Publications. 
Pacheco, R. (2016) Do your Om thing. New York: HarperCollins Publishers.
Saradananda, S. (2015) Mudras for Modern Life. London: Watkins Media Ltd.
Saraswati, S. N. (2016) Prana and Pranayama. Bahir India: Bihar School of Yoga.
Simpson, L. (2016) The Book of Chakra Healing: A Spiritual System of Cosmic Healing. London: Octopus Publishing.