The heart chakra is traditionally seen as a bridge between the lower (“survival” chakras) and upper chakras (considered spiritual). It is the center of love. When your heart chakra is balanced you feel surrounded by love; you are able to love and accept love. You are joyful, compassionate, and grateful.
Sanskrit Name: Anahata
Location: Chest (center)
Color: Green
Element: Air
Mantra: I love
Gland: Thymus
Crystals: Rose Quartz, Aventurine, Green Jade
However, when your heart chakra is blocked, you might notice some of the symptoms below:
- Finding it difficult to feel empathy and compassion
- Finding it difficult to forgive
- Having problems with trust
- Being critical and judgmental
- Being antisocial
- Feeling shyness, loneliness, anxiety or depression
On the physical level: chest pains, circulation problems, asthma, a weakened immune system.
Imbalances within the heart chakra can throw your whole chakra system off balance. It can also affect the balance between your mind and body. Opening your heart chakra can bring great benefits for your entire being.
So ready to radiate love? Take a look at the ideas below and choose the ones which resonate with you!
How To Unblock Your Heart Chakra
- Practice gratitude
To me this is one of the fastest ways to feel love. And it is so simple!
Let’s say you feel really down, everything seems to be just too much, and nothing goes your way. You might think (and feel it too) that there is nothing to be grateful for. Well, you know what? There is so much to feel appreciation and love for every single day! Not convinced? How about that warm, relaxing shower you had in the morning? Or that favorite tea of yours? These are all small things you can choose to notice and feel gratitude for.
Try writing down a few things you felt grateful for during the day. Writing them down and really feeling the feeling of gratitude will help you shift your attention from all the negative things happening in your life.
- Focus on activities you love
Among all the chores and tasks you feel overwhelmed with during the day, try finding some time to do things you love. Feel like singing, dancing, having a walk in a park?
Make sure to do something which gives you joy, even if only for 15 minutes or so. This will help you to shift the energy.
- Try Metta meditation
Metta meditation is also known as loving kindness meditation. This is a beautiful way of evoking and feeling love for yourself and others.
At the beginning you might find it difficult, especially if you are not used to giving and receiving love on that scale. However, I would encourage you to try it! It will transform the way you feel about yourself and other people in your life (even the ones you have had difficult relationships with).
Feel like you would like to give it a go? Check out the post dedicated to Metta meditation!
- Try these yoga poses
Yoga is very helpful in balancing all your chakras. So no surprise it is included in this list! For the heart chakra, it is important to open the chest area and to breathe deeply (to stimulate the lungs). Grab your mat and try the poses below:
- Camel pose (Ustrasana)
- Cobra pose (Bhujangasana)
- Bridge pose (Setu Bandha Sarvangasana)
- Cat/ Cow pose (Marjaryasana/Bitilasana)
- Upward-Facing Dog pose (Urdhva Mukha Svanasana)
A reference chart you might find useful. To save or print the printable, just click on it 🙂
- Focus on breathing
The heart chakra’s element is air and breath – as related to air – is one of the keys to balance this chakra. But let’s be honest, we don’t pay enough attention to it. How often during the day you breathe consciously? Chances are, not too often (apart from maybe when mediating or exercising).
If you would like to improve your breathing, start with something simple. Pay attention to your breath at least a few times a day. Take a deep breath in, feel the lungs expanding with air and slowly breathe out. Repeat it a few times. This simple exercise can be very helpful when you feel tense, after a few deep breaths you should notice the tension go away.
If you would like to take your breathing to the next level, I would encourage you to explore pranayama. If you are into yoga, you might be familiar with this term. It refers to breathing techniques that are designed to expand your consciousness and purify the body (the Hindus believe that breath is a portal between the mind and body).
Here are some of the techniques worth trying:
- Nadhi Sodhana aka Anuloma Viloma (alternative nostril breathing) which can be done any time of the day.
- Kapalabhati Pranayama (also known as ‘skull shining breath’), best to practice in the morning.
- Ujjayi Pranayama (‘victorious breath’, also known as ‘ocean breath’), used especially in yoga, when practicing asanas.
- Sitali Pranayama (sitali means cooling), great to relax and when you try to cool off.
If you would like to learn more about chakras, make sure to take a look at our Beginner’s Guide to Chakras, happy reading 🙂 !
- Use the affirmations
The heart chakra affirmations can help you shift your energy and mindset to love and compassion. When reciting them (either aloud or in your mind) focus on the heart area. You can also use them when mediating.
I encourage you to create your own affirmations which will best resonate with you.
Until you have your own set ready, take a look at some affirmations below:
- I am love.
- I love myself unconditionally.
- I welcome love into my life.
- I am worthy of love.
- I choose love.
- I radiate love.
- I am loving, kind and compassionate towards all beings.
- I am grateful for loving people around me.
- My heart is loving and pure.
- I choose compassion over judgement.
- I forgive myself.
To save or print the poster, just click on it 🙂
- Embrace the color green!
Given that the color green is associated with the heart chakra, it makes lots of sense to connect with it on daily basis, don’t you think? Put on a green scarf or grab a pair of green socks. Have fun boosting your wardrobe with green. Be creative with décor at your place, add some green elements (plants are always a wonderful idea!). Notice the color green wherever you go.
- Use crystals
Try working with crystals. You can wear them as jewelry or simply carry them with you in your pocket. Meditating with crystals is always a good idea.
Crystals that are associated with the heart chakra and can help balance, heal, and clean it, include:
- Rose Quartz
- Amazonite
- Aventurine
- Green Jade
- Rhodochrosite
- Moss Agate
Heart chakra chart. To save or print, just click on it 🙂
- Work with essential oils
To promote feelings of self-love and inner peace, try using some of these essential oils:
- Palmarosa
- Jasmine
- Rose
- Orange
- Lavender
- Yarrow
Pick up the one which smells best for you and then either inhale it (directly from the bottle – inhaling deeply for a few times) or using a diffuser. You can also place a few drops of diluted oil on your skin or add a few drops of essential oil to your body wash or shampoo. To begin your day with a profound feeling of love, place a few drops of your favorite essential oil on the shower walls around you and then inhale deeply when showering. What a wonderful start to a new day!
A reference chart you might find useful. To save or print the printable, just click on it 🙂
- Enrich your diet
When it comes to diet, you can never go wrong with healthy food on your table. It will benefit all your chakras, the whole body, and your mind.
To balance your heart chakra, something as simple as adding more green products to your diet can bring great results. Make sure to incorporate into your daily menu: spinach, kale, broccoli, celery, cucumbers, parsley, kiwis, green apples and avocado among others. Your heart will love it!
- Try Reiki
Boost your energy levels and treat yourself to a Reiki session. It is a truly blissful experience. I recommend a Reiki session to anyone who faces problems with any of their chakras. The unblocked heart chakra is no exception!
Not sure what Reiki really is and how it can benefit you? This post is then just for you!
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