Valentines energy is in the air and we can feel all sorts of emotions this time of year, one thing I love to encourage in classes (anytime of year) is self love. So this little blog post is dedicated to self love, sure it's nice to share the love with others but that has to come from a place within ourselves, an energy that we feel at home with, we care for and feel connected to. Yoga teaches us to move deeply into ourselves, it helps us to connect to all of our layers and facets, emotions and the waves of life. This is a practice that is personal to us so I hope this blog post helps you find a little bit of time to 'fill your cup'. Self love doesn't always look like rose petal baths and a box of chocolates, it could be a quiet walk in the sunshine, creating a playlist of the songs you love, reading a new book. The heart chakra teaches us to be spacious and open, so bare that in mind when we have expectations on the way things 'should' be in the outerworld. Use this to connect to your inner world.
The Heart Chakra
The Heart Chakra governs qualities of acceptance, forgiveness, compassion, empathy and of course what most often comes to mind first, love. The element of the Heart Chakra is air, an all encompassing force that is invisible, fluid and has the ability to interweave and flow through, within and around. I love to visualise that love can share the same qualities, that its unending and has no barriers or edges. Its soft, it allows us to be soft and within that softness we open. Acceptance shares the same value, by allowing ourselves to be accepting of all that is we hardly have any resistance to fight against, did you know that most of the resistance we create is within our minds? True! We are emotional beings and I feel its so important for us to feel our feelings, it leads us to another pathway of acceptance, we can accept how we feel. Happy, sad, angry, irritated, numb, overwhelmed, bliss, calm and all of the other emotions that come with being human are there for a reason and the more that we can accept that its okay to feel them the more we can grow into the character and person we are. Society, social media and outward pressures may have taught us from a young age to sit still and be quiet, you may have been laughed at for sharing your opinion, you may have had a boss who doesn't care what you say as long as you do your job, there are pressures from social media to look and act a certain way. All of these things (Im sure you can think of many) have an influence and mould us in such a way that its hard to be accepting, and certainly towards yourself.
Allow yourself to feel your feelings and know that as the heart chakra lifts us in to the qualities of spaciousness that you have the ability to create more space. You can change your mind, opinion, hair colour, words, job. Just like the air you are free. Let the heart lead you back home to yourself, know that what ever you feel is valid and by acknowledging and accepting those feelings you are stepping into a softer more present version of you.
Want to know more about the Heart Chakra? Read my full post here: https://www.wildloveyoga.com/post/the-heart-chakra-open-up
Simple practices for the heart:
Breathe. One of the most profound and simple exercises you can do is to notice the breath. We do it in meditation and by allowing yourself to notice your breath you are out of the mind and in the body.
Create and find an appreciation for beauty, whether it’s in nature, friends and family a place or within creativity.
Practice self-care and find a little you time. Whether this is reading a book, sitting in a cafe with a warm cuppa, a candlelit bath or a gentle yoga practice opening the heart area.
Cultivate self-compassion and acceptance, especially with regards to your emotions and body.
Engage in activities that feed your heart, walking, cycling, swimming, a gym session, running, get that heart pumping!
Focus on receiving if you are naturally inclined to be a giver; and on giving if you’re more inclined to receive.
Reflect on old wounds or hurt, whatever the experience and situation may have been allow yourself to come to terms with them compassionately; practice forgiveness deep within your heart.
Express your gratitude, you don't need to say it out loud. What are you grateful for right now?
Gratitude meditation
This simple meditation that can be practiced anywhere, anytime, in a quiet spot in the morning, in the car driving to work, in the shower or just before bed.
+ Find a comfortable posture with the head lifted, neck spacious yet soft.
+ Gently relax the face, allow the jaw to relax.
+ Begin to notice your natural breath. The gentle movements it creates, the sound.
+ Sit with the breath for a little while, and if the mind wanders off, come back to the breath.
+ Within your mind, tell yourself 5 things you are grateful for.
+ Repeat these 5 things with your mind, several times.
+ Breathing in with gratitude, breathing out repeating the words.
+ Come back to the breath, subtle, soft and calm.
Practice this every day, bringing our mind to the things we are grateful for will help us shift our outlook in a positive way, it boosts our mood, it reflects the things we value.
Yoga postures to open your heart -
Heart postures can vary! Many think about backbends being the main 'heart opening' postures which is wonderful, but can we think about postures or practices that help us take up space. How do you feel when you're curled up in a little ball? How do you feel when you stand there with your arms open wide? Explore postures that help you to physically open the shoulders and chest. The arms are heart strings, they help us interact with the big wide world, they give us the opportunity to give away our energy and receive energy, but in order for us to do that whole heartedly we have to be open emotionally. Here are 5 postures to help you connect to your heart...
We all love a sweet treat so here are two recipes that you can enjoy not only on Valentines but any time of year. I adore beetroot lattes and the colour of them can brighten your mood in an instant! The chocolate hearts are made from scratch and you can add your own magical sprinkles, make them with the family or give them as a gift. I really do believe homemade food as a gift can be such a special gift to receive. We love food, appreciate the time and care taken in cooking or creating a meal and love how it can bring people together.
Chocolate Recipe:
Beetroot Latte Recipe:
Following a beautiful inner beauty workshop last year I wrote a blog post with techniques that can help keep your skin glowing and inspire your self care routine. There are many wonderful things that we can do for our bodies without products, self massage is a huge one that I would highly recommend getting into, not only does it feel nice to connect to ourselves it can help promote circulation, tone, decreases lines and cellulite, lymph drainage & release the connective tissues. We spend a lot of time (and possibly money) working on our bodies and forget about the face! So read on for natural skin care tips that might be a game changer for you.
Affirmations
Affirmations have an impact on our day to day activities, rather than waking up and looking in the mirror and telling yourself something negative start telling yourself something positive! The energy you put out, the energy you will get back.
Don't hide! Speak them aloud as you go through your morning routine, in the car, on your walk, before bed. If you're in a relationship you may get a few laughs but it will also start shining into other areas of your life, even your children!
I am kind and loving. I am compassionate and truly care for others.
I believe in myself.
I love who I have become.
I am authentic and true.
I am free to express my emotions.
I can overcome any challenge life gives me.
I respect myself deeply.
Being confident in myself comes naturally to me.
I am a unique and a very special person.
Mistakes are opportunities to learn.
I hope you can take many things from this blog post, that love isn't just about those butterflies in your stomach or a lust for someone. It's also about how you're moving through life with a connection to you, as your true self, what you want in life and how you can be incredibly happy with your journey to self love!
“When you recover or discover something that nourishes your soul and brings joy, care enough about yourself to make room for it in your life.” - Jean Shinoda Bolen
All my love,
V x