Yoga For Life

Yoga for Your Heart's Sake!

In Anusara Yoga we speak of opening and “melting” the heart. This softening of the heart space moves us to deeper and most exquisite connection and love in our relationships. Heart opening also affords needed skills when dealing with challenging situations. We can approach difficulty with softness; anger with courage and love.
And just as you practice heart opening in thoughts and emotions, heart opening can be experienced in the physical body. The heart resides in the thoracic cavity surrounded by your ribs. The bones are connected by soft tissues, including big and small muscles. Ideally, the connective tissue in your rib cage remains soft and resilient for a lifetime, affording optimum expansion and freedom. A rib cage that is stiff is like a suit of armor restricting the breath and  blood flow to the heart.
The rib cage can stiffen with age. A major contributor to a stiff upper back and collapsed heart center is the need to guard oneself from life. A natural reaction to pressure, unworthiness, or pain is to round the upper back and collapse the front of the chest .The slings and arrows of life can leave hollowness where the fully open heart used to live.
The practice of Anusara Yoga leads us again and again to the heart. We are encouraged to soften and remember the beauty and truth that is the very nature of our being. This recognition leads to celebration and joy.
For the health and happiness of your heart lengthen your side bodies and melt your heart!,
 

Save the Planet - Give Certified Organic or Fair Trade Chocolate this Valentine's Day!

Please give only Certified Organic or Fair Trade Chocolate as a gift for Valentine's Day (better yet purchase it anytime you have a yen for chocolate). Conventional chocolate may contain pesticide residue, lead and/or cadmium from the processing of the chocolate, and trans fats. In addition, the major growers of cacao beans (the stuff chocolate is made from) are Ghana, Nigeria, the Ivory Coast, areas in Indonesia, and Brazil. Many of the workers in these countries are not paid a living wage, work in horrible conditions, and child slavery is not uncommon. Support the community of the heart by choosing organic farmers who value the environment and human rights issues!