Valentine's Day Chakra
/Dear Yogis.
In honour of the fast approaching Valentine’s Day, I thought that writing about the Heart Chakra might be the thing! Whether you think chakras are actual anatomical parts of us, or miniature washing machines in our cosmic composition, it doesn’t matter. It just offers another point of view and might open up the imagination, and perhaps inspire strength and purpose.
The Sanskrit name of the heart chakra is Anāhata which translates as ‘unstuck’ or unhurt or unbeaten. ‘Unstuck’ really struck me. Our culture loves the idea of a fragile, wanting, yearning and hurting heart but it could equally be associated with balance, serenity, expansiveness and generosity. Actually, it’s both! The chakra system explains that the heart exists in the middle of the struggle between the egotistical, manipulative and avarice-driven lower three chakras and the spiritually focused higher three chakras.
The heart chakra is the first of the chakras to look away from the ego, upward and outward, and towards compassion and ‘pure’ ideas. Anahata has inner strength, faith, devotion and confidence. It is these qualities that can overcome the other tendency of the heart chakra to wallow in wanting, loneliness, internal deficiencies and the fretful ego. Just knowing that might give you a tool should you need one.
Anyway, you know the difference between a closed heart and an open heart without needing a philosophical explanation! Thank god we have one day a year which makes us think about love. You might spend some moments on yourself by finding one or two of the gorgeous qualities of the Anahata chakra and start the day from there.
Zoom Classes
Typical yoga postures for Valentine’s Day are any postures that stretch your heart area. Anything that stretches the front of the body is lovely, especially in an Ashtanga class which is heavy on closing and folding! I might chuck a couple of those ‘heart openers’ in to the class today at 4.30. Join if you are free. You can book all classes here.
Yoga in the news
The Guardian has a bit of a sad article: Close-ups, cats and clutter: what the online yoga teacher saw. “Online yoga has its benefits: I get people from all over the world logging in, not just people in the same postcode. One of my corporate clients has global offices, so I see afternoon light in Swedish living rooms, next to dusk in Singapore apartments.”
The Independent has: I formed a yoga union because we’re not radiant Eat Pray Love extras, we’re underpaid, exhausted and exploited. “Most yoga teachers don't even have a contract, let alone sick-pay, paid leave or pension contributions”. (I have a contract from BBC World Service called an ‘As And When contract!)
The Times has: Why yoga handstands are the new alpha obsession It's yoga's most instagrammed position – and it has transformed my body, says Anna Murphy.
