Anahatasana Pose - Melting Heart Pose
Yoga is an excellent traditional form of exercise that targets all areas of your body and helps to enhance and stimulate the functioning of your organs. Learn how to strengthen your heart muscle by practicing the melting heart pose (anahatasana) regularly!
About Melting Heart Pose
The melting heart pose (anahatasana) is a classic yoga posture that focuses on your chest area and works on enhancing the functioning of the heart muscle. This beginner’s pose may be simple and uncomplicated, but it has several exceptional benefits that seasoned yoga practitioners can also benefit from. The word anahat means ‘the heart’ in Sanskrit, and true to its name the melting heart pose(anahatasana) opens up and stretches the chest and upper back, and stimulates the heart muscle. Adding the melting heart pose (anahatasana) to your daily yoga workout will bring you closer to achieving the goal of a harmonious mind and body, and a connected physical and spiritual being.
Step By Step Instructions
Spread out your yoga mat and practice the following guidelines to perform the melting heart pose (anahatasana) sequence!
- Position yourself in the child’s pose (balasana) on the yoga mat.
- Raise yourself onto your hands and knees. You can place a blanket underneath your knees for added support.
- Slowly walk your hands forwards until your arms are completely outstretched along the yoga mat. Keep your hands pressed flat on the mat as you lower your chin or forehead down onto the mat.
- Keep your hips raised and positioned in perfect alignment with your knees.
- Practice deep breathing (pranayama).
- Maintain the melting heart pose (anahatasana) for 5 deep breaths, or longer if you like.
- Exit the melting heart pose (anahatasana) by resuming the child’s pose (balasana).
Health Benefits
The melting heart pose (anahatasana) has an impressive list of health benefits on offer!
- Softens the heart.
- Stretches and opens up the chest, shoulders and back.
- Has a calming and soothing effect on the mind and body.
- Helps to improve posture and realign the spine.
- Relieves symptoms of stress in the shoulders and upper back.
Things to Remember!
Individuals suffering from knee injuries or shoulder injuries should refrain from practicing the melting heart pose (anahatasana)