Anahata – The Heart Chakra

Heart Chakra Meaning & Location

The heart chakra, also known as the fourth chakra or Anahata, is the center of love and compassion. Located in the center of the chest, it governs all aspects of emotional health, including love, joy, happiness, inner peace, and forgiveness. The heart chakra is associated with the color green and is closely linked to the thymus gland, which produces white blood cells to fight infection.

When the heart chakra is imbalanced, we may experience emotions such as anger, jealousy, and guilt. We may also find it difficult to forgive others or ourselves. Physical symptoms of a blocked heart chakra can include chest pain, asthma, and respiratory problems.

The best way to heal an imbalance in the heart chakra is through meditation and yoga. We can also work to cultivate compassion and love by volunteering our time for a good cause or by simply reaching out to others with kindness and understanding.

Blocked Heart Chakra & Heart Chakra Blocked Symptoms

The heart chakra is responsible for your emotional well-being. If your heart chakra is blocked, you may experience negative emotions such as anger, sadness, or fear. You may also find it difficult to trust others and to open up emotionally.

If you suspect that your heart chakra is blocked, there are several things you can do to unblock it:

First, try meditating on the opening of the heart chakra. visualize a bright light entering your body and flowing through your heart chakra. Alternatively, you can try yoga or affirmations.

Another way to unblock the heart chakra is by working on your self-esteem. Make sure that you are accepting and loving towards yourself, and work on forgiving yourself for any wrongs you have done.

Finally, make sure that you have healthy relationships with others. Spend time with people who make you feel good about yourself and who support your emotional well-being.

If you take the time to unblock your heart chakra, you will likely find that you are more able to give and receive love. You may also find that you are more balanced emotionally and that you have increased self-esteem.

As a result, your overall well-being will improve. So make sure to give yourself some time to work on your heart chakra.

Curious about the 7 Chakras? Check out the article Overview - What are the 7 Chakras.

Overactive Heart Chakra & Underactive Heart Chakra

An overactive heart chakra can be a sign that you’re not getting enough love and support in your life. When your heart chakra is out of balance, you may find yourself feeling needy and insecure. You may also have a difficult time trusting others.

If your heart chakra is overactive, it’s important to find ways to give yourself the love and support you need. This may mean spending time with loved ones, taking care of yourself emotionally, or simply acknowledging your own needs. You may also want to consider working on your self-esteem and trust issues.

An underactive heart chakra can be a sign that you’re holding onto resentment or pain from the past. When your heart chakra is out of balance, you may find yourself feeling angry, hurt, and alone. You may also have a hard time forgiving others.

If your heart chakra is underactive, it’s important to find ways to release the pain you’re holding onto. This may mean working on forgiveness, spending time in nature, or simply allowing yourself to feel your emotions. It’s also important to focus on self-love and compassion.

The heart chakra is associated with the colors green and pink. Green is the color of healing and growth, while pink represents love and compassion.

Try incorporating these colors into your life if you’re working on balancing your heart chakra. You can wear green and pink clothing, decorate your home with these colors, or even carry around stones that are these colors.

How to Heal the Heart Chakra & Heart Chakra Balancing

Heart Chakra Stones & Crystals

When it comes to crystals for the heart chakra, there are many that can help to balance the heart chakra.

Some of the most popular crystals for the heart chakra include rose quartz, jade, green calcite, green tourmaline, green aventurine, emerald, green jasper, and malachite. Each of these crystals has unique properties that can help to open and balance the heart chakra.

Rose Quartz – Love and compassion. It helps to open the heart chakra and encourages unconditional love and forgiveness.

Jade – Calm and serenity. It helps to soothe emotions and promote grounding.

Green Calcite – Growth and change. It encourages new beginnings and helps us to move forward in our lives with optimism.

Green Tourmaline – Abundance and prosperity. It helps to attract wealth and abundance into our lives.

Green Aventurine – Luck and opportunity. It encourages new possibilities and opportunities in our lives.

Emerald – Truth and loyalty. It encourages honesty and uprightness in our dealings with others.

Green Jasper – Healing and regeneration. It helps to mend emotional wounds and restore balance to our lives.

Malachite – Transformation. It helps us to release old patterns and habits that no longer serve us, making way for new beginnings.

If you are working on opening your heart chakra, try using a combination of these crystals or simply choose one that calls to you most strongly.

Crystals that aid in balancing an overactive heart chakra are colors that are opposite of green.

Place the crystal near your heart center (just below your breastbone) or carry it with you throughout the day. Use your intuition to guide you on how often you should use the crystal for the best results.

Heart Chakra Yoga Poses

There are many yoga poses that can help to open and balance the heart chakra. Some favorites include the cobra pose, cow face pose, camel pose, fish pose as well as cat pose.

Cobra Pose: This pose stretches the chest and opens the heart chakra. It also strengthens the spine and shoulders.

To do the cobra pose, start on your stomach with your hands parallel to each other on the floor beneath your shoulders. Press your palms to the floor and slowly lift your head, neck and chest off of the floor. Keep your hips pressed firmly into the floor.

Cow Face Pose: This pose stretches the hips and opens the heart chakra. It also helps to improve flexibility in the shoulders and neck.

To do the cow face pose, start by placing your knees on the ground as well as your hands. Lower your stomach while lifting your chest and hips while exhailing and look up.

Eagle Pose: This pose strengthens the ankles, thighs and calves while also opening the heart chakra.

To do the eagle pose, stand with your feet together and bend your knees slightly. Cross your right ankle over your left thigh and hug your right thigh close to your body with your right hand. Reach your left arm up over your right, and move your left arm around your right to reach the palm of your right.

Camel Pose: This pose stretches the entire front of the body including the chest, abdomen and hip flexors. It also opens the heart chakra.

To do the camel pose, start on your knees and reach back to grab your ankles and look straight up.

Fish Pose: This pose stretches the chest and abdominal muscles while opening the heart chakra. It can also help to relieve stress and tension in the neck and shoulders.

To do the fish pose, start by lying on your back with your legs extended and your arms at your sides. Slowly lift your chest off of the floor, then press your palms into the floor beside you for support.

Cat Pose: This pose stretches the entire back side of the body including the spine, shoulders and hips. It also helps to improve flexibility in the spine and open the heart chakra.

To do the cat pose, start on all fours with your knees directly below your hips and hands below your shoulders. As you inhale, arch you back towards the ceiling and look up towards the sky. As you exhale, round your back towards the floor and tuck your chin towards your chest.

Upward Facing Dog Pose: This pose strengthens the arms and legs while also stretching the back, chest and shoulders. It opens the heart chakra and can help to relieve stress and fatigue.

To do the upward-facing dog pose, start lying on your stomach with your legs extended behind you and your palms flat on the floor beside you. Pressing into your palms, lift your head, chest and legs off of the floor while keeping your hips low.