- Reflection and contemplation on the meaning of unconditional love
- Deep relaxation and stress management, relaxing with soothing music or guided meditation
Specific hatha yoga asanas (precise but gentle, meditative physical movements and exercises combined with breathing) or relaxercises focused on the heart, such as the full yogic breath, Child and Hare position, moving forward into Cobra, resting in Sphinx and Crocodile, neck and shoulder rotations, chest extensions combined with visualisations, etc. can be done. Refer to any beginners' yoga book for instructions. Combine this with exercise like walking, swimming and dancing. Try Nia (visit the web-site: www.niasouthafrica.co.za or www.nia-nia.com for more info). Move to music that resonates with your soul. Really listen to it, absorb the sound vibrations and move to your inner dancer. If you've been sedentary for long, or have an existing heart problem, start gently with 5 minutes a day, gradually increasing to 30 minutes 4 times a week. Avoid straining and too many weight bearing exercises if you have existing heart disease and / or high blood pressure. Identify body signals of severe stress: feel the grief, sadness, pain, anxiety, restlessness, insomnia, depression. Don't always follow the first instinct of fear and try to suppress it - acknowledge and accept the fear, it is there as teacher to show you what the underlying feelings or emotions are. Use a journal to give voice to long suppressed pain and issues.
- Work on releasing past emotional injuries and hurts. Learn to surrender.
- Forgiveness
- Anger management: appropriate expression
- Breathing exercises
- Positive affirmations (can be combined with breathing and visualization while arms are reaching out with love and taking love in):
- I am worthy of love
- I affirm myself
- I love and accept you for what you are and think
- I allow you to be who you are
- I affirm you
- I embrace the world with love
- I reach out with love and take love in
- I accept, love and forgive myself
- I accept, love and forgive others
- I leave the past behind
- I live in balance
Work with arms - reaching out, drawing love in; symbolising the unconditional giving and receiving of love and interaction with others
- Self discovery - journaling, dreambody work
- Work on relationships, release of sorrow, guilt, acceptance of self and others
Choose a community service where you can contribute your special gifts and talents. Choose something you really believe in with your heart and soul, and reach out to the larger community, nature, animals or the earth for the benefit of all.
- Meditation: mindfulness, witnessing, visualisation, movement
The heart chakra healing colour is green - sit in the garden every day and watch the different shades of green, notice and feel the different textures. Contemplate nature.
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