Embodying the chakras part 7 - Coming home to the centre of it all

Unlike your mind/ego (the head centre), the heart centre does not need to be loud or seek approval, doesn’t judge or need to be heard. Rather it rests quietly (and when in balance) its default is to be at peace and is totally content.

This is our final week where our clusters delve into the philosophy and embodiment of the chakra system.  I love this concise summary of this seven part journey:

1st chakra - I am

2nd chakra - I feel 

3rd chakra - I do

4th chakra - I love

5th chakra - I speak

6th chakra - I see

7th chakra - I know

So, we have covered chakras 1, 2, 3, 5, 6 and 7 and for this final week, we are delving into the inner wisdom found at the 4th chakra… the heart centre.

The epicentre of all

Yoga translates as ‘to unite’ and if we consider the broader perspective, we are considering a merger of the finite human experience with a boundless infinite consciousness.

I Find it cool that human cell is around the mid point between the smallest sub-atomic particles we can measure and the largest observable structures that we can see at the edge of the observable universe!

And within the human, we have the heart as our ultimate epicentre. When we have an intimate connection/knowing/perspective from here, we can:

• Feel and reveal emotions
• Show compassion and kindness
• Know sentience
• Reveal self awareness
• Are great at self care
• Experience timelessness 
• Allow space for forgiveness
• Open the doorway to the meditative state (presence) 
• Serve others
• Tune into that which is sacred and
• We have place to lean into when needing guidance in any situation

I think we could describe the heart centre in one word:

home

You know when you are balanced here because you have the above qualities in abundance and an abundance of:

self love - self care - self acceptance

Then from within, you can share those qualities with others… compassion and warmth for life spill out (and it’s a resource that you don’t have to worry about because there’s an infinite supply)!

What about being unbalanced at the heart?

As with any chakra, the energy from the heart can be over or under active. When under, you might lack compassion for self and others, have a slumped posture, make inappropriate relationship choices, be needy for attention and affection externally and be prone to attachments.

You could also become a ‘pleaser’ and do and say what people want or expect. I don’t see this as a good strategy for self care and you risk compromising your authentic, true self.

Doing and saying what is true may not be popular but will reward you in the long term and those who matter will understand, listen, stick around and ultimately support you.

If you sense a lack of positive energy at the heart centre, well done because acknowledgment is the first step to balance. From this recognition, allow space and time to listen and continue with practices of self care. What ever you may have been told or believed in the past, you can reconsider your self perception at any time. So, if appropriate, be ready to let yourself off the hook, recognise that there could be room for improvement and make necessary changes.

When over-active at the heart centre…

you are more likely to get easily upset, get into conflicts and might find it difficult let go of emotions such as grief and loss. If angry at self, this could spill out and affect others (even those close to you).

Again, awareness of this is the beginning of change and below are fifteen suggestions that should help turn your attention inside to support heart centred wellbeing:

1. Practice heart coherence breathing where you rest your hands on your chest bone, breath smoothly and focus on positivity
2. Do some yoga. This can be at an official class or simply by sitting down, bringing your hands to prayer pose at the chest bone, closing your eyes and breathing with full awareness
3. Raise your heart rate with dynamic exercise such as slow strength training or HIIT
4. Use positive affirmations more often and be ready to interupt negative thoughts
5. Meditate/practice mindfulness
6. Let your ego be quiet
7. Spend time outdoors to immerse in nature 
8. Look out for good in your surroundings and the world beyond
9. Give away free smiles and random acts of kindness
10. Practice gratitude (great before meals and when you wake up) 
11. Practice total listening when others are speaking
12. Do a few rounds of seated arcing, then stretch your chest muscles with upper body nerve gliding 
13. Sit and walk with good posture so that your heart centre can project forwards and slightly up
14. Notice who or what ‘touches’ you inn a positive way. Spend time with those people r and places.
15. Spend more time this week watching comedies and feel good movies rather than being glued to the news!

One more thing, don’t be afraid to reach out this week. This could be on the subtle side, for example letting somebody in to receive support but also physically. The arms are a natural extension from the heart… we reach out for a hug (yogis do this with their heads to the right so the the hearts that are naturally tilted to the left touch in the centre).

Summary

The heart centre is an inner location of self awareness, total trust and if awakening or enlightenment are to be embodied, it emanates from there. So all and all a pretty good place to embrace and be with!

Then, when all chakras come to balance, it’s the ultimate experience of aliveness and awareness. You’re calm, centred, connected, creative, clear and focused. You can live, express and interact with comfort and confidence. In the yogic world, it’s called being:

happy, heathy and holy!

I hope this seven week journey has been of value for you.

How about some suggestions for a daily mantra?

You could rest one or both hands over your heart as you recite these: 

“I have compassion for self and others”

”My heart is open and balanced”

“I am learning to trust my heart’s wisdom”

”Your words here”

* * * *

Thanks for reading

Take Care

Danny

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Here are this weeks recommended cluster of Dojiva classes that are focused around the heart:

Sunday 9th Nov 2025 - Pranayama 07 - The heart massage -  In this breath practice, we get to feel how the heart responds to the breath. Just like the lungs, it follows the direction and movement from the diaphragm below. We use our hands and imagery to feel and ultimately embody the heart’s movement that it becomes like a rhythmic massage. Find a comfortable place to sit so that you can move your spine freely with each breath. 

Monday 10th - Workout 36 - The first half of this class has standing (functional) strength training. The second half is on the mat and it will help if you have one of the following, a Bosu, gym ball, foam roller, yoga bolster or a gym bench (even firm cushions will do)! It’s a full length class with 11 sets in all.

Tuesday 11th - Mobility 83 - Hunched back reduction with tricep and shoulder stretching. As well as thoracic spine mobility, this class helps you to connect with your heart projection to the back!

Wednesday 12th - Meditation 60 - Journey into the subtle tidal flow of breathing and feel an inner rocking of spine and massage of heart... lose separation and reveal your harmonious self.

Thursday 13th - Workout 117 - Today, we have another one of our classes that maximises muscle usage. The first six sets have standing functional exercises that change leg strength, arm strength, torso strength and balance…all at once. Then we enjoy mat work with planks, bridges and abs.

Friday 14th - Mobility 56 - In this class, we do self massage/loosening moves with the goal of freeing up muscles and connective tissues that might be stuck at the deeper layers at wrists, arms and even torso muscles. In line with our theme, it’s a time to reach out, extend your arms and embrace whatever is coming your way!

Saturday 15th - Mini fitness 122 - Let’s finish the week with some heart raising interval training (six sets in just 26 minutes). This class is all about leg speed and agility... enjoy!