Anahata or the Heart Chakra

Peace, Love, Pugs to all in the L. Pawncho Camarillo.  Namaste~

The Heart Chakra - the wellspring of love, warmth, compassion, and joy is located at the heart centre. Anahata moves love through your life. It is the centre of your deep bonds with other beings, your sense of caring and compassion, your feelings of self-love, altruism, generosity, kindness, and respect. Anahata is an integrating and unifying chakra - bringing to wholeness - as such, it is your healing centre. Indeed, most spiritual traditions recognize love as the ultimate healing force.

http://www.chakra-anatomy.com/heart-chakra.html

Our most favorite mantra:

Om (ohm)

Ma (mah)

Ni (nee)

Pad (pahd)

Me (may)

Hum (hum)

"The Jewel in the Lotus Flower or Praise to the Jewel in the Lotus Flower"

http://www.sacred-texts.com/bud/tib/omph.htm

Tibetan Buddhists believe that saying the mantra (prayer), Om Mani Padme Hum, out loud or silently to oneself, invokes the powerful benevolent attention and blessings of Chenrezig, the embodiment of compassion. Viewing the written form of the mantra is said to have the same effect -- it is often carved into stones, like the one pictured above, and placed where people can see them. 

http://www.dharma-haven.org/tibetan/meaning-of-om-mani-padme-hung.htm

Tootsie Roll and I start each weekday morning out with a small yoga routine...a sun and moon salutation, some yoga breathing/abdominals, "super-brain" yoga...which is squats with some bandhas, or body locks, some seated forward bends and floor twists.  But all through this little routine my mind is chanting, "Om Mani Padme Hum."  There is truly no better way to start the day.  

Cobra Pose, Bhujangasana

Cobra pose allows for the prana to be directed into the heart chakra, rather than scattered around. This heart chakra yoga pose also allows for strengthening of the entire shoulder area, providing more stable support for the shoulder.

1. Lie on your stomach with your feet extended out, the tops of your feet touching the mat and your forehead touching the ground. Your hands are under the shoulders.
2. Press the tops of your feet into the mat and allow your knees to lift off the ground slightly. Let your pubic bone drop down into the mat to stabilize your lower back.
3. Take a breath in as your raise your head lifting the upper body using the power of your back. Breath out. Continue engaging your legs and pushing your pelvis into the floor to protect your lower back.
4. On your next in breath use the power of your arms to lift your body until you have extended as far as you can go. Make sure your arms are not fully straightened as this may hyper extend your elbows and destabilize the pose.
5. Feel your chest opening and your whole front of the body opening gently. Feel the prana flowing through your chest and into your Anahata chakra.
6. Take two to three full breaths in this pose and then release.