Talk to anyone who works on climate change, whether they’re a scientist, activist or journalist, you’ll probably hear the same thing. They’re tired. They’re tired of the inadequate climate policy, sluggish progress, long hours and heavy workloads. If you’ve been busy saving the planet, it’s time for self-love, to heal and fill your cup.
With self-love and healing in mind, the following routine incorporates hugs, self-massage and chest openers, which help to open up the heart chakra. If the heart chakra, or anahata, becomes blocked, an individual may find it difficult to develop and keep healthy relationships, including with oneself. The anahata is thought to be the source of unconditional love and profound truths that cannot be expressed with words. While flowing through this meditative practice, allow yourself to be completely still within oneself, allowing yourself to be honest in your thoughts. Often this type of meditation reveals what is truly bothering you and results in a cathartic release of concerns and emotions. If the weather allows, bring your practice outside as nature is inherently healing.
Try This Healing Yoga Practice
- Lotus Pose with Breathwork: Begin in a cross-legged seated position, sitting up straight and relaxing the shoulders, allowing them to pull away from the ears; tuck your chin slightly. Notice which parts of your body are holding tension and concentrate on relaxing those parts of the body. Spend time here taking deep breaths in through the nose, holding them in, and then releasing your breaths slowly through the mouth; breathe normally in between these deep breaths.
- Seated Hip Circles: While in Lotus Pose, rotate your upper body in one direction for several circles, before switching directions and making circles in the other direction. This healing yoga pose should feel good, and you should not push yourself deeper than what feels right, which can be very symbolic for the way you’ve been moving through life.
- Butterfly Pose with a Self-Massage: Come into a Butterfly Pose by letting the bottoms of your feet kiss. Then fall forward, dropping your neck last. While here, you may massage both feet, where several pressure points help almost every area of the body function properly. For more information on pressure points in the feet, reference a foot reflexology chart.
- Seated Knees to Chest Hug: Cross the legs again and hug them into your chest, allowing your forehead to kiss your knees, and relax here as long as it feels like you need to. This is a big (and rewarding) self-hug.
- Seated Chest Stretch: Sit up straight on the knees and open up the chest (and heart chakra) by clasping your hands behind your back. Look up, stretching out the front of your neck (and thyroid), taking several deep breaths here.
- Child’s Pose: Lean forward, really reaching your hands out, and rest your forehead on the mat or towel. You may clasp your hands here in a prayer position or keep them open for receiving (and gratitude). Experiment with bringing the knees closer together or farther out, seeing which position feels best for you.
- Thread the Needle… or Pretzel Melt: Come to hands and knees. Reach your right arm out and thread it underneath the left, coming down to your right shoulder, where the majority of your bodyweight should rest (not in your neck). I always think of this as the Pretzel Melt, because once, a student exclaimed that while they were relaxed, they were also twisted up like a Pretzel; I added the Melt, because it’s impossible not to melt into this posture. Use your left hand to push yourself back to hands and knees and then thread the left arm next.
- Bridge Pose: The Bridge Pose is a powerful chest opener. Come to your back, resting your arms at your sides and bending both legs, flattening the feet and pulling your heels into your fingertips. Then lift the hips and clasp your hands together underneath you, pulling your shoulder blades close together. Your bodyweight should be on your shoulders here, (not your neck). Breathe deeply here for as long as you can hold this posture comfortably.
- Another Big Hug (on your back): Relax your hips back to the mat (or towel), and bring your knees into the chest for another big self-hug. You may try rocking gently side to side here, massaging the lower back, but only if this feels good.
- Savasana. Rest your arms at your side, allowing your hands to open naturally, and let your legs fall flat, letting your feet fall open. Again, conduct a full body scan here and concentrate on relaxing any part of the body that still feels tense, including the face. Remain here as long as it feels right for you (or as long as your allotted time for healing yoga allows).
“Listen to the wind, it talks. Listen to the silence, it speaks. Listen to your heart, it knows.”
– Native American proverb
Self-love and healing is far more complex than one meditative yoga session; rather it is taking time for yourself in this way regularly that will lead to an ongoing self-love and healing journey. Discovering your needs through quiet reflection is just one facet of the adventure, but truly getting to know and love oneself is the best thing anyone can do for themselves and the ones they love, including the planet!
Image by Adrien King
