Breathe For An Open Heart

As Valentine’s Day is upon us we can focus on self-love this week and/or intimacy with a partner, all with an open heart. Energetically, the heart is considered the seat of compassion, love and wisdom. Directing your attention to the heart, you can influence your creativity, mindfulness of your internal and external environment, emotional intelligence and your ability to self-regulate through connection whether with yourself or someone you love. Set some time aside this week to invite love and softness into your heart so that you can pass that energy on to those around you. Call in more love, joy and compassion this week with an intuitive knowing and with gratitude for self-care. This week I will present two Practices, one for just you alone and another to share with a Partner.


The Practice:
1. Lie down comfortably with anything that will make you feel cozy such as a blanket or pillow.
2. Set an intention by affirming five things you love about yourself.
3. Close your eyes and place your hands over your heart.
4. Take a long, deep breath in through your nose.
5. Exhale through your nose twice as long as your inhale.
6. Repeat this for one-minute to settle into your relaxing and cozy space.
7. Bring your awareness to your heart and ask it what it would like to tell you today.
8. Continue breathing at a normal pace and focus on the first thing that comes into your mind even if it does not make sense to you in the moment.
9. Take a long, deep breath in through your nose.
10. Exhale through your nose twice as long as your inhale.
11. Repeat this for one-minute while focused on the answer your heart gave you.
12. Once you have finished breathing, say to your heart “thank you. I am here for you and I love you!””
13. Repeat that phrase two more times.
19.Take a deep breath in through the nose and release with a loud sigh of joy through the mouth.
20. Release your hands from your heart, smile and give yourself a big hug!
21. Journal your experience! Include how you felt before and after the Practice.

The Practice for Intimacy – Breathe with your partner
This will create a container of safety and love which will allow for vulnerability and connection to be shared between a couple to promote greater intimacy in the relationship. Our breath is linked to our emotions and nonsexual touch is a key component of building intimacy.

1. Find a comfortable seat facing your partner.
2. Breathe in and out through the nose for one-minute to settle in.
3. Set your Practice intention with your partner aloud, each, one at a time.
4. Take your left hand and place it on your partner’s heart, resting your right hand on your thigh, palm facing up.
5. Continue breathing in and out through your noses.
6. Keep your eyes open and gaze into each other’s left eyes while breathing.
7. Slowly, without talking, begin to synchronize your breath.
8. Do this slowly and let it evolve naturally.
9. Continue breathing together, gazing and holding your hands on each other’s hearts for five-minutes.
10. Release your left hands and allow your breath to flow naturally. Hold hands with your partner.
11. Rest for a few moments and BE in the moment, continue with your gaze.
12. Journal your experience together and discuss what came up for each of you with open hearts, love and kindness.
13. Close your practice with a hug and a kiss.

Weekly Breath Challenge: Choose one or both of these Practices throughout the week.  Self-love and intimacy through connection will bring abundance to your life. Remember to journal your experience each day of your Practice!

With love and gratitude …just breathe and let peace be your guide!