Happy February! This month is a great time to focus on your heart. People love to celebrate Valentine’s Day at this time of year, so why not celebrate the holiday by creating a special yoga practice that will bring the attention to the heart? There are so many benefits to heart opening poses. They can improve posture, release tension and decrease back pain. There are plenty of great heart openers that range from challenging yourself to gentle poses meant to let yourself unwind. Each and every pose has benefits that you can utilize in your every day life. Practice these poses with me in February! I ❤️ them.

Bridge Pose

I love practicing this pose! It feels essential to incorporate Bridge pose in my yoga practice. Bridge lets me to focus on stretching my spine and neck as well as acting as a chest opening pose. It also works your core and glutes! I love all the benefits and I love how it makes me feel – Double win!

Wheel Pose

The ultimate heart opener! Wheel pose was always my favorite as a kid, and I recently tried it again during practice this week. It holds up! Wheel strengthens the vertabrae and stretches the chest and lungs. Added bonus: You get to feel like a kid again.

 

Want to know more about Let It Go Yoga? Start here with our Diaphragmatic Breathing Video!

 

Camel Pose

I feel like my camel pose improves every time I practice. It is a great stretch that always leaves me standing up taller and feeling more at ease. Camel also helps to heal and balance the chakras. Every time I observe someone in Camel pose, I see them as a confident and strong individual. I always want to be radiating that type of energy!

Fish Pose

Fish pose feels amazing after a challenging yoga workout. I love being in this relaxing pose and feeling all the good work that I’ve done up to this point during my practice. Fish pose is great for strengthening the upper back and improving posture. Fish pose also reduces anxiety and can elevate your energy level – So many benefits for such a relaxing pose!

Try out as many heart openers as you can this month! I tried them all out today and I can’t wait to incorporate them into my daily practice. Be sure to counter these stretches by spending some time in child’s pose afterwards. And since it’s February, reward yourself with chocolate – The ultimate way to the heart.

Contributed by Emily Parsons, Certified Let It Go Yoga teacher, Actress, Writer and Comedian in Los Angeles, California.

Want to know more about Let It Go Yoga? Start here with our Diaphragmatic Breathing Video!