Heart Opening Asanas

10 Yoga Poses to Open Your Heart and Awaken Self-Love

Happy Valentine’s Day, Idaho Falls! While this season often focuses on showing love to others, it’s also the perfect time to turn inward and reconnect with yourself. Heart-opening asanas (yoga poses) can help you release tension, strengthen posture, and cultivate compassion.

At Yoga London, we believe love begins with awareness—and that includes self-awareness. Our physical body reflects our emotions, and when we feel guarded or stressed, our shoulders tend to hunch and our chest closes off. These gentle yoga poses help restore balance, expand the heart center, and open space for breath, gratitude, and joy.

Seated Cactus Arms

Sit comfortably with crossed legs or on your heels.
Inhale and lift your arms overhead.
Exhale, bend your elbows to form two 90-degree angles beside your body, squeezing your shoulder blades together.
Repeat for 3–5 breaths to warm up the upper back and chest.

Cat-Cow

Come into tabletop position with hands under shoulders and knees under hips.
Inhale, drop your belly and lift your gaze (Cow).
Exhale, round your spine and draw your chin toward your chest (Cat).
Flow between these two shapes for several breaths, syncing with your breath to build awareness.

Opposite Arm and Leg Extension

From tabletop, inhale as you extend your right arm forward and left leg back.
Exhale, curl inward and touch elbow to knee.
Repeat 3–5 times per side. This builds stability and awakens the muscles supporting your spine and heart space.

Tiger Pose

With your right arm and left leg extended, bend your back leg and reach for it with your opposite hand.
Gently press your foot into your hand to open your chest.
Hold a few breaths, release, and repeat on the other side.

Child’s Pose to Puppy Pose

From tabletop, sit back on your heels for Child’s Pose.
Reach your fingertips forward and rest your chest toward the mat.
After a few breaths, move into Puppy Pose—walk your hands forward, lift your hips, and melt your chest toward the ground.
This opens the heart and stretches the shoulders.

Cobra Pose

From Puppy Pose, glide forward and lower your hips to the mat.
Place your hands under your shoulders, elbows close to your ribs.
Inhale, lift your chest and gaze slightly upward.
Exhale, lower down slowly.
Repeat for 3–5 breaths to gently awaken the spine.

Wild Thing

From Downward Dog, lift your right leg high.
Shift your weight, flip your dog, and place your right foot behind you.
Reach your right arm overhead, expanding your chest toward the sky.
Return to Downward Dog and repeat on the other side.

High Lunge with Cactus Arms

Step your right foot between your hands and rise into a high lunge.
Lift your arms overhead, then exhale into cactus arms, opening your heart.
Hold a few breaths, then switch sides.
This pose strengthens your legs while expanding the chest and shoulders.

Upward-Facing Dog

Lie face-down with hands beside your chest.
Press through your palms, straighten your arms, and lift your chest.
Draw your shoulders back and expand through the collarbones.
Exhale and slowly lower down.

Bow Pose

(Only attempt after fully warming up your spine.)
Lie face-down, bend your knees, and reach back to grab your ankles.
Press your feet into your hands, lifting your chest and thighs off the mat.
Hold for a few breaths, then release with control.

Open Your Heart at Yoga London

When you open your heart, you create space for gratitude, healing, and connection—both on and off the mat. Whether you’re exploring your first yoga class or deepening your personal practice, Yoga London in Idaho Falls offers a supportive environment to reconnect with yourself and others.

Join us for a heart-opening class this week and experience the physical and emotional benefits of moving with love and intention.

Related Questions

What are heart-opening poses good for?
They help counteract slouching, improve posture, relieve tension, and promote emotional balance.

Can heart-opening yoga release emotions?
Yes. These poses target the heart chakra, which can sometimes bring up stored feelings—helping you process and release them.

Do I need experience for these poses?
No. Each asana can be modified for beginners. Our Idaho Falls instructors guide you through every step safely.

How often should I practice heart-opening yoga?
Even 10–15 minutes a few times per week can make a difference in your posture, breathing, and mood.