Asana to open the heart and throat...?

[Guest guest]

Hi all,

 

Can someone tell me what Ashtanga asana is the most

powerful/beneficial to open the heart and throat chakra/area? I am

not an advanced Ashtanga practitioner. I have been doing it for 6

months now.

 

I feel a great amount of tension in my heart and throat area. For

example, many nights I can't fall asleep until I place one palm on my

lower throat, as if to comfort it from some percieved danger that

part of my body almost always feels. I have tried to meditate on that

area, but I cannot unravel what this tension is about.

 

Thanks in advance to anyone who can guide me on this.....

[Guest guest]

Urdhva dhanurasana is a great pose for opening the heart, but if you

are a beginner, you may want to focus on other backbends--such as up-

dog. When you are here, concentrate on opening the heart, drawing

the shoulders down the back, and softening the throat.

 

When I first started Ashtanga, urdhva dhanurasana made me nearly cry

every time. But gradually that shifted, and along with it, there was

another shift; I became more open on an emotional and social level.

I really respect that pose.