5 Yoga Poses to Open Your Heart This Valentine's Day

That’s right, Valentine’s Day has arrived again. And what better way to celebrate than by opening your heart with yoga? The act of deeply stretching the muscles around your chest, shoulders, and abdomen can incite intense emotional releases, allowing you to let go of past pains and grievances so you can more openly give and receive love. And you don’t even need to be in a relationship to get the benefits of these poses. You can practice them to cultivate self-love, and to learn to accept and forgive yourself.

Chest opening poses and backbends also bring about feelings of exhilaration, bliss, and complete openness, leaving you with plenty of energy to share these positive vibes with yourself and others this Valentine’s Day.
Here are the 5 yoga poses to open your heart—and a short meditation to finish with!
Remember, before you try these 5 poses, make sure to prepare and warm up your body with a few rounds of Surya Namaskar (Sun Salutations).
Uttanasana (Standing Forward Bend)

Interlocking your hands and bringing them over your head opens your chest and shoulders, while the forward bend decreases stress, bringing about feelings of calmness and relaxation that allow you to let go.
To Do This Pose:
Stand at the top of your mat with your feet hips-width apart, toes pointing forward. Interlace your fingers behind your back. Inhale and open your chest, and exhale and fold forward from your hips, bringing your head toward the floor. Allow your hands to drop further towards the floor on each exhalation, increasing the stretch on your chest and shoulders. Close your eyes and breathe deeply through your nose. Hold for 10 deep breaths.  
Parivritta Janu-Sirsana (Revolved Head to Knee Pose)  

Practicing Parivritta Janu-Sirsana combines a deep spinal twist with a chest opener, leaving you feeling invigorated and energized.
To Do This Pose:
From a seated position, bend your left leg and bring the sole of your left foot to the inside of your right thigh. Keeping your torso rotated to the left and your chest open, bend toward your right leg. Allow the right side of your body to sink toward your right leg, and try to take hold of your right toes with your right hand. If you can, stretch your left arm over your head to meet the right. Be sure to keep your chest open and turning slightly upward. Hold for 10 deep breaths, feeling your heart expand on your inhalations, and then repeat on the other side.
Gomukhasana (Cow Face Pose)

Gomukhasana deeply stretches the shoulders and chest. It also allows the hips, where we commonly store anxiety and fear, to release and open.
To Do This Pose:
Keeping your back straight, raise your left arm above your head and bend it behind your back. Keeping your right arm down, bend your right elbow and reach your right hand up to meet the left. Try to join your hands together, using a belt or strap if you can’t reach. Keep your head held high and look straight in front of you. Hold for 1 minute and switch sides.
Ustrasana (Camel Pose)

The ultimate heart opener, Ustrasana requires you to hold your body in a position of complete and utter vulnerability. Because of this, it can lead to a dramatic release of emotions.
To Do This Pose:
Start with your knees about hips width apart and the tops of your feet resting on the mat behind you. Place your palms on your lower back for support, fingers pointing down. Inhale and lengthen your spine, exhale and begin to arch backwards, keeping your chest open, your shoulders wide, and your thighs perpendicular to the ground. If you feel comfortable, you can gently drop your hands back to your heels and extend your neck, coming into the full posture. Breathe deeply here for 10 breaths. To come out of the posture, return your hands to your lower back, bringing your chest forward before you lift your head.
Remember, after an intense back bend like this, it’s important to practice Balasana (child’s pose) to relax and neutralize the spine.
Supta Baddha Khonasana (Reclined Bound Angle Pose)

For a more restorative, gentle heart opener, try relaxing in Supta Baddha Konasana. In this position, the natural force of gravity slowly and gently opens your chest and hips, releasing subtle tensions in these areas and leaving you feeling relaxed and renewed.
To Do This Pose:
Lying on your back, bring the soles of your feet together as you would in Baddha Konasana. Allow your arms to rest beside you, palms up, about six inches from your body. For a more intense chest opener, place a block or a pillow along your spine. Breathe deeply in this posture for 3-5 minutes.
If you wish, finish your practice a seated meditation position like Sukhasana. Spend a few minutes here, meditating on all of the ways that love exists in your life. Think of the people, things, and situations you are grateful for, and send off feelings of loving kindness to all of them. Lastly, turn your attention towards yourself, pledging to love and accept yourself as you are.
Don’t forget to bring these positive feelings of love, openness and acceptance into the world with you this Valentine’s Day! Namaste.