Many associate the month of February with love and romance, probably due to Valentine’s Day, and for women’s heart health. Anything that relates to matters of the heart!

Another link to the heart is the heart chakra, or Anahata, which in its original Sanskrit name, colors our life with compassion, love and beauty. A balanced heart chakra will improve your emotional life, assist to understand your feelings and become happier. If you are sad from a break-up, battling wounds from your past or feeling lonely, you could have a blocked heart chakra.

In chapter 2 of my book, Stella has an appointment with Wendy, a Reiki and

chakra healer. During the session, Wendy explained how Stella’s fourth chakra, the heart, “wasn’t spinning vibrantly, but it wasn’t shut down either.” Afterwards, Wendy gave Stella some techniques to help remove blocks, aid in personal development, and keep her heart chakra vibrant and healthy.

Here are four approaches to unblock the heart chakra to create harmony in your whole body:

1. Eat foods that are green in color: Green is the heart chakra color so eating vegetables rich in color like spinach, kale and green apples will help to balance your heart chakra.
2. Use heart chakra affirmations: Using affirmations are a wonderful way to get rid of limiting beliefs and build confidence. Adding affirmations to your day can help ward off blockages in your heart chakra or if you feel like it is closing up. Here are a few I use, “Every day, I fulfill my heart’s desire.” And “I choose joy, compassion, and love.”
3. Wear jewelry for healing: Green is the color most closely associated with the heart chakra. Stones like Jade and Green Calcite can help balance the chakra as well as Rose Quartz. Even though this stone is pink, it’s called the “heart stone” and help regain balance.
4. Meditation: Heart chakra meditation like deep breathing through your nose and out your mouth. Picturing a green ball of energy starting from your heart and with each breath, it grows bigger and brighter while focusing on your feeling of love for yourself and others.

By going through these practices, you can increase your self-knowledge and restore your emotional resources because an opened heart chakra allows you to better understand and meet your needs, and to give love to others.