The Heart Chakra
Fourth Chakra - Anahata
Love
The fourth, or throat, chakra located in the region of the heart, connects us to our emotional self, bringing harmony, forgiveness sincerity and love. When off-balance it can lead to over-loving, jealousy, abandonment, anger loneliness and bitterness. When in balance we feel joy, love, gratitude and compassion.
Location: Centre of Chest
Colour: Green
Element: Air
Mantra: “I Love”
The heart chakra, Anahata, is associated with love, empathy, kindness, compassion, gratitude and faith.
Signs of an Imbalanced Heart Chakra
Fear of Trusting
Grief
Jealousy
Isolation
Feeling unworthy
Hatred
Respiratory Issues
Heart Problems
Yoga Postures to Balance the Heart Chakra
The most effective yoga postures to bring the heart chakra into balance are heart opening and back bending postures. Some you may want to include in practice include:
Natarajasana - Dancer's Pose
Anuvittasana - Standing Back Bend
Ustrasana - Camel Pose
Dhanurasana - Bow Pose
Bhujangasana - Cobra Pose
Ardha Matsyendrasana - Half Lord of the Fishes
Chakrasana - Wheel Pose
Herbs to Balance the Heart Chakra
Herbs that activate the heart chakra are soothing florals, heart-toning berries and grounding green herbs. They work by unfurling joy and peace in the heart and cultivating care and compassion. Rose, hawthorn, lavender and lemon balm are herbs can support the heart chakra. Rose is used for its gentle, uplifting quality, while hawthorn is traditionally associated with the physical and emotional heart. Lavender brings calm and helps soften tension, while lemon balm adds a light, comforting note that can ease stress and invite openness. These herbs can be enjoyed as teas, used in baths, or blended into aromatherapy rituals. Together, they create a soothing, nurturing experience that encourages inner harmony, connection and a greater sense of peace and wellbeing. These herbs are popular with people working at brining their heart chakra into balance:
Rose
Sage
Hawthorn
Thyme
Basil
Lavender
Moringa
Crystals to Balance the Heart Chakra
Using green, aqua or rose crystals, either close to your heart or holding in your hand while meditating can help balance the heart chakra. Rose quartz, green aventurine, rhodonite and malachite are popular. Rose quartz is known for its soft, nurturing energy, encouraging self-love and kindness. Green aventurine is linked with renewal, optimism and emotional comfort, while rhodonite supports forgiveness and inner stability. Malachite is valued for transformation, helping to release old emotional patterns and invite growth. These crystals can be carried, placed during meditation, or displayed in your space to create a calming atmosphere that supports openness, harmony and a deeper sense of connection. Easy to access crystals you may want to consider include:
Emerald
Green Jade
Rose Quartz
Green Aventurine
Green Fluorite
Green Calcite
Essential Oils to Balance the Heart Chakra
Essential oils that evoke feelings of love, compassion, and emotional healing are best for the the heart chakra. Rose, geranium, jasmine and neroli are popular choices. Rose is used for its comforting, heart-opening aroma, while geranium helps create balance and a sense of calm. Jasmine is known for its warm, uplifting scent that encourages openness and confidence, and neroli offers a gentle floral note that can ease tension and invite peace. Essential oils can be enjoyed in a diffuser, added to a bath, or blended with a carrier oil for massage. Options you may want to try include:
Rose
Geranium
Melissa
Ylang Ylang
Rosemary
Cypress
Jasmine
When the heart chakra is in balance we are able to give and receive love easily, both from ourselves and from others. We feel open, full of compassion and empathy which flows through all our relationships. When it comes to relationships, a balanced heart chakra also helps us to establish and maintain healthy boundaries. A balanced heart chakra also facilitates deep feelings of gratitude but perhaps most importantly for eating disorder recovery, the compassion and empathy we feel allows us to develop a deeper sense of self-worth which can really aid in the recovery process.