Anahata – The Heart Chakra

The Anahata Chakra (Sanskrit: अनाहत, “unstruck” or “unhurt”) is the fourth of the seven main chakras. It is located in the center of the chest, at the level of the heart, and is associated with the color green.

Its core theme is love in all its forms – self-love, compassion, devotion, and the ability to cultivate genuine heart connections. Anahata is often described as the bridge between the lower, earth-centered chakras and the higher, spiritual ones. When balanced, it brings peace, forgiveness, and the capacity for unconditional love.

When out of balance, Anahata may manifest as loneliness, grief, resentment, or excessive dependency in relationships. Physically, it is traditionally linked with the heart, lungs, circulatory system, and upper back.

Practices to strengthen the Heart Chakra include heart-opening yoga postures (such as backbends and camel pose), breathing exercises that expand the chest, and meditations on compassion and gratitude. Working with the color green, spending time in nature, and chanting the mantra “YAM” are also considered beneficial.

Anahata stands at the center of the human experience: when the heart energy flows freely, we can both give and receive love, heal connections, and unfold our true essence in harmony.