Yoga teaches us about the chakras - seven energy points that run along the centre of the body, from the root at the base of the spine all the way up to the crown of the head. Think of them as little energy cogs. They cannot be seen or touched. They are felt on a deeply spiritual level.
Unfortunately, our individual lifestyles and external pressures can disrupt these chakras, creating blockages. When a blockage forms, emotional and sometimes physical challenges can follow. The good news? A holistic approach (like a regular yoga practice) can help to unblock these energy centres and restore your spark.
Here are 10 yoga poses that release blocked emotions and invite fresh energy into the body.
1. Child's Pose (Balasana) 🧘♀️
A classic asana that many of us know and love. While some people don't feel a strong physical effect, Child's Pose is more of an emotional release than a physical one. As you stretch the entire back of the body and rest your head on the mat, the nervous system is restored and a deep sense of peace settles in.
2. Camel Pose (Ustrasana) 🐪
This deep backbend opens the heart chakra - the energy centre most associated with love, both for others and for yourself. You may feel the urge to laugh or cry during this pose. That is completely normal. It is the body releasing what it no longer needs.
3. Goddess Pose (Utkata Konasana) 👑
This grounding posture activates the root chakra (Muladhara), which governs feelings of stability and control. Practicing this pose when you feel overwhelmed can ease anxious emotions and help you feel more grounded. The name says it all - this one is made to make you feel powerful.
4. Pigeon Pose (Eka Pada Rajakapotasana) 🕊️
The hips are deeply connected to our emotions and stored traumas. Opening the hip flexors through poses like Pigeon is said to offer a form of emotional detox, gently releasing what the body has been holding on to.
5. Bridge Pose (Setu Bandhasana) 🌉
Another powerful heart chakra opener. Bridge Pose has a serotonin-boosting effect, helping to lift your mood and bring warmth and lightness back into the body.
6. Butterfly Pose (Baddha Konasana) 🦋
Whether practiced seated or in supine (lying down), the effect is the same. This gentle hip opener releases emotional tension and past traumas, creating space for new and positive energy to flow in.
7. Dancer's Pose (Natarajasana) 🦢
A graceful and elegant pose that naturally builds confidence. I always envision a swan when practicing this one - it is so feminine and fluid. If you want to reconnect with your vital feminine energy, this is the pose for you.
8. Standing Forward Fold (Uttanasana)
As you stretch the full length of the back body, especially the hamstrings, which hold so much tension for most people, notice your worries begin to soften. This pose offers a quiet but powerful emotional release.
9. Cat Pose (Marjaryasana) 🐱
Mobilising the spine helps to move stagnant energy through the chakras. Cat Pose encourages a sense of calm and stability as energy begins to flow more freely through the body.
10. Cow Pose (Bitilasana) 🐄
Most often practiced alongside Cat Pose, these two together create beautiful spinal waves that boost vitality and lift your overall energy levels. A simple but deeply effective combination.
I hope this post has given you a new perspective on your yoga practice. The poses are simple, but the effects run deep. Roll out your mat, move through a few of these, and see how you feel. 🩷