If you’ve never pictured yourself well it’s probably going to be hard to actually achieve wellness. How will you know what signs to look for that things are improving? If you’re in a constant state of fight or flight and making decisions from a place of fear, your body won’t heal.

What Is HeartMath?

We all know that the heart is a physical organ that pumps blood tirelessly throughout our bodies from birth to death. The physical heart is also an information processing center sending important signals to the brain and the rest of the body. There is an emotional aspect to heart. Many of the highest quality emotions we experience are associated with the heart… appreciation, care, love, kindness, patience and compassion. The heart is also associated with a deeper wisdom and intuition. Heart is the core of our true authentic self. The heart helps us find answers when life gets hard. It might not give us the solution—but it can change how we talk to ourselves and our perspective.

The HeartMath Institute has over 30 years of scientific research conducted on the psychophysiology of stress, emotions, and the interactions between the heart and brain. Over 500 peer-reviewed or independent studies utilizing HeartMath techniques or technologies to achieve beneficial outcomes have been published. HeartMath® utilizes products, tools, and techniques that are based on this research. I’m going to go through one technique with you today that I like to use myself and with clients. Learn more about The HeartMath Institute here. ​

The Power Of Positive Emotions

We have an amazing gift–it’s the gift of being able to feel a range of different feelings and emotions. Emotions provide unique, enriching experiences for every single one of us. Emotions aren’t just reactions; they aren’t just something that happen to us. We do have the ability to make emotional choices. Some emotional choices we make add quality to our life. They regenerate us, they make us feel good inside. They allow us to feel like we’re moving forward. Other emotional choices feel draining. Emotions have affects on our physiology. In a research study, five minutes of feeling anger suppressed an important immune system marker. Five minutes of feeling care boosted the immune system. It’s important to identify emotions that renew us and emotions that deplete us.

Our hearts produce an electromagnetic field. This magnetic field is measured with a device called a magnetometer and can be detected up to about 3 feet from the body. This field carries information about our emotional states. Our nervous systems can detect the magnetic fields that other people around us are radiating, and the information carried by the heart’s field can affect other people in measurable ways.

In a sense we are really broadcasting our emotions. In many ways it’s through these energetic connections that we sense what others are feeling and others can sense what we are feeling. This information, which is influenced by our emotions and inner attitudes, is being broadcast and can have beneficial effects on those around us.

What Is Coherence?

Coherence is the cooperative alignment between the heart, mind and emotions and can be measured by looking at changes in our heart rhythms, heart rate variability or HRV. This is the time between each heartbeat and is always changing. Having the right amount of HRV is important for our health. HRV is a very important measurement for assessing the health of the autonomic nervous system, and even reflects how well we are aging.

How we are feeling affects our heart rhythms patterns. Coherence can be increased by feeling regenerative emotions. This is why this second step of heart focused breathing is so important. Coherent heart rhythms helps synchronize the activity in the brain which is critical for optimal mental functions—such as memory, focus, and decision making. When we learn how to shift into a more coherent state—we feel better.

How To Practice The Heart Lock In Technique

This is the technique that I learned going through the HeartMath course. They have many free courses on their website that I linked aboved as well. I like to have clients make note of how they feel before the session, so jot down your answer before you start!

1. Focus your attention in the area of the heart. Imagine your breath is flowing in and out of your heart or chest area, breathing a little slower and deeper than usual.
2. If it helps you focus on your heart more, place your hand over your heart area in the beginning of learning this technique.
3. This can be done with eyes opened or closed. You may want to start with them closed and eventually graduate to doing it with them open if that’s easier.
4. Part 2 of this technique is activate and sustaining a regenerative feeling such as appreciation, care, or compassion. After you practice heart focused breathing, add this in.
   1. There can be variations in what emotions come easily to you to do this step. Some people connect more with courage and integrity while others prefer love, kindness, and joy.
   2. Thinking of a special moment or person can be helpful. I like to think of my dogs!

I hope you take a few minutes to practice this technique and can implement in your day to day to support you on your healing journey!

Here is another great resource from the are you menstrual? podcast that discusses the ups and downs of healing that you may find helpful.

reminder: i’m currently taking on 1:1 clients. if you’d like to explore what it would be like to work together and if we are a good fit, fill out this form to get more details!​