Yoga is not only a practice for mental and physical wellness, but it’s also a pathway to open your heart both literally and metaphorically. Heart opening yoga poses are designed to expand the chest area, improve the flexibility of the spine, and relieve tension from the shoulders. These poses can enhance breathing, boost circulation, and help release emotional baggage.

Here are the best 16 heart opening yoga poses that can help you feel more grounded and connected:

1. Ustrasana (Camel Pose): This powerful backbend opens up the entire front of the body.

2. Bhujangasana (Cobra Pose): A gentle backbend that strengthens the spine and opens the chest.

3. Setu Bandhasana (Bridge Pose): Builds core strength while opening the front of your body.

4. Urdhva Mukha Svanasana (Upward Facing Dog Pose): A posture that stretches the chest and abdomen.

5. Dhanurasana (Bow Pose): Increases spinal flexibility while opening the shoulders and chest.

6. Chakrasana (Wheel Pose): One of the more challenging backward bends that deeply opens the front of the body.

7. Matsyasana (Fish Pose): Excellent for stretching out your chest muscles and hip flexors.

8. Natarajasana (Dancer’s Pose): A balance pose that opens up the shoulders and chest beautifully.

9. Anuvittasana (Standing Backbend): Can be a good warm-up for deeper backbends, opening your heart to the sky.

10. Eka Pada Rajakapotasana (Pigeon Pose): While primarily for hips, an upright chest can offer a subtle heart opener here.

11. Tadasana with Backbend (Mountain Pose with Backbend): This accessible backbend is great for beginners to start opening their hearts.

12. Kapotasana (Pigeon Pose Variation with Backbend): A deep backbend that not only opens your heart but challenges you further than regular Pigeon Pose.

13. Marjaryasana-Bitilasana (Cat-Cow Stretch): These movements flex and extend the spine, encouraging mobility while softly opening up the heart and chest with every lift of your head and tailbone.

14. Supta Baddha Konasana (Reclining Bound Angle Pose): Lying down, this pose relaxes your entire body and allows your heart to open effortlessly with gravity’s assistance.

15. Garudasana arms with Gomukhasana legs (Eagle arms with Cow Face legs): This seated pose can open up tight shoulders as well as create an expansive feeling in the chest area.

16. Virabhadrasana I (Warrior I): With a slight backbend, this strong pose encourages openness across your torso while building strength in your lower body.

Integrating these poses into your yoga routine can help you feel more open-hearted and serene throughout your day-to-day life.