This area of the body is known as the Heart Center. The heart is reliable,  consistent and for the most part, predictable. The Heart Center can be closed down from poor posture, too many hours at your computer, lack of sleep, abuse or isolation. When stretching in your chest and shoulders, practice mindfully training your brain to filter information through your heart. This way you will radiate your true healthy self.

The benefits of the shoulder, chest and hand stretches are:

• Makes breathing easier

• Strengthens self confidence

• Creates internal harmony

• Cultivate love and forgiveness

• Facilitates compassion

Sit tall anchoring your feet deep in to the floor. Interlace your hands behind your back reaching the knuckles of your fingers back and towards the floor. Move to what feels natural and good. Keeping your head in neutral spine, inhale deep lifting your chest away from your hips and exhale slowly sliding the shoulder blades down your back. Take five long deep breaths envisioning your heart shining.

Sitting tall breathing long and deep place your shoulders. Slowly inhale gently rotating your elbows forward and up. Slowly exhale lowering your elbows back and down. Draw full circles leading with your elbows. Do this slowly at least five times and then change directions.

c. Pressing Hands

Sit tall, merging your feet deep in to the floor. Interlace your hands pressing the heels of your hands away from your heart. Tuck your chin to chest as you dome your belly towards your spine / back. Let your mind pour in to your heart. Reach forward through your arms and soft shoulders taking five long deep breaths.

Sitting tall bend your elbows so that your forearms are perpendicular to the floor. The palms of your hands are facing the same direction as your heart. Exhale completely as you squeeze your elbows down and towards each other behind your back. Feel your shoulder blades wrapping around your spine with each exhale. Do this five times.

Sitting very tall, press your palms together in prayer pose, knuckles of the thumbs gently pressing in to your chest. Be sure that your wrist are in line with your elbows and your fingers and thumbs are facing up towards the ceiling. Firmly press them together as your lift the chest sliding your shoulder blades down. Take five long deep breaths.