Body & Mind

A simple exercise to support love, compassion, and joy

Try this invigorating exercise, a yoga-class favorite, to focus on your heart—your center of love, compassion, and joy. (Kids will love this one, too.)

  1. Sit in a comfortable cross-legged position.
  2. As you inhale deeply and broaden your chest, open your arms wide.
  3. As you exhale completely, give yourself a big hug: wrap your arms around yourself and curl your body inward.
  4. Repeat 10 times, keeping your movements broad, sweeping, and fluid.

As you repeat this exercise, turn your hug — your expression of self-compassion — into a movement of love by thinking of someone or something that could use your support.

As you near the end, turn it into an expression of joy and hope for all. Perform your repetitions in a kneeling position and make your movements even bigger: as you inhale, rise up onto your knees, and as you exhale, drop your seat towards the ground and curl into yourself.

You May Also like

Body & Mind

Perimenopause 101: symptoms, hormone testing, and finding the right doctor

What is perimenopause, how do you know if you’re perimenopausal, and how do you find the best doctor for perimenopause treatment? We couldn’t think of a better person to ask than Dr. Sara Szal Gottfried.
All About Skin

Introducing our rosacea toolkit

All of our favorite rosacea-related suggestions, all in one place
Inside Our Brands

Marie Veronique Body Barrier Emulsion: behind the formula

Kristina Holey, Marie Veronique's Director of Skin Health, reveals the magic behind the brand's Body Barrier Emulsion.