Finding Ease with Adult Congenital Heart Disease
How do you connect with your heart?
I have a complicated relationship with my heart. I was born with a congenital heart defect which required emergency life-saving open heart surgery to repair my pulmonary valve when I was less than a week old. Then, when I reached my mid-20s, I needed another open heart surgery to replace my pulmonary valve because it was slowly deteriorating and causing my heart to enlarge.
The surgeries, the scar tissue, the heart palpitations, and the annual visits to the cardiologist (not to mention that medical bills that follow) are constant reminders that while my heart is strong, it’s something that has to be continually monitored. I know that living with Adult Congenital Heart Disease (ACHD) will always be a mental, emotional, and physical challenge. Someday my pulmonary valve will need to be replaced again. Thankfully, it shouldn’t require another open heart surgery. So while I have tremendous gratitude for my heart and a positive outlook, I always feel a little bit anxious about it.
After my second heart surgery I mostly avoided connecting to my heart. In fact, it made me uncomfortable to hear it beating when I was in savasana, or corpse pose, at the end of a yoga class. I think I was scared that if I put my attention on it, something would go wrong.
While having ACHD has been a burden and a source of stress, it has also been a gift. It has inspired me to be intentional about my lifestyle choices, it has deepened my spirituality, and it is a constant reminder of the beauty and fragility of life.
Over the last few years, I’ve been slowly working towards building and strengthening my relationship to my heart space. It’s been helpful think about it not only as an organ that pumps blood, but as a chakra — an energetic system — where we experience love, grief, and gratitude. In fact, the heart has it’s own nervous system, the intracardiac nervous system (INS), which is sometimes referred to as the heart’s “little brain” because it is constantly reacting to our internal and external environment.
In Sanskrit, the heart chakra is called “anahatha” and it’s typically associated with color green. Because the heart chakra is in the middle of the seven major chakras, it provides an important conduit between our lower chakras and our upper chakras. So, when our energy or prana is obstructed in the heart, we might feel depressed, sad, and numb.
Heart disease is the number one leading cause of death. While behaviors such as physical inactivity, smoking, and unhealthy diet are usually to blame, I also wonder if another contributing factor is a lack of communication with our heart. There is so much pain and suffering going on in the world and we’re not really taught how to manage these intense energies. With the threats many people are experiencing with the current political climate, it can be really hard to live life with an open heart. However, I think it’s both vital and revolutionary that we find ways to connect to our hearts, whether we have a heart condition or not, so that we can continue to find love and compassion for ourselves and each other.
The Chinese philosopher Confucius is credited with saying “Wherever you go, go with all your heart.” For me, going with all my heart means:
Saying “hello” to my heart chakra when I sit in my meditation. Sometimes I look at it as a color and I imagine grounding it.
Pausing throughout the day to feel my heart beat and send my heart gratitude.
Moving with a little more awareness when working out or doing yoga. (Sometimes I get palpitations in certain poses or if I move too fast.)
Savoring poses that open the heart space, like cobra, camel, or any of these restorative poses.
Prioritizing rest and sleep.
How do you connect to your heart?
For more information about Adult Congenital Heart Disease, check out the Adult Congenital Heart Association.
If you’d like to explore the connection with your heart further, check out the reflection prompts below, the next Intuitive Yoga class on Sunday, February 2nd, or schedule an intuitive reading with me.
Reflection Prompts
Think of a time when you felt complete and unconditional love for yourself or a loved one. Write how it made you feel and allow that feeling to fill up your entire heart space.
Journal about a difficult event, trauma, or heartbreak that your heart helped you navigate and process. Thank your heart for its strength and resilience.
If you have a heart condition, journal about how that has affected your relationship to your heart.
January Recommendations
Donating to organizations that are supporting the victims of the Southern California wildfires, like the LA Food Bank and Go Fund Me’s Wildfire Relief Fund.
Eating soup, like Pozole Verde from Provecho by Edgar Castrejón. I found a modified version of the recipe here.
Using Nasya Oil to soothe sinuses from the dry winter weather.
Online Intuitive Yoga
Sunday, February 2nd: 10am - 11:15am PT/1pm - 2:15pm ET
Theme: Harmonize with your heart
The next Online Intuitive Yoga is Sunday, February 2nd from 10am - 11:15am PT/1pm - 2:15pm ET via Zoom.
Through gentle backbends, meditation, and intuitive tools we will expand our connection to our hearts. All levels are welcome! Sign up through Intuitive Way.
More offerings
Intuitive Readings
Looking for guidance, healing, and support on your path? Whether you have a specific question or you’re just curious about the energies currently influencing you, a reading and healing will help you gain more awareness and a deeper connection to your spirit.
Private Yoga Sessions
Private sessions are an opportunity to develop your yoga practice, whether you’re just starting or you’re a long-time practitioner. Sessions can be online or in person.
About me
I’m Veronica and I created Finding Ease as a way to share thoughts, tools, and resources for connecting authentically to your mind, body, and spirit. I’m a librarian, yoga teacher, and healer. I approach the world of yoga and spirituality with joy, along with an interest in examining the ways in which systems of power affect our access and ability to find ease.
