Think about how much of your day brings your body forward.

We sit at computers, look down at phones, drive, read, cook, garden, and reach toward the people and things that need our attention. Little by little, the shoulders can begin to round and the chest can feel closed.

And sometimes we close inward for reasons that have nothing to do with a screen or a steering wheel. Stress, sadness, uncertainty, and loss can leave us feeling protective of the heart space.

That is one reason chest opening postures can feel so valuable. They give us an opportunity to move in the opposite direction, physically and emotionally.