What is Heart Coherence?

Following on from last month’s blog “How to dissolve stress and anxiety inducing thoughts” this month we are focussing on how to change our entire nervous system, easily, to a calm state of being.

What is heart coherence?

Scientists use the phrase “coherence” to describe the heart rate variability as a smooth-wave read-out. Studies show that being in a more coherent state in your autonomic nervous system allows for more energy, more mental clarity and is a marker of biological health.

Here is an easy exercise to try to achieve heart coherence, quickly.

Step 1 – focus your attention in the area of the heart. If you can place hand over your heart area, do so now.

Imagine your breath is flowing in and out of your heart area – breathe a little slower and deeper than usual.

Step 2 – choose a positive word or quality (such as calm, healing, kindness, joy) now on each in breath imagine this word.

Continue to breathe, exhaling and inhaling, allowing yourself to imagine your positive word filtering through your body.

If you are feeling particularly stressed or anxious it might be helpful to imagine breathing out those feelings. The in breathe will replace these feelings until you are only focusing on the positive.

This exercise can be done almost anywhere – at the traffic lights, in the supermarket queue or as a proper meditation. Even a 1 minute focus on your heart area, can make a difference.

Building new habits, by being aware of your thoughts, can help you to rest and repair your body.