February often reminds us to celebrate love, but before we rush out to buy flowers or plan special dinners, there’s an even more important practice:
loving ourselves. This Valentine’s-inspired flow is about moving with intention, opening the heart, and reconnecting with your own rhythm of love, on the mat and off.
When we talk about love in yoga, it’s not about grand gestures. It’s in the small, mindful movements that remind us we are worthy of tenderness. Each inhale becomes an invitation to receive love; each exhale, an opportunity to offer it back to ourselves.
Here’s a gentle flow to guide your practice:
Begin with Centering (2–3 minutes)
Find a comfortable seat and place one hand over your heart, the other on your belly. Close your eyes, and simply notice the rise and fall of your breath. Inhale slowly for a count of four, pause, then exhale for six. Let this rhythm be your anchor, your gentle reminder that love begins within.
Flow into Gentle Side Stretches (1–2 minutes per side)
Reach your right arm overhead and sweep it gently to the left, lengthening through your side body. Feel the space between each rib, the stretch in your intercostal muscles, and let your breath guide the movement. Switch sides, savoring the slow expansion of your chest and the quiet activation of your heart center.
Cat-Cow with Heart Opening (2–3 minutes)
Come to all fours. Inhale as you arch your back, lifting the chest and allowing the heart to lead the movement , this is your Cow. Exhale, round your spine, drawing your chin toward your chest (Cat). Flow with your own rhythm, noticing how each curve and stretch softens not only the body but also the mind.
Low Lunge with Chest Expansion (1 minute per side)
Step your right foot forward into a low lunge. Interlace your fingers behind your back or reach toward the sky, gently opening the chest. This heart opener is an invitation to feel spaciousness to allow love in and let go of what no longer serves you. Switch sides.
Bridge Pose / Supported Heart Opener (2–3 minutes)
Lie on your back with knees bent, feet hip-width apart. Lift your hips for Bridge Pose, interlacing fingers underneath or placing a block for support. Imagine the heart as a wellspring of warmth and compassion. Let this gentle lift remind you that opening to love can be both grounding and elevating.
Seated Forward Fold with Hug (2–3 minutes)
Come to a seated position with legs extended. Inhale, reach arms high; exhale, fold forward. Wrap your arms around yourself for a comforting self-hug. Here, you can whisper a mantra: “I am enough.” Let the embrace honor your body, your heart, and your willingness to show up.
Supine Twist with Gratitude (1–2 minutes per side)
Lie on your back, hug knees to your chest, and gently drop them to one side. Open your opposite arm and soften your gaze. Switch sides, noticing how the spine unwinds and the mind settles. With each twist, allow gratitude to rise for your body, your breath, and your practice.
Savasana with Heart Awareness (5 minutes)
Finally, settle into Savasana. Let your arms rest naturally, hands over your heart if you like. Close your eyes and feel the rhythm of your heartbeat. Imagine inhaling love, exhaling tension. This is your quiet moment of self-compassion, a love letter to yourself, written in breath and stillness.
Love isn’t just a Valentine’s Day feeling. It’s a practice. And when we cultivate love on the mat, it naturally flows into every pause, every action, and every interaction beyond it.
