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Instructors adjust postures at an Anahata Yoga class

Anahata Yoga is a meditative flowing hatha yoga developed by teacher Ana Costa. Its aim is to "deeply connect, expand and awaken" the students' hearts through the practice of breathing exercises (Pranayama), Yoga postures (Asanas), and Meditation (Dharana).

Anahata Yoga was inspired by a statement given by Ana's Guru, Paramahansa Yogananda. According to him, it was "suicide to walk, sit, rest, talk or lie down with a caved-in chest. Doing so starves the lungs of oxygen which later causes problems in the spine." The statement struck Ana and she decided to focus her classes on opening the Anahata or heart center. She believes that this corrects bad posture, opens respiration, and allows life force to enter and sustain the body unimpeded; giving students an attitude of preparedness for life.

Anahata was registered with the Yoga Alliance in 2002. Ana Costa arrived in Encinitas, California in 1999 from Rio de Janeiro Brazil. The teaching of Anahata Yoga is the culmination of decades of study and practice of Raja Yoga. The first classes were taught in 2001. Teacher training each year has produced more than 200 cerified teachers who have carried this yoga throughout the world.

The anahata is the fourth primary chakra, positioned in the area of the heart. This chakra is associated with compassion, love, charity, humor, and courage. It is associated, too, with the ability to make decisions outside the bounds of karma in a way known as "following one's heart" or "having a change of heart."

Anahata prescribes a flow of exercises, postures and short meditations. As a rule, the flow is not designed to be physically taxing but rather natural, and to encourage full breathing, awakening of the heart, and calmness.

The usual order of the practice is as follows: seated meditation with the setting of personal intentions in the silence of the heart and establishment of the breath, followed by asanas in a sequence designed to move and stimulate the spine. A brief set of warming asanas on the floor leads to standing poses, balancing poses and a short standing meditation (Stambasana).

The instructor leads the class with short descriptions of each step of the flow, spoken quietly (although in some cases, classes may be silent). During the flow, the instructor may adjust and correct individual's postures with gentle touch guidance. Breathing in unison with movement is emphasized.

Postures on the floor further open joints and the body's energy. This set of asanas is also concluded with a short meditation. Reclining postures complete the active practice. A final pose, savasana, allows the physical cooling of the body and a time of deep inner awareness and peace with one's self. Finally, the students sit upright to bring to mind once more their intentions and receive the teacher's blessing.

Standing postures at an Anahata Yoga class. Concentration, calmness and improvement are stressed, not perfection.

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