Love for the Beat of Your Heart

I thought this writing would be specific to the energy of the Heart Chakra. But often I veer out into whatever my intuition guides me to share. We will get to the chakra content after this important information as it complements the vital organ in this space, our heart.

Perhaps it's no coincidence that I signed up for a workshop that I thought would just be a refresher for CPR, Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation. I was a bit embarrassed I had not kept up to date and discovered most of what I was taught in multiple previous trainings is quite outdated. Well, it's never too late, until it's too late.

I somehow also missed the memo. February is American Heart Month and the 6th was Wear Red Day to raise awareness for women's challenges with cardiovascular disease. The American Heart Association reports that 4 out of 10 women are affected in some way, and it's our leading cause of death. Do I have your attention? Good!

Beside offering one another love through kind words and gestures, the act of potentially saving one's life and being prepared is imperative. So, here's the most updated Steps to CPR as of this writing.

#1 - Check for Response - "Are you OK?"

#2 - Call 911

You or another make the call.

Then ask someone to find the AED (Automated Electronic Device), a portable device often found in public locations. It provides you audio and visual guidance for proper action steps. In addition, it's like a beacon when placed at the site enabling first responders to zero in on your precise location. It monitors life threatening irregularities and responds with an external defibrillator to assist the heart with a shock if needed to return to normal rhythm.

#3 – Compress

Initiate hands-on, hard and fast chest compressions at the sternum/breastbone with momentum. Think, push for the brain's oxygen, let up for the heart to refill. Goal is 100/minute. If with another, take turns to minimize fatigue until help arrives.

You may notice they no longer emphasize mouth-to-mouth breaths. The focus is on compressions to get the blood to the brain during the crucial first 4-5 minutes. When help arrives, more medical treatments will be implemented.

You can do it! Don't be intimidated, be brave, stay calm. It's easy. Pull the tab which opens the box to visual and audio instructions, with 2 stickers to place on the body as illustrated, 1 on the upper right chest, the other lower left side of chest. The box marks the location for Emergency Medical Technicians.

This is an introduction and overview only. Take a course offered by your county, hold a Heart Party and invite anyone to join. Lee County's instructor makes if fun, interesting and simple. Contact Scott Roy, BRoy@leegov.com for more information. AEDs are available for purchase also for home and business needs.

The Heart Chakra, Anahata represents the energy of love, kindness, compassion, and a healthy heart and lungs to circulate vital energy.

Breath practices and yoga asanas like Puppy/Heart Melting Pose, Backbends with shoulders back, and flexing the spine for the back of the heart, too. Do some Gorilla thumps with your fists to the chest with open mouth, AH breath sounds on the exhales to clear and stimulate the space.

Chant Y-A-M to help clear the space, wear something representing love to you and others, maybe pink or spring time green. Or even a garment with the word "Love". Surround yourself or hold some Rose Quartz crystals, drink Rose Hips tea. Before you know it, you'll be so radiant with love it will be palpable in the heart!

Love yourself, love another, live heart healthy, influence others to do the same. Sprinkle love.

With LOVE,

Gina