If you are like me, you probably had someone at a young age tell you to “Sit up straight.” Whether a parent, teacher, or coach, they were most likely trying to give you some guidance and get you to stop slouching. What they may not have known was how deep the benefits of good posture truly are. It has been linked to better breathing, increased self confidence, improved mood, higher energy levels and heightened concentration.

Our second conviction at MIBE is “Love - open your heart to be authentic, genuine and vulnerable.” In order to be a heart leader, we have to start by opening our hearts and that actually begins with physically stretching our chest. As we go through life, we naturally develop a shield or armor around our hearts for protection. Emotional challenges, hours on end hunched over a desk, and experiences that leave us jaded cause our muscles stiffen and our shoulders begin to cave in. We more frequently keep our head down and arms crossed. Over time this stress restricts mobility, flexibility, and the physical space around the heart, which actually limits our emotional capacity to relate to one another and ourselves.

When we realize that our energy, emotions, thoughts and the physical structure of our body are all intertwined, we can begin to understand how they impact each other. Starting each day with some simple chest opening stretches (or “heart openers” in a yoga class) can vastly improve the flow of oxygen, circulation of blood, and overall confidence. I took our team through a couple of these exercises and it was incredible how the mood in the room felt lighter after only three minutes. If you need some suggestions here you go. Or here’s a heart opening yoga sequence from Office Yoga.

In addition to the physical openness, chest openers allow us to be more open spiritually and emotionally and there are a myriad of benefits that can come with that openness. You may feel a release of negative emotions you’ve been holding on to. Or it may help you find a greater depth of understanding of yourself. You may find more “flow” in your life which allows you to overcome challenges with ease. And you may find a better connection between your head and your heart. Being a “Heart Leader” is not just about emotions, it’s about understanding how our thoughts and emotions work together. It’s about assessing situations and combining facts with empathy. It’s about finding a balance between your head and your heart. So, I suggest you start today with a few stretches and open up your heart.