Shoulder Openness and Strength: Why We Close Our Hearts and How to Find Freedom Again

Have you ever noticed how, in moments of stress, sadness, or vulnerability, your shoulders round and your chest closes? This is not just a random posture; it's a deeply ingrained response. We close off to protect ourselves—or at least, we think we do. But what if this act of closing actually creates more restriction, both physically and emotionally? What if true protection comes not from closing, but from strengthening and opening?

In this post, we explore why we close our hearts and shoulders, the impact it has on our body and mind, and how we can learn to open again with strength and trust.

Why Do We Close Our Shoulders and Hearts?

Closing off is a natural, almost instinctive response. It can arise from many reasons, both physical and emotional:

• Physical Patterns: Daily life encourages shoulder rounding. Hours spent breastfeeding, working on computers, driving, or even cooking can cause the shoulders to creep forward. This isn't just habit; it's the body trying to manage repetitive tasks.

• Emotional Protection: For many women, emotional reasons for closing off start early. Perhaps attention arrived when it wasn't wanted or understood, especially as breasts began to develop. Some may have felt their bodies didn't match those around them—like being taller, broader, or simply "different."

• Wounds and Sadness: When we're hurt, when grief or disappointment weigh on us, it's common to physically curl inward. The body mimics the mind's desire to protect itself.

And yet, this instinct to "protect" can actually create more tension. We think we're building walls to stay safe, but these walls block more than just vulnerability—they block breath, openness, and ease.

The Cost of Closing Off

Physiologically, rounding the shoulders compresses the upper body. The diaphragm has less space to expand, so our breath becomes shallow. The organs feel cramped, and tension radiates through the neck, chest, and even into the lower back.

Energetically, closing off can feel isolating. The heart center, often associated with connection, courage, and trust, feels caged. We might feel stuck, guarded, or disconnected from our true selves.

But most importantly, this posture of protection isn't true safety. Real safety comes from strength—the strength to open, to be present, and to trust that we can hold ourselves through vulnerability.

Why Strength is the Foundation for Shoulder Openness and Strength

In yoga and movement philosophy, we talk about Sthira (steadiness, strength) and Sukha (ease, softness). True openness isn’t about forcing the heart open; it’s about creating enough strength and stability to feel safe enough to open naturally.

Without strength, openness becomes collapse. Without ease, strength becomes rigidity. The art is in finding the balance.

Strength doesn't mean bracing or holding on. It means creating a steady foundation—whether that's through core stability, grounded feet, or simply the trust that you can support yourself emotionally. When strength is in place, ease can follow. The shoulders can soften, the chest can lift, and the breath can flow freely.

How to Begin Releasing and Opening for Shoulder Openness and Strength

1. Cultivate Awareness: The first step is noticing when and why you close off. Does it happen when you’re tired? Anxious? Distracted? Simply recognizing the pattern is the beginning of change.

2. Strengthen with Intention: Build stability in the body to support openness. This can be as simple as connecting to core strength or practicing shoulder-stabilizing movements that teach the body it is safe to open.

3. Practice Gentle, Supported Opening: Poses like supported bridge, gentle backbends, or even standing with hands on a wall can begin to create spaciousness in the shoulders and chest, without force.

4. Integrate Breath: Focus on expanding the breath into the ribs and upper chest. As you strengthen your breath, you strengthen your trust in the body's capacity to hold openness.

5. Embrace the Emotional Layer: Recognize the emotional reasons for closing off. It might be rooted in past experiences, fears, or insecurities. Gentle reflection and self-compassion can soften these deeper patterns over time.

From Protection to Empowered Shoulder Openness and Strength

Learning to open again is a journey. It's about creating a dialogue with the body, offering strength where it's needed, and allowing release where it's safe. It's not about forcing the heart open, but about supporting it enough to unfold naturally.

When we strengthen the foundations of our body and breath, we create space for the heart to lift and the shoulders to widen—not in vulnerability, but in empowered openness.

Want to Explore This More Deeply?

Join me for my upcoming workshop:

💛 STRENGTH & FREEDOM: A Journey Through the Shoulders

We’ll explore how to move from unconscious holding to conscious opening—blending somatic release, strength-building, and mindful movement to create true stability and freedom in the shoulders and upper body.

🗓️ Sunday, March 23🕰️ 10:30-12:30📍 Elements Yoga, Santander💰 35€

✨ DM me to reserve your spot! ✨

It's time to let go of the illusion of protection and embrace the strength that allows you to open with ease.

With love,

Shaini