The heart symbolizes where our feelings live
Yoga teachers say some things that may sound strange. You can't really "open your heart," can you? I try to use language that helps you connect to what we're doing in class, and that includes visualization and imagination.
I often say "notice how you feel." It's fascinating to me that the word "FEEL" can refer to physical tactile sensation, as well as emotions and mental state. I believe that physical sensations affect our emotional state, and vice versa.
If we are in pain, it can make us anxious, angry, or sad. If we are excited about something great that happened, it can make us feel light and at ease in our bodies.
So to some extent, we have the power to choose how we "feel" simply by shifting our mindset to gratitude, AND/OR by moving our bodies to release physical tension. It doesn't always work this way, but it's worth a try, right?