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Location · Term 03

Heart Space

The chest area around the heart and sternum. Seat of the desired feeling.

Definition

The heart space (German: Herzraum) is the chest area around the heart and sternum. In FIVE MOVES it is the seat of the desired feeling and the anchor for the safe nervous system state. Through the ventral vagal connection described by Stephen Porges (Polyvagal Theory), this area regulates connectedness, safety and social engagement responses. When the Mover feels their desired feeling in the heart space, their nervous system is in the ventral vagal state. Only from this safety can the transformation take place. The heart space is not meant metaphorically. It is a measurable physiological region with its own heart rate variability (HRV).

Read more in the Insights section
From the heart space to the blockage: the desired feeling travels with the breath HEART SPACE BLOCKAGE

The desired feeling travels with the breath

At a glance

AnatomySternum, ribcage, heart region
FunctionSeat of the desired feeling
Nervous systemVentral vagal (Porges)
Measurable viaHeart rate variability (HRV)