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Are there any poses that are particularly good for opening up emotions? I have been in classes where people start to cry in certain poses and I'm interested in exploring this a little further. Is it the case that this just happens or is it something specific (ie a pose) that opens them up? How does doing a pose open the flood gates? Sorry if this is a bit cryptic I'm just interested...

Fascinating question, and in my limited experience I don't think there is a simple answer. What seems to release the flood-gates for one person does nothing for another, and vice-versa. It depends on the mood on the day.

However, some practices and postures that would have a generally freeing effect on one's emotions and can easily lead to emotional releases like crying are:
Anything that really liberates the breath, and can then usually help lengthen the exhale. Many pranayama techniques can have the effect you mention, especially if overdone. Sighing as you exhale can also help.

Chanting and ecstatic singing open the heart like nothing else (just get along to a Deva Premal or Krishna Das concert to see what I mean) and incorporating chanting into your own practice will help free you up.

Generally heart-opening and chest expanding kinds of poses can have an emotionally liberating effect...think camel pose, Urdhva Danurasana, half-moon balance, fish pose to name a few. Postures that are associated with the 4th chakra are also obvious poses to inlude.

Many find that twists can literally wring out the emotions too. For years I found that a simple seated twist (like Ardha Matseyandrasana) would automatically reduce to me to deep tears of some unknown grief quite spontaneously. Not a good look in front of a class of students, but lovely to explore in my own practice.

So I don't know if this helps, as it's a subjective thing. But tears are a lovely release if one is not afraid or ashamed of them, they are just energy or prana moving through the body in a powerful way and can often leave one feeling more honest and authentic, or lead to that surrender that is a wonderful part of that state of yoga.

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Qi Yoga

YES! that is what happened to me (actually I was a bit embarrassed about it ). It sort of felt like a whoosh feeling and really hot, and then I just felt like crying. It was quite weird actually. We were lying over a bolster at the time so thankfully we were on the floor so no one could see me. It was an odd experience, and never happened since.