Chakra Flow

Yoga is an ancient practice that promotes the health of your mind, body, and spirit. In order to experience the many benefits of yoga, it’s important to understand the connection between yoga and Chakras. Let’s discuss Chakra yoga and how it can bring healing to your life.

What is Chakra Yoga?

The concept of chakras originated in ancient Hindu traditions and Buddhism practices and has been incorporated into certain yoga disciplines today. It’s rooted in the belief that the human body is made up of much more than skin and bones. The body has many layers of energy fields that form the subtle body, or “that which is most delicate.”

Chakras are points in which different energy channels, or nadis, meet. The body’s life force, or prana, travels through each chakra, and when energy is blocked, it can result in a number of negative emotional, mental, and physical imbalances.

The human body is believed to have twelve main chakras in and around the body. Most people will only focus on the first seven chakras. It is believed that your chakras determine how you experience reality, affecting how a person experiences emotions, fears, and desires in life.

Chakra yoga is specifically designed to unblock your chakras, which is an ancient Sanskrit word which means “spinning wheels,” so your life energy can freely move throughout the body, keeping everything harmonious and in a balanced state.

The 7 Chakras and Their Meaning

The general population are most familiar with is the first seven chakras, or energy centers of the human body. These energy centers, or Chakras are located at the level of the spine running along the front of the spine down the center of the body. Let’s take a quick look at each of these individually.

1. Root Chakra (Muladhara)

Your root chakra is located at the base of your spine, near the tip of the tailbone, forming the foundation of your energy system. When balanced, your root chakra allows you to feel safe, confident and grounded. When out of balance, you may feel anxious and insecure. This chakra is represented by the earth element, the color red, and the sound LAM. It is associated with instinct and survival. Your sense of smell is connected to this chakra. Yoga poses that promote a balanced root chakra include mountain pose, warrior poses, bound triangle and other balancing poses.

      2. Sacral Chakra (Svadhishthana)

Your second chakra is located in your sacral plexus area, about three finger lengths down from your belly button, and it’s known as the body’s creative center. All creativity sits in this center. Procreation along with the arts, music and even great chefs and designers rely on this center. It’s associated with the water element, the color orange and the sound VAM. Our passions and desires are found here. When balanced, you are able to connect with others and express emotions and creativity freely. When the sacral chakra is blocked, a person may feel a sense of guilt or feel like they are trapped, causing attachment issues, cravings, and other negative feelings like sexual and emotional frustration. Chakra yoga poses to unblock this chakra include boat pose, supine twist, seated forward fold and wide legged forward fold.

     3. Solar Plexus Chakra (Manipura)

This chakra is located seven finger lengths up from your belly button at the area of your solar plexus. This is the seat of our self-esteem, or the core of your identity. This can include your ego, your grit and personal power. This is the area that you might say, “I get a gut feeling about this.” Physically, your solar plexus chakra affects your digestive system, eyesight, and agility. As a base chakra, it’s represented by the fire element, the color yellow and the sound RAM. Stress can be an indication of a blocked Manipura chakra. Poses that activate and strengthen the core will help to keep the solar plexus chakra balanced, promoting self-confidence and relaxation. Poses to help open this chakra would be revolved side angle and twisting asanas.

As a side note, these first three Chakras are our “earthly needs,” the things we need to survive on this earth.

      4. Heart Chakra (Anahata) 

Your heart chakra is represented by the air element and the color green in most systems or the color pink in other systems and the sound YAM. It is located near your thoracic spine at the level of the heart. It affects your ability to have strong connections with others and intimate relationships, opening you up to feelings of compassion and love. This chakra has less to do with how we love other and more to do with how we truly love ourselves. A balanced heart chakra allows love and spirituality to grow freely, while a blocked heart chakra can leave a person feeling disconnected, angry, and without emotion. When your heart chakra is functioning properly your solar plexus chakra is in good shape because we have good self-confidence, also your throat chakra will be balanced to help you speak your truth. This chakra is the great divide between your “earthly needs” and your “spiritual needs.” To keep your heart chakra balanced, try chakra yoga poses like cobra pose, camel pose, and eagle.

      5. Throat Chakra (Vishuddhi)

The throat chakra is represented by the color blue, ether or the space element and the sound HAM. It’s responsible for promoting healthy metabolism and the thyroid. A healthy throat chakra allows a person to be authentic, creative, and true to themself, and it gives them the ability to communicate this truth to others. When the throat chakra is blocked, on the other hand, you may struggle with the ability to express yourself, and you may even experience an imbalance in your thyroid along with throat and ear problems. Try chakra yoga poses like shoulder stand, bridge or reverse table top to keep your throat chakra balanced.

      6. Third Eye Chakra (Ajna) 

The third eye chakra is spiritually significant since it unites the mind and body, which are two major pranic forces in the body. Each person is a little different but it is located near the center of the forehead. A healthy and balanced third eye chakra allows a person to feel balanced, clear-headed, and intuitive. When unbalanced, a person may feel confused, with physical symptoms manifesting in dizziness and headaches. The third eye chakra is represented by the color indigo, element of light and the sound OM. Try poses like the dolphin pose and child’s pose to have a clear, unblemished outlook on life and the self.

     7. Crown Chakra (Sahasrara)

In some systems the color violet represents the crown chakra and in others it is represented by the color white. This chakra has no element but the sound is OM. Sahasrara is considered the source of all chakras and the highest energy center on the body. It’s responsible for a person’s faith, inspiration, and connection to the infinite, the universe and even the divine or God. When out of balance, a person may feel disconnected from their spirituality or Higher Self. Try chakra yoga poses like balancing butterfly pose, crown mudra or with the assistance of a trained yoga teacher, headstand or rabbit pose to help open this chakra and promote a feeling of balanced and at peace.

Chakra Flow Classes in Queen Creek, AZ

At ZenLife, we believe that everyone deserves to feel happy, healthy and at peace. Our Chakra Flow classes and our Lady Niguma classes are designed for every person at every skill level, and we’ll meet you exactly where you’re at so you can leave feeling balanced and well. If you’d like to learn more about our chakra flow classes, contact us today.