Yoga Explained: Get in Touch with Your Seven Chakras

According to the principles of yoga, the seven chakras are an integral part of the “subtle body:” the part of you that you can neither see nor physically touch.

Many yogis believe that chakras are the human body’s main energy centers. According to ancient teachings, when all of the chakras are open, energy runs freely through the body, harmonizing the mind, spirit, and physical self.

Origins in ancient Hindu beliefs

The origins of the chakra system lie in the ancient Hindu sacred texts called the Vedas, which date back to 1500 BC. The chakra system was passed down from one generation to the next by oral storytelling among Indo-European tribes commonly referred to as the Aryan people.

Chakras were a part of ancient Hindu meditation practices. In the 1900s, the concept was introduced to the West by scholars like John Woodroffe, and later New Age practitioners. The term “chakra” refers to a spinning wheel of energy. In the body, the chakras follow the course of the spine, running from the base of the back to the top of the head.

There are seven main chakras, although some scholars contend that there may be as many as 114 in total distributed throughout the body.

Also known as Muladhara, the root chakra represents your foundation. Located at the base of the back, it helps you to feel grounded. Signified by the color red, an aligned root chakra can help you feel confident of your abilities, capable of standing on your own feet, and able to withstand any challenges that come your way. A misaligned root chakra, on the other hand, may promote feelings of self-doubt, insecurity, and instability.

Located just below the bellybutton, the sacral chakra represents pleasure, sexuality, and creativity. It is connected to feelings of self-worth. Otherwise known as the Swadhisthana, the sacral chakra is associated with the color orange. It informs how we relate to emotions, both our own and those of other people.

An imbalanced sacral chakra can cause you to feel like you lack control in your life.

Yogis associate the solar plexus chakra with confidence and self-control. The sensation of butterflies in the stomach is a manifestation of the solar plexus chakra, or Manipura, at work. A misaligned solar plexus chakra can lead you to feel overwhelmed by self-doubt or shame. A balanced solar plexus chakra, on the other hand, can help you feel free and comfortable enough to express your true self. Associated with the fire element and represented by amber, the solar plexus chakra is yellow.

The heart chakra is otherwise known as Anahata. It is a channel between the upper chakras, which are associated with spirituality, and the lower chakras, which are associated with materiality.

The heart chakra impacts the capacity to give and receive love. Colored green and associated with the air element, the heart chakra controls love, peace, and joy.

A balanced heart chakra helps people to feel deep empathy and compassion. However, a closed heart chakra hinders people from opening up to others about their innermost thoughts and feelings.

Vishuddha, or the throat chakra, is colored blue and associated with speech and communication. It is also said to govern the endocrine glands, which regulate metabolism.

A balanced throat chakra empowers you to speak your truth, both to yourself and to others. A misaligned throat chakra can result in communication problems, hindering you from effectively expressing yourself, impeding creativity, and even resulting in ear, nose, or throat problems.

Otherwise known as Ajna, the third-eye chakra is located at the central point between the eyebrows. This is your point of intuition that promotes self-reflection and enables you to think clearly and to see things for what they are. Colored indigo, the third-eye chakra provides inner guidance on life paths.

A balanced third-eye chakra helps people to perceive truth and to avoid having their viewpoints skewed by distracting emotions, opinions, or ego. A misaligned third-eye chakra can lead to confusion, impede you from expressing yourself, and cause you to question your intuition. Some yogis believe that a misaligned third-eye chakra can produce a variety of physical symptoms, including headaches, dizziness, and migraines.

Situated at the top of the scalp, the crown chakra is otherwise known as Sahasrara. It is believed to be the source of all other chakras, and the gateway to pure consciousness.

The crown chakra is violet. Unlike other chakras, the crown chakra is not an intersection of different energies, but, as the highest energy center, more of an opening to full consciousness.

The crown chakra is associated with faith and dedication; it connects you to limitlessness and the infinite. A balanced crown chakra promotes tranquility and a positive attitude toward life. If it is misaligned, however, you may feel disconnected from your body, higher self, and the world around you, which can sour your outlook on life.

Originally published at https://www.willobeid.net on August 4, 2021.