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One of the most important things about Ayurveda is how it explains your body’s energy. The chakra system holds your body’s energy (or prana). If you do things that keep the balance in this system, then it will be good for you.
Chakra is a word that comes from a Sanskrit term. It means spinning wheel or disk and it is derived from the root word cakra.
The chakras are wheels of energy that help our bodies work well. The 7 chakras in our body are energy centres. They can regulate emotions. The origin is from Hinduism and Buddhism which talk about how they can move around.
The chakras are parts of your body. They can cause problems if they become out of balance. If this happens, you might have a problem with your physical, mental, and spiritual health.
1. The Root Chakra (Muladhara Chakra)
The root chakra is located at the base of your spine. It is associated with what some may refer to as a “gut instinct,” It controls how you interact and relate to what lies outside yourself.
It can be most strongly visualized by imagining a red, four-petaled lotus flower.
Location: The base of your spine
Associated color: Red
The Signs of the Root Chakra Being blocked:
- Lack of self-confidence
- Being over-critical of others
- Feeling overwhelmed by the responsibilities of your life
- A fear that what you have won or achieved will be taken away from you, and a sense that what is yours may be lost.
How to unblock the Root (Muladhara) Chakra
The Root Chakra may be what you need to work on first if what is being felt in your life right now is things are too “earth-bound” or not what you think they could be.
Vrikshasana is good for the Root Chakra. The Root Chakra reflects your foundation. Other balance poses like Mountain Pose, Warrior Pose, are also good because they help you feel in your body.
2.The Sacral Chakra (Svadhisthana)
This chakra is important for making you creative. This chakra has to do with your reproductive organs and sex organs. It can be seen as a representation of creativity, fertility, and fluidity. If it’s not balanced, you might feel guilty or unstable.
Location: At the sacrum, located about three inches below your navel and two inches inside your body on what may be referred to as the “sensible” side of your body between your belly button.
Associated color: Orange
The signs it is blocked are as follows:
- Lack of pleasure or indulgence in what your senses have to offer, including lack of appreciation for food and other sensory pleasures.
- Fear of losing what you value most, even if it means keeping what is not suitable for you out of fear of what you might miss.
- Feeling drained by what you need to do in your life, what’s expected of you, and what others expect from you.
How to unblock a sacral (Svadhisthana) chakra
For the sacral chakra, you may want to focus on our feelings of abundance or what has been called “positive illusions.”
The sacral chakra is associated with our reproductive area and is responsible for our creativity and sensuality. Poses that strengthen your pelvic floors, where the sacral chakra resides, such as Goddess Pose, or known as Deviasana, other deep hip openers like Pigeon Pose or Lizard Pose, are also great for enhancing your sacral chakra.
3.The Solar Plexus Chakra (Manipura)
The Manipura chakra is important for personal power. When it is in balance, you feel alive and have a lot of self-esteem and confidence to take action. You can work on this chakra by awakening your true personal inner power so that you can work through your fear of taking risks.
Location: at the level of your navel
Associated color: Yellow
The signs it is blocked are as follows:
- Feeling like you’ve lost what you value in life, even what you would miss if given the choice
- Feeling like what you need in life is missing even when it’s there
- Lack of self-discipline and failure to follow through with what you started, what you value, or what has been requested of you
How to unblock a solar plexus (Manipura) chakra
If what is being felt in your life right now are issues with what others think or what you think that others expect of you, so you need to unblock the solar chakra.
The solar plexus chakra is a part of your body. It’s all about your inner fire, and it’s around your core. That’s why poses like Navasana are good for strengthening the core and making more balance in this chakra.
4. The Heart Chakra (Anahata)
You can be more joyful, loving, and empathetic when you open your heart chakra. This is when you feel love inside of yourself. When this chakra is blocked, you may become possessive and co-dependent and form dysfunctional relationships. You may also stay isolated for fear of rejection. When you stimulate the Anahata chakra (which means “unhurt” in Sanskrit), you can heal past wounds by reopening your heart, learn to love unconditionally, and form healthy relationships.
Location: in the center of your chest, right in line with what we would refer to as your physical heart
Associated color: Green
The signs it is blocked are as follows:
- Obsessively focusing on what you don’t have in life, even when what you have is good enough
- Feeling like what you need in life is missing when what you need is there
- Feeling that something is always lacking or just out of reach.
How to unblock the heart (Anahata) chakra
Your heart chakra is the place where you connect with others. It is recommended that poses, such as Camel Pose/Ustrasana, help unblock this chakra. It is also suggested that Cow Face Pose and Humble Warrior, which will help your chest, shoulders, and arms remain open so that you can more fully embrace others in a hug.
5. The Throat Chakra (Vishuddha)
The throat chakra is for speaking up. When this chakra is blocked, you may not be able to speak your truth. But when it is open, you can better use your voice to tell others what you are feeling. You will also be able to listen to others more and hear what they are saying without judging them.
Location: What many cultures refer to as your throat or the central point in the center of your throat, which may be referred to as “the adam’s apple.”
Associated color: Blue
The signs it is blocked are as follows:
- Crying easily or being overly emotional
- Feeling that what you express gets caught in your throat, even when what you’re trying to say is good enough.
- Feeling like what you need in life is missing when what you need is there.
How to unblock throat (Vishuddha) chakra
The throat chakra is a communication center. Salamba Sarvangasana poses that help opens up your throat chakra. They both help the back and front of your neck.
6. The Brow Chakra (Ajna)
It’s good for you to learn new things. It’s also good to trust your instincts. This chakra can help you make decisions and it is associated with your intuition or sixth sense. When the chakra is blocked, you may feel close-minded and untrusting to others.
Location: Forehead
Associated color: Indigo
The signs it is blocked are as follows:
- Lack of trust in what your senses tell you
- Feeling like what you need in life is missing when what you need is there
- Lack of appreciation for all that’s good in what’s around you right now
How To Unblock Brow Chakra
The third eye chakra is essential because it can create new things. You can do this by imagining different possibilities. Poses such as Sukhasana create a connection between our higher self and our more rooted body parts to manifest a dream into reality.
7. The Crown Chakra (Sahasrara)
The crown chakra can make you feel better. When it is closed, you think that happiness only comes from the outside. It is not in your body but is above your head. When it is open, you believe that happiness can come from inside of you and be free in any situation.
Location: Connected directly to the top of your head, what many cultures refer to as what’s “over your head” or what lies on the top of your head
Associated color: Violet
The signs it is blocked are as follows:
- Feeling like what you need in life is missing, even when what you need is there.
- Feeling unfulfilled no matter what your circumstances are.
- Feeling disconnected from what you know to be true.
How to unblock crown (Sahasrara) chakra
The crown chakra is where you connect to your higher self. The pose that comes after all yoga poses is Savasana or Corpse Pose. This pose helps you strengthen your crown chakra by connecting with your eternal self — your soul — and reminding you where you came from and where you’ll go.
