Chakras have gained popularity recently, thanks to the rise of yoga and New Age philosophies. They are an ancient energy system. It all began in India. The Vedas, sacred texts from around 1500 to 1000 BC, were the first to mention them. More: Birth of the New Age movement
Each of the seven chakras are governed by spiritual laws, principles of consciousness that we can use to cultivate greater harmony, happiness, and wellbeing in our lives and in the world.
Deepak Chopra
Chakra (or cakra in Sanskrit) means “wheel” and represents energy points in your body. These are thought to be spinning disks of energy that should stay “open” and aligned. They correspond to bundles of nerves, major organs, and areas of our energetic body, affecting our emotional and physical well-being.
While some believe there are 114 different chakras, most people refer to the seven main chakras that run along the spine. Each of these seven main chakras has a specific number, name, color, and location along the spine from the sacrum to the crown of the head, and focuses on health.
How chakras and prana affect your health
Chakra experts say that prana, or universal energy, flows through your chakra system. This energy is considered pure and healing, meant to keep you healthy and vibrant. When your chakras are open and aligned, prana flows smoothly through them. However, blocked chakras can cause imbalances in your physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual health.
While research on how spiritual energy affects the body and mind is limited, recent studies show that balancing or opening blocked chakras might improve health. For example, some studies found that people who participated in chakra-based meditation programs reported lower anxiety and better health perception.
Meditations, affirmations, and yoga poses can help balance your chakras. Mudras, or hand gestures, also support the flow of energy.
7 chakras
Crown Chakra (Sahasrara)
Location: Top of the head
Color: Violet or white
Focus: Spirituality, enlightenment, and connection to the divine More: The spiritual influence of purple aura
Third Eye Chakra (Ajna)
Location: Forehead (between the eyebrows)
Color: Indigo
Focus: Intuition, insight, and mental clarity
Throat Chakra (Vishuddha)
Location: Throat area
Color: Blue
Focus: Communication, self-expression, and truth
Heart Chakra (Anahata)
Location: Center of the chest
Color: Green
Focus: Love, compassion, and relationships
Solar Plexus Chakra (Manipura)
Location: Upper abdomen (above the navel)
Color: Yellow
Focus: Personal power, confidence, and self-esteem
Sacral Chakra (Svadhisthana)
Location: Lower abdomen (just below the navel)
Color: Orange
Focus: Creativity, sexuality, pleasure, and emotions
Root Chakra (Muladhara)
Location: Base of the spine (coccyx area)
Color: Red
Focus: Grounding, stability, survival, and security
Chakra healing and balancing
Imbalances in your seven chakras can subtly or profoundly affect your life. These energy centers influence your physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual well-being. Issues in one chakra can impact others, as the chakras are interconnected. For example, challenges with power might seem linked to the second chakra but could also affect self-esteem (third chakra) or basic survival instincts (first chakra). Sometimes, multiple chakras are involved, or one may dominate the situation.
Chakra imbalances, blockages, or damage can result from trauma, unresolved conflicts, karmic issues, or ingrained belief systems and behaviors. If these imbalances are not addressed, they can disrupt energy flow and eventually manifest as physical illness or emotional distress. Continuous stress on the body can further disrupt chakra functioning.
True healing involves addressing the root causes of these issues, not just the symptoms, as symptoms may not always appear where the problem originates. Regular self-care practices focusing on your chakras are vital for maintaining overall health.
Some healing practices
There are various ways to unblock, balance, heal, or align chakras using chakra-based therapies.
Meditation and breathing exercises: Meditation helps calm the mind and focus on the present moment. It often includes breathing exercises. Some people visualize light or warmth in areas associated with each chakra, which can help align them, reduce stress, and promote a calmer response to life’s challenges.
Yoga: This ancient practice promotes spiritual and physical well-being. Believers say it helps balance chakras through focused breathing, specific poses, and meditation, which can reduce stress and enhance overall health. More: What does hot yoga do?
Reiki: Originating from Japan, Reiki is a form of energy healing. Practitioners guide energy flow through the body, focusing on unblocking chakras. Many find Reiki to be relaxing and beneficial for their well-being.
Ayurveda: This holistic health system from India uses herbs, plants, yoga, meditation, and other treatments to balance chakras and improve overall wellness.
Color therapy and crystal healing: Some people use specific colors, crystals, or stones associated with each chakra. They may look at these colors or hold crystals to balance the energy in the corresponding chakra. More: 10 Poweful healing crystals
