What is a Chakra?
Chakra is a Sanskrit word meaning spinning wheel. There are 49 chakras mentioned in the Vedic Canons, seven of which are basic; 21 are in the second circle, and 21 in the third circle. The basic chakras are a system of seven energy centres located along the spine. Each chakra corresponds to an area of the body, a set of behavioural characteristics and stages of spiritual growth.
Practicing yoga and focusing your energy during different postures can help you align your chakras and get all the wheels spinning in the same direction and speed. Understanding how to fine tune and control your chakras through yoga and meditation can help bring balance and peace to your mind, body and spirit.
The Seven Chakras
There are seven chakras, each associated with a different part of the body. They are located along the spine from the perineum to the crown of your head. Each chakra is associated with a particular body location, colour, central emotional/behavioural issue, as well as many other personal aspects, including identity, goals, etc.
The seven chakras are:
- Muladhara (base of the spine)
- Svadhisthana (abdomen, genitals, lower back/hip)
- Manipura (solar plexus)
- Anahata (heart area)
- Visshudha (throat)
- Ajna (brow), and
- Sahasrara (top of head, cerebral cortex).
Through the movements and postures of yoga, you can learn to focus your concentration and energy to and from the various chakras in your body. This allows you to compensate for areas that may be out of sync with the rest of your body or not active at all. By balancing the energy among all seven of the chakras, balance can be achieved. This spiritual energy is known as Kundalini energy. In its dormant state, it can be visualized as a coiled up snake resting at the base of your spine, the Muladhara chakra.
The chakras act as valves or pumps regulating the flow of energy through your system. Therefore, controlled and purposeful movements, such as yoga, can be extremely beneficial in realigning your chakras in a way that can be very beneficial for you both physically and emotionally.
A very powerful meditation for all seven chakras can be found here. It nourishes and enlivens all seven of your chakra energy centres in your body. It enables you to connect with, balance, and uplift each chakra. If you are new to the chakra system, you will learn some of the characteristics of each chakra, as you move through each with your awareness.