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The 7 Chakras Explained
My yoga class just finished reading Wheels of Life by Anodea Judith, PH.D. The book explains the 7 chakras and helps the reader explore and learn about balancing your own chakras using meditation and yoga. It was a pretty good read but honestly, it’s not a book that you read once and never go back to. It’s one that you read and then refer back to time and time again.
The chakras come from an ancient tradition that is linked with the science and practice of yoga. Recently the chakra system has started gaining popularity with more books and references than ever before.
Different vertebrae are related to the different chakras based on the spinal nerves. The chakras are gateways between different dimensions where the activity of one connects and plays on another. They are symbolic patterns of our own mental and physical programming.
Chakra Breakdown
The Chakra system starts in the lower spine and moves up towards the crown of the head. Here is a breakdown of the chakras:
| Number | Location | Association | Element | Sense |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| One | Base of the spine | Survival | Earth | Smell |
| Two | Lower abdomen | Emotions | Water | Taste |
| Three | Solar Plexus | Personal Power | Fire | Sight |
| Four | Sternum | Love | Air | Touch |
| Five | Throat | Communication/Creativity | Sound | Hear/Sound |
| Six | Center of the forehead (Third Eye) | Clairvoyance/intuition/imagination | Light | Intuition |
| Seven | Top of the head/Crown | Knowledge/Understand/Transcendent Conciousness | Thought | Thought |
Chakras can be open or closed, excessive or deficient. For example, the first chakra is grounding. If your first chakra is deficient you may find it difficult to be still and always be on the go and if your first chakra is excessive, you may be a slow mover, be stuck, or clingy.
If this is the case, the chakra needs healing by uncovering and removing whatever is blocking it so that it can generate or receive energy on that particular plane.
“There is no greater way to invite love into your life than to offer it first.” ~ Anodea Judith, PH. D.
Ways to Open or Strengthen each Chakra
The Chakra System has immense value for personal growth and use in diagnosis and healing. Here are some exercises that you can do to open or strengthen each center.
- Focus attention on that area of the body, taking careful note of how it feels and behaves.
- Understand the philosophical working of that chakra and apply it.
- Examine the interactions in your day-to-day life that level corresponding to that chakra.
- I think the most important thing is to make sure that the chakras are all aligned with each other. The sum total of the chakras forms a vertical column in our bodies so the most direct alignment is with the spine relatively straight so the energy can flow.
Chakra Content
The content of the chakras is formed largely by repeated patterns from our actions in daily life, as we are always the center point of these actions. Repeated movements and habits create fields in the world around us. These chakras are affected by programming from our parents and culture, our physical bodies, situations we are born into, and information from previous lives.
Maintaining good chakra health is important because ultimately our chakras govern the amount of activity and complexity we can effectively handle at any given level.
If you liked this article, check out more of our yoga articles.
I do not understand yoga, but this article is very helpful in demystifying it! Thanks.
Love this chart, very easy to understand and read. Great article!
Wow, there is so much about yoga that I just have no idea about! This book sounds like a great reference book for a yoga enthusiast!
Interesting! I don’t know much about yoga. This is great info!
Thank you for sharing this! I have tried to explain this so many times to family and friends! I will send them over to read you post! Thanks!
I know nothing about Yoga. I found this very informative and an interesting read. Thanks for posting
I want to learn more about Chakras. It is so interesting.
Interesting. You learn something new everyday. I’m not very familiar with yoga.
I used to know a lot about yoga & chakras, but over the years I’ve forgotten most of it. Thanks for this article & refreshing my memory!
Great chart! Thank you for making this a little clearer.
Very interesting – I think the chakras are so fascinating. Your post explains them well, I love the chart.
Thank you for the breakdown, love the chart. Very informative and detailed.
I always hear about Yoga, but today, I have learned something about it. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks for the information. It is very Interesting, and I learned something new.
This is really interesting. Thanks for the insight!
I love charts. Sometimes I think my brain understands more with charts. Thank you for sharing I was very interested in this article and was sad when it ended. Thank you again for sharing.
Very interesting. I’ve always been curious about chakras and the philosophy behind it. I still don’t fully understand it but it’s fascinating.
Thanks for explaining this aspect of the mind/body connection.
I do not know a ton about yoga but have always wanted to try it! This is all so interesting to read about 🙂
I’ve always heard of Chakras but didn’t really understand them. Thanks for all the great tips.
Great information. I don’t do yoga but I love the philosophy behind it.
I love yoga and love learning about chakras! What a nice post!
Such great information! Totally relate to not being able to sit still and always being on the go! Thanks for sharing!
I always find this sort of information interesting, even though I don’t understand it completely. ?
I don’t do yoga, but this was informative and interesting. Thank for sharing!
I willingly admit that I knew nothing about chakras before reading this post. Definitely more educated now ~ fascinating.
I love this and will have it saved to return to on a weekly basis. Everything is about balance and I know I focus too much on one chakra than the others. I can see why a lot of people do all kinds of yoga.