Unfolding the Chakras
I started my yoga to vary my workout routine. But, the fortunate accident of joining the yoga certification fostered yoga as a spiritual workout. We all know that the brain, heart, stomach and other internal organs function to keep us alive. Yet, we all face distinct mental and physical problems. Everything that is happening inside is inter-related i.e., our thoughts, emotions and health. Understanding about the chakras in the human body and their tremendous influence on us is one of the imperative wealth of knowledge that has enlightened me. So, I decided to jot down on Medium before the last grain of information in my little brain evaporates.
What is Chakra? — My mind instantly associates the word “Chakra” with a wheel or circle, which is the actual definition in Sanskrit.
Are they physically present in the human body was my next question? — No they are the psychic centers where physiologically subtle nerves(Nadis) communicate. This is the junction where we have the flow of pranic energy, spiritual energy and mental energy meet.
How many chakras do we have? — Total of seven chakras.
- Muladhara (Root Chakra)
- Swadhisthana (Sacral Chakra)
- Manipura (Solar Plexus Chakra)
- Anahata (Heart Chakra)
- Vishuddhi (Throat Chakra)
- Ajna (Third Eye Chakra)
- Sahasrara (Crown Chakra)
The seven chakras runs in a straight line from the spine to the crown of our head, governing the mind, body and spirit. Understanding the significance of each chakra and its development beginning in the womb is very interesting and relatable.
Muladhara Chakra — is located at the base of the spine, which is developed from the womb until the age of 2. This chakra governs our survival instincts as well as our capacity to stay grounded. A new-born infant wants to feel safe and secure in this strange new world called earth; it feels safe and secure in the arms of its mother because it can smell her. This chakra also holds the samskara (psychological imprints, experiences) of our prior incarnations, i.e., the karmas of our previous life. It also contains ancestral behavioral tendencies, as well as their challenges and accomplishments.
The imbalance in this chakra will influence on the psychological symptoms like feeling anxious, low self-esteem, insecure, eating disorders, having no interests in life. Also causes Physical manifestation which include inflammation, lower back pains, colon issues, sluggishness and it goes on.
Swadhisthana Chakra — This is the second chakra located at the lower part of our abdomen which is developed until the age of 4. This chakra influences our creativity, pleasure and sexuality. As the kid gets a bit older, it begins to feel at ease in the company of its family. It offers a sense of fulfillment. It starts to examine and test the environment around it. If the family allows the child to safely explore, creativity flourishes. When the child is criticized at every level, the chakra becomes malformed, creating shame for creative endeavors and suppressing the natural desire to express in a creative manner.
The imbalance in this chakra influences the individual in feeling overwhelmed and hypersensitive, as well as sexual issues. They are prone to depression and addiction, and also a obsession with drama and conflict.
Urinary issues, kidney problems, gynecological issues, and lower back discomfort are all signs of an unbalanced second chakra.
Manipura Chakra — This is the third chakra located exactly behind the naval, which is developed between the age 4–7. It is the seat for our will power, confidence and ego. The kid develops a healthy feeling of confidence when parents encourage to share it’s viewpoints. If they disregard the ideas, or reprimanded for it’s behavior, they begin to feel guilty for expressing themselves. Low self-esteem and a lack of initiative result of this.
The imbalance in this chakra causes the misalignment of physical body with aliments which includes constipation, diabetes, ulcers, liver diseases. Mental aliments like difficulty in self-expression, aggressive, overly rigid, or controlling behavior of people around, lacking the right direction.
Anahata Chakra —This is the fourth chakra located behind the base of the heart. We strive to be “good” and do the right thing. We learn to share and interact, and we begin to form morality based on the cultural values we encounter. Our heart chakra is the route via which we interact with others. It is the energy center that helps us to love and empathize with the environment around us while also allowing us to love others.
The blockage in the above three chakras — the root, sacral and solar plexus chakra, it is difficult for the Anahata chakra to function at the optimum level. Shyness, jealousy, loneliness, false expectations, trying to please others most of the time — are some of the mental aliments, physically it might effect the blood pressure, heart & lung diseases, lower the immune system.
Vishuddhi Chakra — This is the fifth chakra located at the throat pit. During the development of this chakra we strive to identify ourselves individually or in a group. It is the center which governs our communication, healthy control of listening and speaking.
When there is Imbalance in the chakra, the psychological aliments like difficulty in expressing, feeling shy, dishonesty, insensitivity, social anxiety might be seen. With physical issues like ulcers, neck pain, ear ache, thyroid isssues, dental disorders.
We cannot reach our third eye, crown, or higher chakras unless each of these chakras is healed and permitting free flow of our energy. We must first balance our basic five chakras.
Ajna Chakra — This is the sixth chakra located between the eyebrows, it is also referred as brow chakra or third eye. It is physically and intuitively connected to the act of seeing. Enriching the functioning of this chakra, aim to nourish the ajna’s energies and cultivate one’s intuition.
Confusion, a lack of focus and purpose, and sadness are all signs of an underactive ajna. On the other side, an overactive ajna can cause hallucinations and isolation from reality.
Crown chakra — The last seventh chakra, this connects you to the supreme soul, brings in wisdom, knowledge and universal connectedness. Kids who are constantly involved in asking their intellectual opinions on subjects will make them feel worthy of their thought processes.
The physical and mental aliments associated with it involves migraine, headaches, sensitivity to light & sound, changes in sleep, lack of purpose in life, lack of faith, emotional detachment.
So how do I heal the chakras? — The answer I received from my guru and his learnings from the vedic school says — daily positive affirmations, healthy diet (Sattvic ahara-simple vegetarian diet), meditation, breathing excercises (pranayama) and yoga practice will eventually make you align with your inner chakra. The answer to the question looks very simple, but when you plunge in the journey of rectifying the issues you find the real bliss and it is wonderful. It is more like attaining spiritual hygiene by unblocking the chakras.
Do you have particular asana to heal each chakra? — Collective healing of the chakras, balancing them and allowing the prana to flow in ease through the body is certainly done by doing all the asanas in sequence it could be Hatha yoga, Vinyasa or Ashtanga, you name it!
My tip: Practicing “Surya Namaskara” is an easy way to hook on the sequence flow and connect to the inner-self. Keep the focus on the breath to control the wandering mind. Integrate the asanas in your daily practice with few breathing excercises, followed by meditation to enhance the energy and experience the different you. Stick on to practice every day for atleast 20 minutes and am sure you will definitely find yoga appealing.
It takes a long time-many incarnations of right action, good company, help of the guru, self-awakening, wisdom, and meditation-for man to regain his soul consciousness of immortality. To reach this state of Self-realization, each man must practice meditation to transfer his consciousness from the limited body to the unlimited sphere of joy felt in meditation. — Paramahansa Yogananda
