We have 7 major energy centers that can manifest on many different levels. Chakras affect our behavior and emotional life. They can shape the structure of our physical body and who we are as individuals. When open and balanced, energy moves freely through them and spiritual healing can occur. Below we've put together the chakra basics for you to unfold and explore this powerful set of forces.
Root Chakra or Muladhara
Color: red.
Location: base of spine.
Element: earth.
Foundation: earth existence, physical well-being, and security.
Controls: hunger, sex, sleep, and self-preservation.
Out of balance: depression, anger, tendency to isolate from self or others, prolonged flight or flight.
How to regulate and restore: get grounded, walk barefoot.
Pelvic Chakra or Svadhishthana
Color: orange.
Location: over the sacrum.
Element: water.
Controls: taste, reproduction, desire and pleasure.
Out of balance: Repressed emotions, stuck, sexual issues, cravings, attachment and addictions of all kinds.
How to regulate and restore: hip opening exercises and foods such as oranges, melons and coconuts are good for sacral chakra healing.
Navel Chakra or Manipura
Color: yellow.
Location: navel (between the belly button and sternum).
Element: fire.
Linked to: the lumbar spine, the digestive organs, eyesight and movement.
Out of balance: issues of aggression, power and ego identity.
How to regulate and restore: practice of Hatha yoga, improve digestion, deep breathing.
Heart Chakra or Anahata
Color: green.
Location: center of chest.
Element: Air.
Linked to: heart and lungs, thoracic spine and sense of touch.
Out of balance: Sad, lonely, disconnected, isolation.
How to regulate and restore: Breath work to quiet the mind, emotionally heart-centered supportive exercise, heart-centered meditation.
Throat Chakra or Vishuddhi
Color: blue.
Location: throat.
Element: space.
Linked to: cervical spine, the voice box, speech and hearing, an the thyroid and parathyroid glands.
Out of balance: difficulty in authentic expression, speaking excessively or without meaning, lying.
How to regulate and restore: chanting, singing, humming, poses that target the throat such as the shoulder stand, plow pose, lion and fish pose.
Eyebrow Chakra or Ajna
Color: dark blue or purple.
Location: Between and above eyes.
Linked to: growth and development at every level through the brains center and pituitary glad.
Out of balance: Inability to focus, mind blockage, insomnia, anxiety.
How to regulate and restore: alternate nostril breathing and meditation of breath to gain deeper level of consciousness, deep sleep.
Crown Center or Sahasrara
Color: white or purple.
Element: thought and light.
Location: Top of head (extending 6-8 inches).
Controls: balance and connection between the spirit and earthly realms - spirituality.
Out of balance: either disconnected from spirit or too connected to higher realms and not grounded in your body, depression, greed.
How to regulate and restore: Silent Meditation- spiritual nourishment.