- Ashmayu Yoga
The Complete Guide To The 7 Chakras For Beginners
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Our body is a treasure and we are on a treasure hunt. If we follow the right path on this hunt, we are rewarded with a lot of jewels like – good health, peace, power, wisdom, energy, confidence, self-esteem etc.
Let’s try to find out the precious energy boxes called Chakras in our body, which will lead us towards THE SUPREME POWER – THE CROWN!
There are many chakras (also known as wheels/ centers/ confluence of the nadis) in the human body.
Out of them, only 108 chakras can be awakened or activated. Out of these 108 chakras, there are 7 major or you can call them the fundamental chakras.
These chakras are depicted as lotus flower but with a different number of petals and colors.
They all have a different element and different beej mantra.
The Fundamental Chakras are:
Muladhara – Base or Root Chakra
Svadhisthana – Sacral Chakra
Manipura – Solar Plexus Chakra
Anahata – Heart Chakra
Vishuddhi – Throat Chakra
Ajna – Brow or Third Eye Chakra
Sahasrara – Crown Chakra
But what are these chakras and why are they so important?
These chakras from root to top, keep the balance to the body and mind.
Moreover, they are important as whatever we do, gets registered in these chakras.
They keep us moving and allow us to live a healthy and peaceful life.
Most Importantly, when they are energized, they help us connect to our spirit and receive the power from the universe.
Yoga and meditation help in activating these chakras and in experiencing the power and energy at the spiritual level.
For a common person it is really difficult and confusing to understand, but gradually with practice it becomes clear and you become capable of shifting the awareness inward with more balance and more concentration.
Concentrating upon each chakra has different benefits to offer.
To activate these chakras one must start from root to top. Each chakra gets activated when you meditate and concentrate on its place by visualizing its color and symbol with pronouncing its beej mantra/ sound.
Along with it the practice of yoga adds energy and helps in stimulating the activation of the chakras.
1. Muladhara
It is the first chakra or the energy center of the subtle body
Also known as the root chakra
Place – the base of the spine, on the tailbone
Colour – Red
Sound – ‘LAM’
Symbol – lotus with four petals
Earth element – Prithvi tattva
When Balanced
Makes you feel grounded
Provides stability and balance
It is the foundation- the root
Connects you with everything around
A sense of security, stability, connection, and confidence
Responsible for your survival
Gives confidence, makes you strong and courageous
Keeps your body and mind healthy
When imbalanced
Unable to concentrate
Unable to connect to the surrounding
Daydreaming
Thinking about something irrelevant
Anxiety
Stress
Worried about survival
Lower back or hip pain
To energize this chakra
Gardening
Play in the garden
Be surrounded by greenery
Do Yoga
Meditate
Pray
Walk barefoot on the grass
Be active and volunteer
Help others with compassion
Suggested asanas for balancing the Muladhara Chakra
Mountain Pose – Tadasana
Bridge Pose – Setu bandhasana
Seated forward bend – Paschimottanasana
Butterfly pose – baddha konasana
Standing forward bend – Uttanasana
Corpse pose – Shavasana
2. Svadhisthana
Also known as sacral chakra
Associated with reproductive organs
Place – above the genital organs,
Colour – Orange
Symbol – lotus with six petals
Sound – ‘VAM’Water element – Apas tattva
Develops in late childhood and early adolescent age. Approximately between 7-14 years.
When balanced
Helps you deal with your emotions
Improves the interpersonal skills and helps you reciprocate
Brings joy and happiness in life
Keeps the senses alive
Helps you enjoy all the pleasant things around
Improves sensuality, sexuality, confidence, positivity etc
Makes you more creative and independent
Balances your ego and image
When imbalanced you may
Be over practical
Feel confused, Suffocated, underconfident
Get addicted to something
Start enjoying, what is harmful
Be abusive during sex
Have stiff back
Feel fearful
There can also be the hormonal imbalance
To energize this chakra
Just enjoy
Let the emotions come out
Do something creative
Dance
Do yoga
Eat watery fruits and vegetables
Eat healthy and relishing food
Love yourself
Let go
Take time for yourself
Suggested asanas to balance the Svadhisthana Chakra
Open-angle pose – Upavishtha Konasana
Bound angle pose – Baddha konasana
Cow pose – Gomukhasana
Cobra pose – Bhujangasana
3. Manipura
Also known as Solar Plexus Chakra
Associated with stomach, kidney, liver, adrenal glands
Place – Just below the navel (in the spine)
Colour – yellow
Symbol – lotus with 10 petals
Sound – ‘RAM’
Fire element – Agni tattva
When Balanced
Self – belief/self-reliance
Confidence, willpower, balanced ego
Improves the self-esteem, positive personality traits and positive thought process
Helps you control your emotions and thoughts
Makes you decisive
When imbalanced, it makes you
Anxious and worried
Respond with aggression
Too demanding and ambitious
Have ulcer, digestion issues, liver and kidney problem
Feel greedy or needy
Overpower others
To energize this chakra
Meditate
Do what you are good at
Walk in the sun
Sit by the fire
Eat ginger, mint, brown rice, banana etc
Open up your heart
Spread love all around
Do yoga
Suggested Asanas to balance Manipura Chakra
Sun Salutation – Surya Namaskar
Bow Pose – Dhanurasana
Pyramid Pose
Boat Pose – Navasana
Eagle Pose – Garudasana
Warrior series
4. Anahata
Also known as Heart Chakra
Anahata means unhurt….wrong
Ahata means vibration Anahata means non-vibration
we hear the sound (inner voice) which is nonvibratory
Associated with heart, feelings, and healing
Place – just where the rib cages meet, between the breasts
Behind the sternum
Colour – Green
Symbol – lotus with 12 petals
Sound – ‘YAM’
Air element – Vayu tattva
When balanced
Provides you with a lot of self-love and love for all around
Enhances healing
Empowers you with love, compassion, and empathy for all
Makes you joyous, lively, caring, generous
Makes you feel comfortable in everyone’s company
When imbalanced
Invites negative emotions like sorrow, despair, anger, greediness etc.
You become possessive
You make wrong choices
Increases heart rate
Palpitation
Heartache
In short, you are hurt
To energize this chakra
Love yourself
Give time to yourself
Get Relaxed
Appreciate yourself
Feel the breeze
Lie down on green grass
Eat green and leafy vegetables and fruits
Do yoga
Suggested asanas to balance Anahata Chakra
Kapalbhati
Cobra pose – Bhujangasana
Camel pose – Uttarasana
Seating forward bend – uttanasana
Supine bound angle – sputa baddha konasana
6. Vishuddhi
Also known as the throat chakra
It is associated with your communicative skills and organs of speech
It enhances purification
Place – between the collar bones, behind the throat pit
Colour – Blue
Symbol – lotus with 16 petals
Sound – ‘HAM’
Ether Element – Akash tattva
When balanced
Gives you the courage to speak and accept the truth
Enhances your communicative skills
Lets you think before you speak
Helps you listen to others actively
Makes you an effective speaker
Provides the freedom of expression
Also makes you good at writing skills
When imbalanced
You feel afraid of speaking the truth, of public speaking, of communicating
You become arrogant, over critical, insensitive or over sensitive
Thyroid, gums’ problem, shoulder or neck ache
Mouth infection, cavities
You either become too loud or too quiet
Struggle for words
You are unheard
To energize this chakra
Speak the truth (try it first when you are alone)
Drink a lot of water
Come out of your shell
Think before you speak (don’t worry just ask yourself – what am I speaking, why am I speaking)
Sing
Get a message
Do yoga
Suggested asanas to balance Vishuddhi Chakra
Child’s pose – Balasana
Fish pose – Matsyasana
Bridge pose – Setu asana
Supported headstand – Salamba Shirshasana
Pigeon pose – Kapotasana
6. Ajna
Also known as the third eye chakra
Ajna means command
Place – behind the point between the two eyebrows
Colour – Indigo
Symbol – lotus with 2 petals
Sound – ‘AUM’
Element – Mind
When balanced
Helps in leading a happy and balanced life
Enhances your intuitive approach to life
Enhances your inner awareness
Helps you to connect with your mind and spirit
Keeps you calm
Helps you in taking right decisions
Enhances clarity of thoughts
It awakens the pineal gland – the third eye, which is beyond the five senses
Keeps you in tune with the physical, material and spiritual world
Shows you the right path in this world
When imbalanced
You indulge in paranormal activities
Sometimes you are away from the human world
Sometimes you lose connection with the inner self
A headache, high BP, sinus, migraine, infection etc
Nightmares are common
To energize this Chakra
Meditation
Yoga
Aromatherapy
Sound therapy
Get connected to the earth – play, plant
Suggested asanas to balance Ajna Chakra
Child’s pose – Balasana
Supported shoulder stand – salamba Sarvangasana
Downward facing dog – adhomukha svanasana
Big toe – padangusthasana
7. Sahasrara
Also known as the crown chakra
It is associated with the supreme power
Place – at the top of the head
Colour – Violet
Symbol – shining lotus with thousand petals
Sound – ‘OUM’
Element – Void – thought – light
When balanced
Provides you with – complete trust and love, feeling of oneness, pure happiness
Helps you surrender completely in front of the supreme power
Takes you beyond the material world
Moves you towards spiritual awakening
You become aware of your being
Makes you full of gratitude and love for others
You feel grounded and your emotions are under your control
When imbalanced
A migraine / constant headache
Learning disorder
Depression, dissatisfaction, greed
Sometimes an underactive crown chakra makes you more human but it can also take you far from the eternal goal.
To energize this chakra
Focus on balancing the other 6 chakras
Observe fast to detox your body
Meditate and detox your mind
Practice silence
Try to balance the inner and outer world
Suggested Yoga asanas for balancing Sahasrara Chakra
Lotus pose – Padmasana
Seated forward bend – paschimottanasana
Supported headstand
Supported shoulder stand
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In a healthy body, these chakras provide the right level of energy. Your health generally suffers when any of these chakras are out of balance.
Sit quietly in a cool, calm place. Close your eyes and concentrate. Start from the tail of your spine at the Root/ Muladhara Chakra and one by one move towards the crown / Sahasrara Chakra. Concentrate on each chakra at its specific place with its specific color, symbol and beej mantra.
Have a happy, healthy and beautiful life with balanced chakras.
Take care!
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