If you haven’t been clued in by your yoga teacher yet, it might be a good idea to know that there are energy centers, called chakras, located throughout your body. These energy centers affect your wellness and your inner being. Compelling stuff, huh?
The Chopra Center tells us that “each of the seven main chakras contains bundles of nerves and major organs as well as our psychological, emotional, and spiritual states of being.” It’s important that each of our chakras are open and aligned because “if there is a blockage, energy cannot flow.”
So if you’re curious about your health and how to open your chakras, here is an intro to chakras.
ROOT CHAKRA
The root chakra is located at the base of your spine and is represented by the color red. It’s associated with being grounded and materialistic. If your root chakra is not open, you can have problems including financial insecurity, anemia, fatigue, lower back pain and cold hands and feet. In order to stimulate it, try exercising (nothing too exhausting), meditation, gardening, pottery and getting better sleep at night.
SPLEEN CHAKRA
Your spleen chakra, located just below your navel, is connected to emotions, intimacy, social skills and openness to new sexual experiences. Represented by the color orange, your spleen chakra affects fertility, creativity, spirituality and inner happiness. Problems associated with it include eating disorders, drug and alcohol abuse, depression, genital infections and lower back pain. You can stimulate your spleen chakra by taking long, hot bubble baths with essential oils, massage, cuddling and even trying new foods.
SOLAR PLEXUS CHAKRA
Your solar plexus chakra, located above your navel, is connected to self-empowerment, ego and humor. It is represented by the color yellow and helps with spiritual growth. Problems associated with it include fear, anxiety, problems with memory, low self-esteem, ulcers and diabetes. It can be balanced with yellow foods and various grains.
HEART CHAKRA
This chakra, located at the center of your heart, affects your ability to love. Forgiveness, compassion and self-acceptance are all side effects of a strong heart chakra, but imbalances include heart and breathing ailments, passivity, immunity issues and muscular tension. Represented by the color green, the heart chakra can be balanced out by drinking green juices and eating green foods, being one with world and spending quality time with loved ones.
THROAT CHAKRA
Your throat chakra is located in your throat and is represented by the color blue. It affects your ability to communicate through speech and your ability to trust. Problems associated with the throat chakra include an inability to speak up for yourself, tell the truth and think clearly. You can stimulate it by singing in the shower, writing down your thoughts, holding intelligent conversations and taking up a hobby like coin collecting.
THIRD EYE CHAKRA
Located between your eyes (where a unibrow would be), the third eye Chakra is the center of intuition, insight and self-realization. Represented by the color indigo, the third eye chakra includes imbalances such as a lack of intuition, creativity, wisdom and sleep disorders. To counteract these side effects, try stargazing, meditation and using indigo oils like patchouli.
CROWN CHAKRA
Located in the center of your skull and represented by the color violet, your crown chakra is the center of knowledge, ambition, consciousness and connectedness to the universe. If you are experiencing headaches, light sensitivity, mental issues, coordination problems, varicose veins or rashes, you might want to look into opening up your crown chakra. You can do that by making a vision board, remembering and focusing on your dreams and using lavender or jasmine oils.
