Chakras
Chakra (shaa-kra) means wheel or disc in Sanskrit. There are seven basic Chakras/energy centers along the spinal column. When moving smoothly, each chakra moves energy through out our bodies. But often times these Chakras get blocked or deficient or excessive which we call in imbalance.
In today’s practice we will go over where each chakra is, and what is associated with it through asana. As we move through each chakra, I just want you to bring awareness to each location. You can just focus on that part of your body, or you can imagine an orb of light at that energy channel. Take this as an opportunity to get to know your Chakras and what they mean.
The 7 Chakras are as follows:
1. Root Chakra
2.
3. Solar Plexus
4. Heart
5. Throat
6. Brow aka Third Eye
7. Crown
Root Chakra – Acceptance
Location – Base of the spine, focuses on your root, from your feet up to your tailbone. Including the large intestines.
Color – Red
Element – Earth
Function – tends to our survival needs, establishing a healthy sense of groundedness, taking good basic care of the body, and purging the body of wastes.
Common Blocks – Fear, lack of stability
Asana – meditation – bringing ourselves back to the body instead of the mind. Padha bandha. Reclining bound angle pose, supported corpse pose, Supported childs pose.
Todays pose Downward Facing Dog
Navel Chakra – Creativity
Location – Half way between the pelvis and the belly button.
Color –
Element – Water
Function – Procreation, assimilation of food, physical force and vitality, sexuality.
Common Blocks – Tension in hips and groin area
Asana –
Todays pose pelvic rolls
Solar Plexus Chakra – Commitment/ Determination
Location – above the navel, below the chest
Color – Yellow
Element - Fire
Functions – Vitalizes the sympathetic nervous system. Digestive processes, metabolism, emotions.
Common Blocks – Digestive problems, eating disorders, feeling like a victim, or experiencing low self esteem. Fear.
Asana – Boat Pose/ Half Boat, Movement from Mountain to Wheel.
Todays pose is Twisted Chair
Heart Chakra – Universal Love/ Compassion/ Gratitude
Location – Heart center
Color – Green
Element – Air
Functions – Anchors the life force from the higher self. Energizes the blood and physical body with the life force. Blood Circulation.
Common blocks – Co dependency, leading with our head not our hearts, lack of emotions, shyness, loneliness, inability to forgive, shallow breathing, asthma, possessivenss, jealousy, heart disease and high blood pressure.
Asana – Eagle pose, heart opening poses – camel, bow.
Todays pose is Camel Pose
Throat Chakra – Truth/ Communication
Location – Throat, neck, jaw & mouth
Color – Blue
Element - space
Functions – Speech, sound, vibration, communication
Common Blocks – Stiff neck, shoulder tension, teeth grinding, jaw disorders, throat alignment, underactive thyroid, fear of speaking. Excessive talking, an inability to listen, hearing difficulties, stuttering.
Asana – Camel pose, bridge pose, shoulderstand, plow pose, Lions breath, tabletop, fish.
Todays pose is Lions Breath
Brow Chakra aka 3rd eye – Clarity/ Consciousness/ Emotional Health
Location – center of the forehead, between the eyebrows
Color – Purple
Element – Light
Functions – Vision, Intuition, dreaming, imagination, your five senses, conscious/subconscious mind.
Common Blocks - Headaches, nightmares, difficulty concentrating, poor memory, eye problems.
Asana – supported fwd bends, Flowing childs pose, Meditation
Todays pose is flowing childs pose
Crown Chakra – Boundlessness
Location - just above the head
Color – White
Element – Thought
Functions – Vitalizes the upper brain, connects individual awareness with infinite consciousness.
Todays pose is headstand prep/ Headstand.
Great resources:
Chakra Balancing by Judith Anodea
Chakra Meditation by Swami Saradananda
DVD – Chakra Balancing Yoga by Sharon Gannon
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