Chakras Cheat Sheet
To love oneself is the beginning of a lifelong romance. -Oscar Wilde
Most of us who practice yoga are familiar with the physical practice of yoga, or asana, which is one of the eight limbs of yoga. Our asana practice keeps our physical body in alignment and the original intention of it was to act as a vehicle to go deeper into our meditation and prepare the body for extended periods of sitting.
Yoga postures not only align the physical body, but the subtle body as well. Our subtle body is most easily described as a correspondence of energy existence in a hierarchy that culminates in our physical form. The most common discussion of the subtle body in yoga classes are the Chakras.
The seven chakras are the energy centers in our body in which energy flows. There is an understanding in Ayurvedic medicine and other non-Western medicine that blocked energies in our chakras lead to illness and the way we live our lives and practice our asana can influence how the energy flows. Below is a quick rundown of the seven chakras including their location and representation of the area of life governed by this chakra.
1. The Root Chakra: Muladhara,
Located at the base of the spine this chakra includes the first three vertebrae and pelvic floor, this chakra represents our foundation and feelings of being grounded. Our basic needs of survival including food, water, shelter, safety, financial matters and anything else that offers stability in life to allow for less stress. Balancing this chakra is usually required in order for the rest of the chakras to become aligned. The root chakra is represented by the color red and its element is earth. Our primal life force is accessed here.
2. Sacral Chakra: Swadhisthana
The sacral chakra represents our connection with ourselves and others and is known as the seat of self-acceptance. Our ability to handle new experiences, our sense of abundance, raw emotion, well-being and sexuality is governed here as well. It is located in the lower abdomen and to about two inches below the naval. The sacral chakra is represented by the color orange and element is water. Connect with this chakra to tap into your creativity.
3. Solar Plexus Chakra: Manipura
Our ability to be confident and in-control of our lives resides in the solar plexus area, located in the upper abdomen and stomach area up to the breast bone. It plays a role in self-confidence, mental acuity, our sense of identity.personal power and empowerment, as well as the power of transformation. The solar plexus chakra is represented by the color yellow and its element is fire. Connect with this chakra to access subconscious emotion, ego and will power.
4. Heart Chakra: Anahata
Located in the center of the chest just above the heart, our heart chakra is the seat of love and our ability to love, understanding, empathy and compassion. It is the center chakra with three below and three above and is the area where the physical and spiritual meet. Anahata, which is the sanskrit for heart chakra, translates as "unstuck" or "unhurt" implying that beneath hurts of past experiences lies a purity where no hurt exists. The heart chakra is represented by the color green and its element is air. Access unconditional love through this chakra.
5. Throat Chakra: Vishudha
The first of the three spiritual chakras is located in the area of the throat and governs our self-expression and ability to communicate. Speaking one's truth and offering authentic self-expression requires balance of the below chakras and an openness of this one. The throat chakra is represented by the color blue and the element is ether. Creative expression and communication are accessed here.
6. Third Eye Chakra: Ajna
This chakra is located in the space between our eyebrows. Our ability to focus on and see the big picture, our imagination, wisdom and ability to think and make decisions are governed here. The most powerful trait of this chakra is intuition and harbors our sixth sense which leads to an inner knowledge that will guide us if we let it. The third eye is represented by the color indigo and its element is time. Access to your primordial, super-natural power here.
7. Crown Chakra: Sahasrara
The seventh chakra is located at the very top of the head at the crown. It represents our ability to be fully connected spiritually and influence is beyond the sensory realm. This chakra is our source of enlightenment, peace and spiritual connection to our higher selves and divine energy that. The crown chakra is represented by the color violet and space is its element. Focus on this chakra to discover eternal bliss and liberation from material things.
