Hey Friends,

In this blog, we are exploring the Chakras and how knowledge of their functions and understanding  can be a useful tool in your life.

It has been nearly 15 years since I first came across the word Chakra. At the time it was not that easy to find varied perspectives on what Chakras do and how they can support our lives. Now, there are countless resources out there... both in books and online - not to mention crystals, posters, candles and many other things you can find on Etsy :)

To be completely truthful, during my first 200 Hour Yoga Teacher Training, I was not sold on the subject and it didn't resonate with me at the time. With my scientific and questioning mind, I decided I am going to focus on the anatomical and functional aspects of the yoga practice. Spiritually, I was not ready and open to receive the wisdom yet. Perhaps a rushed 15 minute lecture just was not enough to explain such a vast and intricate topic or perhaps it was about timing!

So much of life is about the right timing - 5 years later during my Forrest Yoga teacher training we did a meditation tapping into the functions and gifts of each chakra and it all suddenly clicked and made complete sense! 

What is a Chakra?

Chakras are areas of energy in the body that run from the base of your spine to the top of your head. There are seven basic chakras, each with a corresponding colour and symbols. The Sanskrit word Chakra means wheel, which refers to the spinning vortex of energy in each of the seven chakras.

In my workshops, I always use the analogy of a large organisation to explain how each of these centres need to function well independently and together to create a harmonious and prosperous enterprise. For example, each organisation needs a HR department, Finance, Marketing, IT etc. to support the purpose of the company.

When each department functions efficiently on their own, as well as able to cooperate successfully with other parts of the company - exchanging information and supporting each other - then no matter what, there is a strong back bone to the organisation, and this creates a great foundation for success! 

Same with chakras - each of the 7 main Chakras have their own unique purpose. I see one way of describing spiritual enlightenment as a way to study, experience and process the lessons of each chakra with the intent of gaining balance and interconnectedness. When energy flows freely and smoothly through each of the 7 centres, we have self-awareness, ability to put lessons into tangible action and ability to process our experience in life no matter whether they are good or bad - this is when body, mind and spirit have the opportunity to reside in this incarnation peacefully.

 

1st Root Chakra - Muladhara (Root Support)
Purpose - Foundation, Support, Stability
Location - Base of the Spine
Colour & Sound - Red & Lam

The ability to bring an idea from the mental stage into the physical world - requires the individual to have a strong sense of groundedness and to be able to feel safe and secure enough to nurture whatever it is we birth - from a human being to a project or a new business. And as always this starts at infancy - how secure did your caregivers make you feel? The insecurities start at a young age often become the controlling factor in making you feel unsafe or ungrounded in your current physical environment. So working on Muladhara chakra helps to process issues which hinder your ability to feel safe and secure in this world.

2nd Sacral Chakra - Svadhisthana (One's Own Place)
Purpose - Movement, flow, expansion, pleasure
Location - Lower belly & inner pelvis
Colour & Sound - Orange & Vam

Your desires, needs and urges are said to arise from this place. You experience these as sensations which translate as pleasure, discomfort, pain or numbness (that is also a form of sensation). Sensations are also important because it helps us bridge what's outside with our internal world. You experience sounds, tastes, smells, touch and this brings knowledge to your consciousnesses. With the ability to discern between what's good and bad, what brings you pleasure or discomfort, we can learn to safely navigate in the world. So working on Svadhisthana chakra helps you learn to let go of what is not useful and uptake what will benefit you in this lifetime. This centre will also helps you build your relationships, build rapport and connect with those around you.
 

3rd Solar Plexus Chakra - Manipura (City of Jewels)
Purpose - Energy, will, strength, mastery
Location - Stomach
Colour & Sound - Yellow & Ram

Instinct and personal empowerment are very important here. For example, a child will vocalise opinions and preferences and it is crucial that a child is respected and is listened to. It is important that their individuality is validated. That validation is the foundation of self-confidence and belief in oneself. On the contrary if we have been constantly been made to feel not good enough in our precious developmental stage of life then we grow up thinking exactly that. So the work of Manipura chakra is building the fire of transformation, perseverance and determination to achieve our intents and goals.

4th Heart Chakra - Anahata (Unstruck or Unhurt)
Purpose - Love, dissolution of ego, expansion
Location - Heart
Colour & Sound - Green & Yam

Heart chakra is about love, about taking down the defences that we have built against opening to love. Unfortunately defences get hardwired into the body and become permanent body armour, this rigidifies the upper back, chest and shoulders. So part of the work on this chakra is working on taking down these defences at a rate that is comfortable for you - dosage is key! Rumi, the amazing Persian poet and philosopher says: "your task is not to seek love, but merely to seek and find all the barriers within yourself that you have built against it". For me, it was the power of vulnerability that helped to bring down the defences!

5th Throat Chakra - Vishuddha (Especially Pure)
Purpose - Communication, purification, refinement
Location - Throat
Colour & Sound - Blue & Ham

To be open and aligned in the fifth chakra is to speak, listen, and express yourself coherently. Working on aligning the lower 4 chakras helps to prepare you for this level of coherence. For example, when you align the first and second chakras, it helps with overcoming fear. Opening the third chakra helps you to feel your personal power and be confident with expressing yourself. Knowing what’s in your heart comes when you align the fourth chakra. Then, when it comes to having the willpower to verbalise your needs, desires, and opinions you’re better able to determine how to be truthful to yourself and others.

6th Third Eye Chakra - Ajna (Perceive or Command)
Purpose - Insight, guidance, wisdom
Location - Third Eye
Colour & Sound - Indigo & Aum

As you enter the upper chakras you start moving towards stillness. Here an element of allowing goes a long way - its less about vigorous asana practice and more about stilling the body and mind for meditation. How does one learn the skills of introspection and self-examination? The learning should, appropriately, begin during childhood through the guidance of caregivers who can instruct their children in the techniques of thinking through their difficulties. Children ask why? That question could be perceived as an annoyance by a parent or a perfect learning moment. The inability to work through our difficulties creates complexes, creates doubt, questioning, indecision. So use Ajna chakras to go under the clutter of daily living and connect to your intuition, this is where most of the answers lie.
 

7th Crown Chakra - Crown (Thousand Fold Petal)
Purpose - Awareness, unity with the Divine
Location - Crown
Colour & Sound - Violet/White & Om

Attitudes, values and ethics have power - specifically the kind of power that makes or breaks the quality of ones life. These attitudes and values are magnets - they attract to us opportunities and events that are of that exact same quality. If you are a positive person by nature and you end up in the company of someone really negative, you want to get away from that person as soon as possible, right? Spiritual enlightenment does not necessarily lie in a grand gesture or an awakening that happens one bright morning. Although elements of awakening may occur that way, awakening comes from simple and pure acts, building attitudes, values and ethics which will enable your awakening. Your body awakens as you develop strength and flexibility doing yoga. Inner spaciousness awakens as you expand your breath. Clarity awakens as you still your mind. Love awakens when you take care of someone who means the world to you. Pure Joy awakens when you see your baby smile. Awakening is therefore very much attainable.
 

How Do You Illuminate Your Power Centres (Chakras)?

There are many ways to work on studying and discovering more about each energy centre outlines above.

1. You can practice yoga with the intent to balance one particular chakra.
2. Alternative therapies like Sound healing, aromatherapy or Reiki are all tools which help you attain a deeper understanding and experience.

OR....

3. Check out my Yin Yoga and the Chakras online class for anyone wishing to experience this more viscerally in their body and through an extended meditation.

We will practice Yin Yoga through the lens of the chakras and learn how poses can help us connect physically and emotionally to these energy centres.

This will finish with a 15 minute guided meditation connecting to chakras and using visualisation to go deeper.

The Yoke Wellness Ambassador,

Sabina Ahmadov

 

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