Talking About Chakras
Chakra means “wheel” and refers to energy points or energy centres in your body. They are said to be like spinning disks of energy that are supposed to stay “open” and aligned, providing subtle energy that help our organs, mind and intellect. These align with our emotional and physical well-being, and when everything works in order, we can be at our best level.
This complex energy system was first discovered between 1500 and 500 B.C. While there are as many as 114 chakras in the body, we generally refer to the seven chakras that run along your spine. These are:
Crown
Third Eye
Throat
Heart
Solar Plexus
Sacral
Root
According to chakra experts, prana (universal energy) flows through your chakra system. This energy is considered pure, healing energy designed to keep you healthy and vibrant. The belief is that open and aligned chakras allow prana to flow through them. Blocked chakras can lead to physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual imbalances.
Crown Chakra - Sahasrara
Colour Violet
Location Top of the head
Element Consciousness (connection to the divine)
Stone Clear Quartz
Body System Endocrine (hypothalamus, pineal gland)
Meaning Spiritual connection, deep harmony, transformation
Controls Inner and outer beauty, spiritual connection
Mantra "I am a vessel for love and light."
The crown chakra or Sahasrara, is the centre of your connection with others and the world around you, and represents our ability to be fully connected spiritually. It is connected to your right brain, upper brain, and your right eye as well as your facial muscles and trapezius muscles.
When you have a blocked or unbalanced crown chakra, you may experience migraines, and conditions related to your right eye. It's not uncommon for people to struggle with melancholy, delusions, and phobias. Arrogance, pride, and apathy also are associated with a blocked crown chakra.
Finding Balance in your Crown Chakra
As the crown chakra is the highest point in your body, it’s the bridge between your physical body and the spiritual world. If you feel this chakra is blocked, you may want to start by connection with nature. Doing so can promote a sense of unity, especially if you do sun salutations outside at dawn.
Colour Indigo
Location Middle of the forehead (behind the eyebrows)
Element Light
Stone Amethyst
Body System Endocrine (pituitary gland)
Meaning Intuition, clarity, imagination, spirituality, self-awareness
Controls Intuition, imagination, and wisdom
Mantra "I am open to exploring what cannot be seen."
Third Eye Chakra - Ajna
The third-eye chakra, or Ajna is located on your brow. It controls rational thoughts, insights, and intuition. Linked to your left brain, ears, nose, and left eye, and helps you to see the world clearly.
When you have a blocked or unbalanced third eye chakra, you may experience physical conditions like eye issues, headaches, dizziness, or even dyslexia. Emotional and mental symptoms effects include chronic stress, indecision, irrationality, and discontent.
Finding Balance in your Third Eye Chakra
Your third eye chakra heightens your intuition and perception and can even help you better understand your destiny. If you feel this chakra is blocked, you may want to try affirmations, repeating "om" while focusing all of your energy on your third eye, or simply rehydrating.
Throat Chakra - Vishuddha
Colour Blue
Location Base of throat
Element Ether (space)
Stone Aquamarine
Body System Endocrine (thyroid gland)
Meaning Communication, creative expression, self-empowerment
Controls Communication, self-expression, and truth
Mantra “I speak my truth, always."
The throat chakra, or Vishuddha, located around the neck, has been attributed to personal expression, self-awareness, and finding truth. This chakra corresponds with your lungs, larynx, pharynx, and vagus nerve, the nerves that start in the brain and control most of your body functions.
A blocked throat chakra can lead to a sore throat, laryngitis, asthma, loss of taste, or difficulty swallowing. Emotionally, you may have trouble expressing yourself, struggle with paranoia, and be insecure and introverted.
Finding Balance in your Throat Chakra
When your throat chakra is balanced, you feel confident expressing yourself and listening to others. Inverted yoga poses can help a blocked throat chakra by releasing tension and bringing energy to your throat and thyroid. You also can try deep breathing exercises to help cleanse and energise the throat area.
Heart Chakra - Anahata
Colour Green
Location Chest
Element Air
Stone Rose Quartz
Body System Cardiovascular
Meaning Unconditional love, attachment, growth
Controls Love, joy, and inner peace
Mantra "When I love myself, loving others comes easily."
The heart chakra, or Anahata, is located in your chest, near the heart area. This chakra is connected with feelings of love, romance, and empathy for others. It supports your heart, circulation, and vagus nerve function, the nerves that start in the brain and control most of your body functions.
A blocked heart chakra can make you more prone to heart conditions, nervousness, hypertension (high blood pressure), sleeping issues, and more. Emotionally, you may be more prone to crying, feeling detached, or you may struggle to give and receive love.
Finding Balance in your Heart Chakra
A balanced heart chakra helps you feel full of love, compassion, empathy, and happiness. If your heart chakra is blocked or unbalanced, you can try meditation or mantras to clear the path to inner peace.
Solar Plexus Chakra - Manipura
Colour Yellow
Location Solar plexus (upper abdomen)
Element Fire
Stone Amber
Body System Digestive, metabolic
Meaning Confidence, sense of purpose
Controls Self-worth, self-confidence, and self-esteem
Mantra "Self-love starts when I accept all parts of myself."
The solar plexus chakra, or Manipura, is located between your upper abdomen and chest bone in the solar plexus. Linked to your liver, gallbladder, stomach, spleen, and pancreas. The solar plexus chakra is thought to be your source of individual power or your gut instinct, and influence your career, capabilities, and self-esteem.
Physically, your solar plexus is connected to your gut and governs everything related to your metabolic and digestive systems. When it is blocked, you may develop stomach and digestive issues. Blocked solar plexus chakra can cause fatigue and can affect your ability to make decisions, your your self-esteem and stubbornness.
Finding Balance in your Solar Plexus Chakra
Having a balanced solar plexus chakra often leads to good health and strong relationships. If you want to unblock or balance your solar plexus chakra, you can try meditation or pranayama breathing - an ancient breath technique that originates from yogic practices in India involving controlling your breath in different styles and lengths.
Sacral Chakra - Svadhisthana
Colour Orange
Location Lower abdomen
Element Water
Stone Tigers Eye
Body System Circulatory
Meaning Personal identity, pleasure, creativity, sexuality
Controls Sense of abundance, well-being, pleasure, and sexuality
Mantra "I always honour others but not before myself."
The sacral chakra, or Svadhisthana, is often associated with sexual fulfillment, emotional intelligence, and social acceptance. Located between your belly button and your pubic bone, this chakra corresponds to your sexual and reproductive organs.
When the sacral chakra is blocked you may have reproductive or fertility issues, challenging menstrual cycles, or bladder issues. You may have feelings of emotional instability or disconnection with emotions. Mentally, you might struggle with things like social anxiety or have trouble connecting with people. It also can lead to jealousy, lust, promiscuity, or a lack of sexual desire.
Finding Balance in your Sacral Chakra
A balanced sacral chakra helps you feel more friendly, passionate, and joyful. If your sacral chakra is blocked, you can try connecting with water to help find balance. This could be by swimming, taking baths or long showers.
Root Chakra - Muladhara
Colour Red
Location Base of the spine (near tailbone)
Element Earth
Stone Hematite
Body System Excretory
Meaning Groundedness, security
Controls Survival issues; financial independence, money, and food
Mantra "I can't grow from an unsteady foundation."
The root chakra, or Muladhara, is considered the root or foundation of your body. Located at the base of your body near the bottom of your spine and your pelvic area, this chakra helps feel you grounded.
Physically, your root chakra governs your spine, kidneys, bladder, and large intestines. A blocked root chakra can lead to a conditions like allergies, fatigue, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and stiff joints. Mentally, it can contribute to depression, addiction, loneliness, anxiety, doubt, and fear of change.
Finding Balance in your Root Chakra
An open and balanced root chakra can help you feel more grounded, calm and confident in your ability to withstand challenges and stand on your own two feet. When it's blocked, we feel threatened, as if we're standing on unstable ground. You can balance this chakra through breathing exercises and foundational yoga poses.
A Guide to Your Chakras
Click on the guides below to view the comprehensive guides to all things related to your Chakras from colours to foods, crystals to yoga poses and more.
