Chakras are the energies that are placed in seven different points up and down the body. All the seven chakras are connected to the various emotions, organs and glands within the body. These chakras are responsible the life force energy within the body, which is also known as Qi or Praana. Chakra translates to “wheel” in Sanskrit, and you can imagine them like wheels or orbs of free-flowing positive energy.
You may have heard talk about people “unblocking” their chakras, a common phrase in Reiki treatments. This refers to the idea that when all of our chakras are open, energy can run through them freely, and harmony exists between the physical body, mind, and spirit. Working directly with these chakras in energy work, meditation and your path to enlightenment helps bring balance to both the body and mind.
1. Root Chakra (Muladhara)
The root chakra is our foundation. On the human body, it sits at the base of the spine and gives us the feeling of being grounded. When the root chakra is open, we feel confident in our ability to withstand challenges and trust that all of our needs will be met by the universe. When it’s blocked, we feel threatened, unsteady and unsure in our decisions.
- Location: Base of spine, in tailbone area
- What it controls: Survival issues (money, home, food) and familial issues
- Color: Red
- Element: Earth
- Stone: Hematite
2. Sacral Chakra (Swadhisthana)
The sacral chakra helps inform how we relate to our emotions and the emotions of others. It also governs creativity and sexual energy. Those with a blocked sacral chakra could feel a lack of control, low sex drive or “feeling down.”
- Location: Lower abdomen, about 2 inches below the navel
- What it controls: Your sense of abundance, well-being, pleasure, and sexuality
- Color: Orange
- Element: Water
- Stone: Tiger’s Eye
3. Solar Plexus Chakra (Manipura)
The third chakra, the solar plexus chakra, speaks to your ability to be confident and aware of the decisions in of your life. If your solar plexus chakra is blocked, you might feel overwhelming amounts of shame, self-doubt or a pit in your stomach. Those with open sacral chakras are free to express their true selves.
- Location: Upper abdomen in the stomach area
- What it controls: Self-worth, self-confidence, and self-esteem
- Color: Yellow
- Element: Fire
- Stone: Amber
4. Heart Chakra (Anahata)
The heart chakra is the bridge between the lower chakras and the upper chakras. As the name suggests, this chakra can influence our ability to give and receive love—from others and ourselves. Someone with a blocked heart chakra will have difficulty fully opening up to the people in their life, build walls or push people away as a defense mechanism. Someone with a blocked heart chakra may also feel a sense of victimhood, weight in the chest area and profound loneliness. If someone’s heart is open, they can experience deep compassion and empathy, not only for others, but themselves as well.
- Location: Center of chest, just above the heart
- What it controls: Love, joy, and inner peace
- Color: Green
- Element: Air
- Stone: Rose Quartz
5. Throat Chakra (Vishuddha)
The throat chakra gives voice to the heart chakra and controls our ability to communicate our personal power in all aspects of life. When it’s functioning at full capacity, it allows us to express ourselves truly and clearly. Someone with a blocked throat chakra will feel like they have trouble finding the words to say how they truly feel, or have a “lump in their throat.”
- Location: Throat
- What it controls: Communication, self-expression, and truth
- Color: Light Blue/Turquoise
- Element: Sound/Music
- Stone: Aquamarine
6. Third-Eye Chakra (Ajna)
As we move up the body, we’re getting closer to communion with the divine. The third-eye chakra controls our ability to see the big picture and connect to intuition. Think of it as the eye of the soul: It registers information beyond the surface level. Visions and activated intuition are common for someone with an open third-eye chakra. This chakra seems intense or unattainable, but is quite easy to tap into and open!
- Location: Forehead between the eyes (also called the Brow Chakra)
- What it controls: Intuition, imagination, and wisdom
- Color: Dark Blue/Purple
- Element: Light
- Stone: Amethyst
7. Crown Chakra (Sahasrara)
The crown chakra, the highest chakra, sits at the crown of the head and represents our ability to be fully connected spiritually. When you fully open your crown chakra you’re able to access a higher consciousness and achieve universal oneness.
- Location: The very top of the head
- What it controls: Inner and outer beauty, spiritual connection
- Color: Violet/White
- Element: Divine Consciousness
- Stone: Clear quartz
5 Minute Chakra Meditations
Find the easiest natural alignment of your spine, and imagine the top of your head floating over the tip of your tailbone.
Bring awareness to your breath. If you like, close the eyes, or simply soften your outward gaze (we don’t want the boss thinking you’re asleep on the job!).
Imagine as you inhale, energy flows from the tailbone upward along the spine to the top of the head.
As you exhale, the energy flows back downward towards the tailbone.
Take at least 3 slow breaths this way. Then we will begin to harmonize each chakra from root to crown.
Root Chakra – Muladhara:
- Connect deeply to the earth with the feet.
- Allow the hands to rest on the thighs with palms down.
- Visualize red energy emanating outward and downward from the tip of the tailbone.
- Take 3 slow breaths as you silently repeat this affirmation: I am grounded.
Sacral Chakra – Svadhistana:
- Rock the low back and belly forward and backward a few times gently.
- Bring the hands to the low belly between the navel and the pubic bone.
- Visualize orange energy emanating from the sacrum, hips, low belly.
- Take 3 slow breaths as you silently repeat this affirmation: I am present.
Solar Plexus Chakra – Manipura:
- Gently twist the spine each direction a few times.
- Bring the hands to rest at the waist.
- Visualize yellow energy emanating from the upper belly to the navel, around to the side body and mid-back.
- Take 3 slow breaths as you silently repeat this affirmation: I am centered.
Heart Chakra – Anahata:
- Roll shoulders up towards ears, back and down, in one or both directions.
- Bring the palms together at the center of the chest with the thumbs resting on the body.
- Visualize green energy at the front, sides, and back of the heart, chest and upper back.
- Take 3 slow breaths as you silently repeat this affirmation: I am balanced.
Purification Chakra – Visshudha:
- Roll the head slowly and gently in either half or full circles.
- Touch middle finger to thumb and allow hands to rest anywhere on the body.
- Visualize pale blue energy emanating from the tops of the shoulders to the ears.
- Take 3 slow breaths as you silently repeat this affirmation: I am peaceful.
Inner Eye – Ajna:
- Close your eyes (if you can) and focus at the space between the brows.
- With the palms together, bring the thumbs to inner brow where the eye meets the bridge of the nose. Let the headrest lightly on the thumbs to create gentle pressure.
- Visualize deep blue energy emanating from the forehead and around the base of the skull.
- Take 3 slow breaths as you silently repeat this affirmation: I am clear.
Crown Chakra – Sahasrara:
- Bring awareness to the top of the head and the space just above it.
- Join the tip of index finger to the thumb and rest the hands with palms up anywhere on the body.
- Visualize violet energy emanating upward from the crown of the head.
- Take 3 slow breaths as you silently repeat this affirmation: I am connected.
When you are finished, repeat the original breathing exercise again: take 3 breaths up and down the spine. Notice how you feel in the body, mind, and spirit, and go about the rest of your day