The 7 Chakras Demystified -Align Mind, Body & Spirit
“Chakra” is a Sanskrit word (discussed in the Vedas – ancient Indian texts dating 1500-1000 BC) meaning wheel, circle, or disc. Our body has 114 chakras yet only 7 Chakras of the body that are advancing alongside the spine, are considered as the foundational chakras. The 7 Chakras symbolize energy centres and correspond to a bundle of nerves, major organs, and areas of our spiritual body that impact our physical and emotional well-being.
The seven chakras of the body are understood to be spinning discs of energy that should be open, aligned, and balanced for they have the vital task of absorbing our vital energy (prana) and redistributing it. For a balanced individual, these 7 chakras deliver an adequate amount of energy to the mind, body, and soul. However, an accident, emotional trauma, stress, or loss can lead to chakra blockage, creating an imbalance in the mind and body.
These seven Chakras of the human body, each have distinct and specific names, meanings, colours, areas on the spine, meditations, stones, elements, health focus, yoga postures to balance etc and they are all explored below:
1. Muladhara Chakra (Root Chakra)
Muladhara chakra represents our foundation. When outbalanced, an individual feels ungrounded, unstable, insecure, fearful, and frustrated with a lack of ambition & purpose. When the root chakra is balanced, these negative emotions are replaced by positive emotions, making you feel stable, confident, balanced, energetic, independent, and strong.
Location: Base of spine, in tailbone area (between the anus & the genitals)
Function: Survival, Financial Independence, Stability, Security, Self-confidence
Beej Mantra: ‘Lam’
Color: Red
Element: Earth
Stone: Hematite
Yoga posture for Balancing: Virabhadrasana (Warrior Pose), Vrkshasana (Tree Pose), Tadasana (Mountain Pose), Ardha Setu Bandhasana (Half Bridge Pose), Shavasana (Corpse Pose)
Age it develops: 1-7 years
2. Swadishthana Chakra (Sacral Chakra)
This Chakra helps us understand the way we relate to our & others’ emotions. The sacral chakra also controls sexual energy and creativity.
An individual with a blocked Sacral chakra feels angry, discontented, and emotionally explosive. There’s a sense of lack of energy and creativity, feels manipulative, or obsessed with sexual thoughts. When this chakra is balanced, it makes you more positive, happy, vibrant, compassionate, intuitive, and satisfied.
Location: Lower abdomen (2-4 fingers below the navel)
Function: Desire and procreation, sexuality, emotions, pleasure, creativity
Beej Mantra: ‘Vam’
Color: Orange
Element: Water
Stone: Tiger’s Eye, amber, topaz, opal
Yoga posture: Kakasana (Crow Pose), Trikonasana (Triangle Pose), Baddha Konasana (Bound Angle Pose)
Age it develops: 8-14 years old
3. Manipura Chakra (Solar Plexus Chakra)
his Chakra relates to an individual’s ability to be confident, in control of life, have a sense of belonging, and define self-esteem. Imagine a situation when you had butterflies in the stomach, that was your Manipura Chakra at work. When the Solar Plexus chakra is blocked, one feels extreme self-doubt and shame. By balancing this chakra, we feel free to express our true selves, we are more energetic, confident, productive, and focussed.
Location: Upper abdomen at the solar plexus, between the bottom of the rib cage and navel
Function: Self-esteem, self-confidence, life awareness, action, power, strength, will, and pleasure
Beej Mantra: ‘Ram’
Color: Yellow
Element: Fire
Stones: Yellow stones (Amber, Calcite, Citrine, Quartz, and Topaz)
Yoga posture: Paschimottanasana (Classical Forward Bend), Bhujangasana (Classical Cobra Pose), and Dhanurasana (Bow Pose).
Age it develops: 15-21 years old
4. Anahata Chakra (Heart Chakra)
This chakra is the bridge between the lower chakras (accredited with materialism) and the upper chakras (associated with spirituality). Anahata Chakra is the seat of balance and if unbalanced an individual may feel emotional issues like anger, lack of trust, anxiety, jealousy, moodiness, and fear. When balanced a person begins to feel more compassionate, caring, optimistic, friendly, and motivated.
Location: On the cardiac plexus (Heart)
Function: Love, compassion, wisdom, trust, forgiveness, generosity, openness to others
Beej Mantra: ‘Yam’
Color: Green or pink
Element: Air
Stone: Rose Quartz
Yoga pose: Ardha Setubandhasana (Half Bridge Pose), Ushtrasana (Camel Pose), and Matsyasana (Fish Pose).
Age it develops: 21-28 years old
5. Vishuddha Chakra (Throat Chakra)
The Vishuddha Chakra provides a voice to the Anahata chakra and maintains our ability to communicate our power. Blocking of the throat chakra is experienced as timidity, quietness, and the inability to express our thoughts. When the balance is restored in Throat Chakra, it allows us to express ourselves clearly; it enables positive self-expression, constructive communication, creativity, and a sense of satisfaction.
Location: Base of the throat, coinciding with the thyroid gland
Function: Communication, self-expression, and truth
Beej Mantra: ‘Ham’
Color: Light Blue and Turquoise
Element: Sound and Music
Stone: All blue stones Aquamarine, chalcedon, sodalite, lapis lazuli
Yoga posture: Sarvangasana (Shoulderstand), Halasana (Plough Pose), and Matsyasana (Fish Pose)
Age it develops: 29-35 years old
6. Ajna Chakra (Third Eye Chakra)
Ajna chakra aka Third Eye Chakra, is also used as a focal point to develop more concentration and awareness during asana practice. Moving up the body, we’re moving closer to togetherness with the divine. They say meditating upon Ajna chakra destroys the past lives karmas and ushers liberation and intuitive knowledge.
Its attributes are intelligence, insight, self-knowledge, and intuition. If imbalanced, it makes you feel non-assertive and afraid of success; also, it can make you more egoistical and can cause physical problems like headaches, eye strain, seizures, and spinal dysfunctions. When Ajna chakra is balanced and active, an individual feels more confident and vibrant (spiritually and emotionally).
Location: Between the eyebrows (third eye) in the middle of the forehead
Function: Intuition, imagination, foresight, liberation, intellect, clairvoyance,
Beej Mantra: ‘Om’, ‘Aum’
Color: purple or indigo
Element: Light
Stones: Amethyst, sapphire, fluorite, labradorite, opal, moldavite, zircon
Yoga pose: Shirshasana (Headstand). Balasana (Child’s Pose)
Age it develops: 36-42 years old
7. Sahastrara Chakra (Crown Chakra)
The Sahastrara Chakra is the highest Chakra in the human body and it is located at the crown of the head. The seventh chakra is the center of spirituality, dynamic thought, energy, wisdom, and cosmic consciousness. One undergoes destructive feelings and experiences constant frustration and melancholy if the Sahastrara chakra gets blocked or is imbalanced.
Location: Above the head
Function: Spirituality, enlightenment, universal or pure awareness
Beej Mantra: ‘Om’
Color: Deep purple, White
Element: Divine Consciousness
Stones: Hyaline quartz, diamond
Yoga Posture: Shirshasana (Headstand)
Age it develops: 43-49 years old
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Frequently Asked Questions
What do the 7 chakras mean?
Chakra is a Sanskrit word that means wheel. The 7 chakras are the principal energy centres of the human body. You can think of 7 chakras like 7 wheels of free-flowing positive energy in the human body.
What happens when all 7 chakras are open?
When all seven chakras in the human body are open, positive energy flows freely through them, and there is a harmony between the physical body, mind, and spirit leading to holistic health and well-being.
How can we open seven chakras in the human body?
The 7 chakras in the human body can be opened by:
Specific 7 chakras meditation
Yoga
Pranayama/ Breathwork
Wearing 7 chakra stones /crystals
Practicing chakra chants (beej mantras)
Which hand is better suited to wear the 7-chakra bracelet?
Wearing a 7 Chakra bracelet depends on your intent. Wearing 7 chakra bracelet on your left wrist absorbs the crystal’s energy into your aura. Wearing 7 chakra bracelet on your right wrist either manifests crystal-specific positive energies or removes negative energies.
