7 Chakras? Wondering why is it even important… The knowledge of the 7 Chakras?
Let me tell you a story.
For most of my life, I have felt lost between people. Overwhelmed, exposed, and uncomfortable.
Sipping my Bloody Mary alone on a table in the middle of a party.
The pressure of making a conversation and projecting the best of myself is something I have always run away from.
Because to me it meant people judging me and I, judging them in return.
My inability to handle potential harsh judgments has kept me away from making any connections for a big part of my life. And I do not particularly feel proud about judging others either.
Fortunately, during my yoga studies, I found something that took all my fear away – of judgment from others and vice versa.
Because it became clear to me that all the judging is in vain.
As a result, in the past year, I have made some of the strongest new connections in my life. My existing relationships have become more aligned as I let myself and others express the way we really feel, without getting worked up about it.
I find myself at home anywhere I go or anyone I meet. I am no longer scared of judgment and have become a kinder and more accepting person towards others.
It is our differences that make this world so interesting. We just need to transform our insecurity into appreciation.
And the easiest way to do that is to understand how the 7 chakras work – the precious discovery I was telling you about.
Table of Contents
Let’s get started with 7 Chakra FAQs.
Frequently asked questions on the 7 chakras
All knowledge should make sense practically to the seeker and better their life with a clear understanding of the underlying concepts.
Therefore, the purpose of this guide is not to make you go all gaga by showering esoteric secrets and lingo but to make the concept of chakras for beginners so clear that you do not have to look it up ever again.
Let us, therefore, set the foundation right by answering frequently asked questions about the 7 chakras.
What do the 7 chakras mean?
Yes, you have heard it! Energy centers, wheels of energy, life force, Prana, points in the subtle body, etc..
But let me translate these definitions into some practical information for you.
These 7 chakras are really the ‘planes of existence’ in which we function from day to day. In each one of us, two of the chakras are the most dominant, and that becomes our plane of existence.
For example – my life may be a pursuit of money and your life a pursuit of knowledge.
I may be a very short-tempered person and you, the chilled-out dude.
Not that I am wrong and you are right, just that we are operating on two very different planes of existence, because of the qualities of our dominant chakras.
What are the 7 chakras names?
The fundamental 7 chakras are –
Sanskrit Name: Muladhara; English Name: Root Chakra
Sanskrit Name: Swadhishthan; English Name: Sacral Chakra
Sanskrit Name: Manipura; English Name: Solar Plexus Chakra
Sanskrit Name: Anahata; English Name: Heart Chakra
Sanskrit Name: Vishuddhi; English Name: Throat Chakra
Sanskrit Name: Agya; English Name: Third Eye Chakra
Sanskrit Name: Sahasrara; English Name: Crown Chakra
Where are 7 chakras located?
The location given for these chakras is not literal, but rather indicational. When you start practicing with a teacher, you do not have to worry too much about the exact location. Only focus on the practices your teacher gives you and your perception and experience will guide you in the right direction.
Root Chakra – Centre of the Pelvic Floor
Sacral Chakra – Above the pubic bone
Solar Plexus Chakra – Behind the navel
Heart Chakra – Centre of chest
Throat Chakra – Base of Throat
Third Eye Chakra – Behind the middle of the eyebrows
What are the 7 chakra colors?
There is a huge debate on whether there are any colors physically present in the chakras. A deeper understanding is that the colors associated with them represent their relative density, symbolizing that it is a scale of highest and lowest. The lowest chakra has the highest density and represents the gross aspects of existence. The highest chakra has the lowest density representing its subtle nature.
The colors associated are –
Root Chakra – Red
Sacral Chakra – Dark Orange
Solar Plexus Chakra – Yellow
Heart Chakra – Green
Throat Chakra – Sky Blue
Third Eye Chakra – Indigo
Crown Chakra – Purple
What is the best 7 chakras meditation?
Although there may be many meditations suggested by different people on the internet, it is highly recommended to go for Chakra meditations only under the guidance of an experienced Guru.
You are working with your psychic body here and leaving things to chance is not advised.
Hence, chanting the supreme Mantra ‘Om’ is the best and safest meditation for Chakras for beginners.
What are the 7 chakra stones?
Remember, they can only calm the chakra depending upon the gravity of your imbalance. Stones cannot heal or balance your chakras completely for you, you need to do some conscious work for it. We talk more about it in this post later.
The stones for 7 chakras are –
Root Chakra – Coral
Sacral Chakra – Ruby
Solar Plexus Chakra – Yellow Sapphire
Heart Chakra – Emerald
Throat Chakra – Blue Sapphire
Third Eye Chakra – Diamond
How do you open your chakras?
A very tempting trap!
While there are many techniques in Hatha Yoga and even things in normal lifestyle that you can practice, thereby gradually causing the natural flowering or opening of a dormant chakra; take extreme care while seeking help from outside.
Opening your chakras to someone else’s energy (which automatically happens when you receive chakra healing from another person’s energy) can be the worst thing you can do to yourself. Unless you un-conditionally trust that person and his or her capabilities, do not go for Chakra healing with random people.
I will talk about some simple lifestyle and Yogic practices further in this post that you can practice for the safe unblocking and balancing of your chakras.
Are there any dangers or side effects of opening the chakras?
We should not be using the term ‘open’ technically.
I had to use it, given so many of us understand it that way.
Our chakras are either in a state of inertia, activity, purity, and everything in between.
Opening or activating your chakra is not the solution in itself.
Even if any of your chakras are active (or open as they call it), in case you do not understand its manifestation in your life correctly, it can give you more pain than pleasure.
Getting stuck in the activity of chakra is never the goal. The goal is to move from inertia to purity and then transcend the chakra altogether.
Also, you have to be careful about how you are striving to open your chakras as explained in the previous question.
The real danger lies in pushing it too hard or doing it by wrong or desperate means like drugs.
Working or getting obsessed with one chakra can also cause long-term problems in many ways.
Ever seen or heard of people who are –
Excellent at studies but suck at social interaction
Have made it big in their career but are still involved in base activities like raping and sexual molestation
Have lots of money but absolutely no will to share it with anyone?
These are all cases in point for disaster waiting to happen because of an over-active chakra, while the other chakras lie dormant.
Clearly, chakras define personalities, and by working on your personality, you can affect the Chakras too.
Before we move on to explaining the innate nature of the 7 chakras, let me remove another set of hurdles from your mind about them.
7 Chakra Myths That Everyone Should Stop Believing
Wandering into the beautiful land of spirituality is truly rewarding, but only if you tread in with awareness.
Because the 7 chakras came from the ancient scriptures and got popularized in the Western world, there is a lot of confusion around them.
Let me bust the most popular myths around chakras that can come in your way of a clear understanding and working with them.
Chakras are religious
Only if energy is.
Chakras are real
Very much. Can you physically find them in the body – No. Chakras exist in the etheric body, not the gross body. Till now we haven’t developed tools advanced enough to measure energy at that level of subtleness, except for your awareness. If your awareness is sharp enough, Chakras become a reality for you.
There are only 7 chakras
In total, we have 114 chakras, out of which 2 are out of our body. However, the understanding of the fundamental 7 and working on them with Hatha Yoga is enough for activating and balancing all in totality.
Chakras are in the spine
Nope. Imagine a tube rising from the center of your pelvic floor to the center of your head. 7 Chakras are in this tube, in the central axis of the body.
Chakra opening, Chakra balancing, or Chakra healing is permanent.
As life is dynamic, so is the nature of your chakras.
Everything happening around you and inside you affects them. Your emotions, the food you take, the climate you live in, your social interactions, etc.
External measures like Pranic healing (healing through someone else’s energy), Gemology, Aromatherapy, color, or sound therapy may only calm your disturbed energies for a while, but cannot balance your chakras for the long term.
No one else but you have to strive for a continuous balance of your chakras with tools like Hatha Yoga practices and changes in your lifestyle.
Chakra healing is for treating illnesses
Although chakra healing for physical and emotional well-being is most commonly known today, the Chakra principle originally is an integral support system in the primary goal of Yoga, i.e., speeding up the process of self-realization.
Therefore, yes, you can treat your physical and emotional problems through Chakra balancing, but it has to be done with the awareness of the primary goal. Else, the results cannot be wholesome.
The base chakras are not as important as the top chakras
Along with other things like qualities associated with them, the color concept of low energy color to high energy color can also lead you to believe that top chakras are more important. Or that you have to move from the lower chakra to the higher.
That however is not the case.
Each chakra has equal potential in terms of leading you to the knowledge of the self. Therefore, never run away or try to change your primarily pre-dominant chakras. They are your strengths.
Use them in the manner of refining and moving from dormant to pure, and leave it to grace.
The Chakras work independently of each other
6 out of the 7 Chakras are overlapping and hence interrelated. If one goes into negative, others sympathize with it by giving it energy, thereby losing theirs, resulting in an overall loss.
Similarly, if one of your chakras is strong, it will also empower others.
Hence the approach of keeping the chakras balanced or healing your chakras through a combination of Hatha Yoga and wholesome life practices is the best. With this you can be sure, you are taking care of all aspects of your existence without ignoring any.
Chakras for Beginners. What is without, so is within.
Everything is connected in this creation.
By understanding the nature of the 5 basic elements our cosmos is made up of, we can understand our nature too. These five elements are – Earth, Water, Fire, Air, and Ether.
So when you think of the Chakras, think of Microcosm.
The following Chakra Charts are a glimpse of how the 5 elements manifest themselves in our bodies.
Since we are the sum total of all of them, each is important for us to take care of.
Root Chakra
With the element Earth, this Chakra is all about having a solid foundation and stability we all need. Our lives thrive when we have at least a basic Emotional, Financial, and physical stability (for example changing your place of living too frequently can bring imbalance to your Root Chakra).
If your Root Chakra is not functioning well, you tend to hoard things and still have an omnipresent sense of insecurity. The hoarding can range from money to possessing people. One can also have an ever-looming sense of fear of the unknown.
If your root chakra is functioning well, you feel secure and rooted however you are. You have a sense of belonging from the inside which becomes a solid foundation of your confidence.
Sacral Chakra
Like water takes the shape of wherever it goes, this Chakra with water as its element is all about enjoying and flowing with life.
While accepting all aspects of your being is an integral quality of the Sacral Chakra, getting influenced too soon with everything can also be a downside.
If your Sacral Chakra is not functioning well, you tend to be a slave of desires that never seem to get fulfilled, no matter what you do. They can be sexual, material, and very often related to the tongue – too much eating and too much talking.
If your Sacral Chakra is functioning well, you feel fulfilled in life and with yourself in a general sense. You enjoy life but do not get overwhelmed with indulgences.
Solar Plexus Chakra
With fire as its element, this Chakra is the storehouse of energy in our body and manifests as the Ego in our personality.
And like Fire, you can use your Ego to either burn or transform.
If your Solar Plexus Chakra is not functioning well, you tend to suffer from low self-esteem. In some cases, so low, that you must put others down to feel a sense of achievement. And in other cases, you may just become so fascinated with power that it is all you live for.
If your Solar Plexus Chakra is functioning well, you feel capable and centered in life. You do the best you can and empower others.
Heart Chakra
The element that rules this Chakra is Air. Just like Air, it possesses the quality of limitless expansion.
If your Heart Chakra is not functioning well, you either tend to run away from people or wear your heart on a sleeve, just waiting to get hurt. Reserving your love for a few special people and being insensitive towards the rest of the world is another very common trait.
If your Heart Chakra is functioning well, you feel a sense of expansion and can reach out and connect to almost everyone around. You include people and open yourself to vulnerability but with care.
Throat Chakra
Like its ruling element Ether or Space, this Chakra is the domain of purity and clarity.
If your Throat Chakra is not functioning well, you tend to struggle with expressing yourself or you make wrong use of your communication skills like glib talk, trash talk, and earning money through lying.
If your Throat Chakra is functioning well, you can express yourself with clarity without intentionally hurting others, and sometimes even speaking for them.
Third Eye Chakra
With light as its basic element, the third eye Chakra is all about trusting your inner Guru – your intuition, inner lighting shining outwards.
If your Third Eye Chakra is not functioning well, you tend to struggle with making decisions and easily get caught up in over-analyzing everything around you, including yourself. You also tend to hoard information that you never use – one of the most common problems we see in the world today.
If your Third Eye Chakra is functioning well, you have developed a sense of surrender because you know the mind is not the end. You are the seeker of truth and you invest time in studying your self, rather than wasting time in finding fault in the world.
Crown Chakra
Crown Chakra When it is Pure Consciousness we are talking about as the basic element, we are talking about all there is to be achieved. Keep up your honest and joyful way of balancing your other Chakras and may your ‘Thousand Petalled’ flower!
How to Unblock Chakras Like A Pro
Sometimes life pushes us into situations where we have to believe in things that we cannot see with our naked eye, like the 7 Chakras.
Most people come to Yoga, especially Chakras for healing – their mental or physical disease. After they have tried everything, they are now ready to try anything…
As all of us have two pre-dominant chakras deciding our plane of existence, it makes complete sense that great peace and healing can come to us if we work upon them.
Although as I said, these energies are interrelated, so we cannot ignore any of them. The following are some simple lifestyle practices you need to adapt that can unblock, heal, and balance your chakras; depending on what your current situation is.
Chakra healing doesn’t have to be a complicated process, because awesome things are never complicated!
Root Chakra – Charity of Material things
Now, the first question that can come up is what to give away when we don’t have enough.
The fact is, we never have enough.
So, give from whatever little you have.
Chances are people who have a dominant Root Chakra are in a habit of hoarding a lot. So, start giving away – money, clothes, food, any of your possessions. Just a little at a time, but you will surely taste the freedom that comes with it.
Don’t waste your life craving for this and that. Find joy in whatever you have and start from there.
You are no less, you are enough. Trust yourself and trust your existence.
You are here because you play an important part in the scheme of things. You have a special life purpose to meet, find it, and then own it! It is a miracle already.
Sacral Chakra – Maintaining a regular schedule, avoiding over-eating and talkativeness
Sleeping, waking up, eating, and exercising at the right time and preferably at the same time every day can strengthen and unblock your Sacral Chakra.
Flowing like water is a good thing, but you must not compromise your stability in the bargain.
The sacral chakra is the only chakra, where its sense organ, the tongue, controls two of the basic functions – eating and speech. Hence self-control is the key to strengthening and balancing this chakra.
Eat to live, not the other way around, and watch your speaking habits.
Embrace yourself completely and enjoy a life free of guilt. Be always aware of how pleasure is serving you though, do not become its slave.
Solar Plexus Chakra – Social service/ volunteering and practicing self-love
So often we forget to love ourselves, in a bid to love others.
Therefore, love yourself first and then help others. If it is any other way, it is wrong
Trust that you are powerful and you have always done your best. It is time you gave yourself your due.
Take care of not putting others down though, that is equally important.
Heart Chakra – Cultivating great relationships with friends and Singing in the praise of lord
People seem so closed sometimes, don’t they? In their world, not caring enough about you.
Let me break it to you my friend, it is you who isn’t open.
Open your heart and see, they are waiting to talk to you and to know your story.
Be vulnerable, it is okay. Forgive yourself for whatever it is, no one is perfect.
You are born in his form and you are forever loved. Now it is time to share that love.
Make more time for your friends and sing in the praise of the Lord, with all your heart. If there are no devotional singing groups around you, just sing anything, but sing!
Throat Chakra – Speaking the truth and being true to yourself
Being true to yourself is the first requirement to strengthen this Chakra.
Are you listening to your inner voice? Because, how and what will you express, if you aren’t?
Start truly listening to yourself and others and then speak.
Speak your truth. Be confident of the power of your speech and your expression.
It doesn’t always have to be speech anyway.
Let your actions speak, let your entire being speak. While being mindful of stepping on someone else’s emotions.
Third Eye Chakra – Self-evaluation/ self-analysis
An unbalanced third eye chakra will keep you stuck, either in not using your mind at all or using it too damn much!
In both cases, only one thing can save you – analyzing yourself, and becoming your own master.
Do not kill yourself over things by over-analyzing them.
Act, relax, and evaluate. Repeat.
Crown Chakra – Complete Surrender
What if I told you, life is a party? A cliché I know, but it is!
Learn the art of surrender and rise above worries.
Some things are in your control and others aren’t.
Do what you can and don’t stress then. It is the biggest killer you know.
Easier said than done, true story.
However, you will indeed have to start practicing surrender, if not now, then some other time. But unless you learn how to do it, you will keep getting pushed.
That is the Universe’s way of nudging you.
Learn to surrender. Now.
Let go of all the worries and begin the process of healing your Chakras with this beautiful Aura Cleansing Meditation Music today –
Chakra Balancing Yoga Sequences
The right approach to take with practicing Yoga Poses for Chakra Balancing is by including at least one pose for all Chakras.
As explained above in the post, we don’t want to over-activate one Chakra and keep others dormant by just working on one Asana and a limited number of Chakras.
Remember, the goal is to balance all.
Here are three Chakra Charts, for every level of practitioner, each with a sequence for balancing the Chakras.
Choose the one as per your comfort level in Yoga Poses – Beginner, Intermediate, or Advanced.
Put these fun Yoga posters in your Yoga room and start practicing.
Practicing the Asanas with complete awareness and feeling is what makes all the difference. Become one with them and you will see the improvement very fast.
The innovative Yoga Poses Vectors courtesy of Ms. Virginie Dreyer of Tiny Om.
Chakra balancing yoga sequence – beginners (downloadable chart)
Chakra balancing yoga sequence – intermediate (downloadable chart)
Chakra balancing yoga sequence – advanced (downloadable chart)
Start healing your chakras today!
So now that you have a clear understanding of what the 7 chakras are and how they constitute our personalities, you are no longer playing the judgment game.
We are all the same, a constituent of the five elements, just functioning in different ways.
It is time to start healing and transforming yourself with the techniques given above.
We are also planning to organize dedicated chakra sadhana (discipline for going towards a goal) retreats to fast-track your healing process. If would like to know more, please visit the contact page and send us an email saying ‘I am interested in chakra sadhana’, and we will add you to the email list for chakra sadhana retreats. All your comments and suggestions are welcome too 🙂
Note: Chakra Meditations and advanced Yogic techniques should only be learned under the guidance of a guru. You are working with your energy body here and leaving things to chance is a very bad idea.