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What Are Chakras?

Chakras are thought to be focal points of energy throughout your body.

Some spiritual views hold that our body is more than just physical and mental, it’s also an energetic system. "Chakra" is a word in Sanskrit, an ancient language from India, that means "wheel" or "cycle."  In many Eastern and spiritual belief systems, chakras are seen as spinning wheels or circles that life energy flows through. When your chakras are in balance, life energy is able to move through them and connect you to the world around you.

There are seven main chakras situated along the spine, from the base of your spine to the crown of your head. This age-old belief has become integrated into many New Age styles of thought.

Chakras are thought to provide subtle energy that helps your organs, mind, and intellect work at their best level. Chakras and spiritual energy have not been thoroughly examined in medical studies, but they may help you think about your own mind and body like any religion or belief.

Chakras are thought to be focal points of energy throughout your body. There are seven main chakras that run along the spine, from the base of your spine to the crown of your head. (Photo credit: Olga Zelenkova/Dreamstime)

Origin of Chakras

Beliefs about chakras started in India, at least 1,000 years ago, as part of Hindu and Buddhist spiritual traditions. Some people think chakra beliefs are even older, going back to 1500 BCE or further. Chakras are mentioned in ancient Hindu spiritual books like the Vedas and the Yoga Upanishads. People probably believed in chakras before the information was ever written down. 

In India and other parts of the East, beliefs about chakras were included in many systems of healing and spirituality, including Ayurveda, yoga, Hinduism, Buddhism, and others. These systems developed around the idea of a life energy that flows through our bodies and the universe. The use of the chakras is thought to help connect with this life energy in different ways. For example, yoga uses breath and movement to bring energy into the body, and move it through the chakras. Ayurveda uses herbal medicine, meditation, and other practices to open the chakras and balance energy.

Chakras became popular in the West beginning in the 1960s-1970s as part of “alternative” spiritual movements. Western traditions that sometimes use chakras include psychology and complementary medicine, as well as spiritual practices.

The Seven Chakras

Most belief systems about chakras, especially in the West, talk about seven main chakras. These chakras form a line up the center of your body, beginning with the root chakra at the bottom of your spine, and moving up to the crown chakra right above your head. 

Each chakra has a name and symbol in Sanskrit. When they became popular in the West, people also associated a specific color with each chakra. Some yoga practices link different yoga poses or movements with each chakra. Chakras can also be associated with many things, including acupuncture points, natural elements, life stages such as childhood or middle age, and Buddhist mantras (words or phrases used during meditation). 

The root chakra:Muladhara

The root chakra, or muladhara in Sanskrit, is the first and primary chakra, believed to be located at the base of your spine. It is linked with the color red and the element earth.

The root chakra is thought to affect how you connect to the world and to control feelings of survival, ambition, dependency, and stability. As the primary source of energy, its unbalance can lead to feelings of deep fear and insecurity that hurt your drive to succeed, causing feelings of frustration and lack of purpose. 

When the root chakra is balanced, it is thought to create feelings of security, positivity, energy, independence, and strength.

 The sacral chakra: Svadhishthana

Below the navel, the svadhisthana chakra radiates the color orange and represents the element water. The sacral chakra is considered to be responsible for sexuality, creativity, intuitiveness, self-worth, compassion, and adaptability. When the sacral chakra is unstable, it’s thought to cause emotional outbursts, a lack of creativity, and sex-obsessed thoughts.

The solar plexus chakra: Manipura

The Sanskrit name of the solar plexus chakra, manipura, means city of jewels, and it’s believed to be found between the ribcage and the navel. Its color is yellow, and it is tied to the fire element.

The solar plexus chakra is considered to be the center of self-esteem and emotions like ego, anger, and aggression. It is thought to present itself on a physical level through digestive problems, liver problems, or diabetes. On an emotional level, if the solar plexus chakra is imbalanced, it is believed to cause feelings of depression and low self-esteem. When it’s balanced, it would become a source of energy, productivity, and confidence.

The heart chakra: Anahata

Connected to organs such as the heart and lungs, the heart chakra is believed to lie at the middle of the cardiovascular system. The heart chakra connects lower chakras to the higher ones. Its color is green, and its element is air. 

The heart chakra is considered a link to compassion, trust, passion, and love for self and others. When it is out of balance, it is believed to cause anger, lack of trust, anxiety, jealousy, fear, and moodiness. An overactive heart chakra is thought to lead to high blood pressure, heart palpitations, and heart problems.

The throat chakra: Vishuddha

Vishuddha, the throat chakra, is thought to control the neck, mouth, tongue, and other parts of the throat area. The throat chakra's color is blue, and its element is ether. The throat chakra is tied to self-expression, communication, and confidence. Balancing throat chakra is believed to regulate the flow of hormones and help inner thoughts to be spoken in a positive manner.

The throat chakra: Vishuddha

Vishuddha, the throat chakra, is thought to control the neck, mouth, tongue, and other parts of the throat area. The throat chakra's color is blue, and its element is ether. The throat chakra is tied to self-expression, communication, and confidence. Balancing throat chakra is believed to regulate the flow of hormones and help inner thoughts to be spoken in a positive manner. 

The third eye chakra: Ajna

The third eye or Ajna chakra is set between the eyebrows. The third eye has no elemental association but is represented by color indigo. Often used in asana practice as a focal point, the third eye chakra is believed to control your intellect, intuition, wisdom, and spiritual power.

According to this belief system, an open and balanced third eye chakra allows you to notice the connections in this world and beyond.

An underactive third eye chakra is thought to manifest as a headache, a migraine, or blurry vision. When balanced, the third eye is believed to free you from earthly attachments.

The crown chakra: Sahasrara

Sahasrara, the crown chakra, is at the top of the head, the highest of the seven main chakras. The crown chakra color is violet or white. Also known as the “thousand petal lotus” chakra, this is considered the most spiritual of the central chakras. 

Opening the crown chakra is believed to connect a person to their higher self since it’s the place of spirituality, enlightenment, and energetic thoughts. It is tied to inner wisdom and the cosmos. When unbalanced, the crown chakra is thought to influence depression, disconnection from the outside world, frustration, and destructive emotions.

Spirituality can be a great tool for many. Some people may find this belief system helpful in understanding their lifestyles, but it is still important to keep all avenues of support open. Talk with a health care professional if you’re having issues with mental health or physical health.

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