What Are Chakras?
Updated by Sydney Bollinger
You might have heard of chakras from that friend who is into New Age stuff or at the yoga class you attended recently. Maybe you’ve been told that you have a blocked chakra and that certain asanas can unblock your chakras. But what are chakras?
Chakras are energy centers in the body whose history dates back to the early days of Hinduism. In modern-day, chakras are linked closely with yoga, meditation, and other types of spiritual and New Age practices.
“When translated from its native language of Sanskrit, the word chakra comes closest to the English word wheel,” said Stefanie Parker of the Chakra Balance Shop . “A chakra resembles a wheel of color spinning in a clockwise direction when in balance.”
It’s important to pay attention to these energy centers.
“Each chakra holds energy from life and trauma,” said Crystal Redger of Spirit Sisters . “They are important because energy becomes stored there and it can cause pain in the body and mind. When all are flowing freely we can connect more with the Spirit or Divine, allowing our true path to be seen.”
Where Are the Seven Chakras?
Chakras can be found along the spine of your body, from the top of your head to the base of the spine at your pelvic region. Each one has a unique color and frequency that it corresponds to, and is connected to a specific part of the body — which allows chakras to sit in the space between physical and spiritual.
In total, there are 7 chakras:
- Root Chakra (red) — base of the spine
- Sacral Chakra (orange) — below the belly button
- Solar Plexus Chakra (yellow) — the navel area
- Heart Chakra (green) — the center of the chest
- Throat Chakra (blue) — throat
- Third Eye Chakra (indigo) — between the eyebrows
- Crown Chakra (violet) — top of your head
Do I Have a Blocked Chakra?
When someone does chakra work they are often working to unblock their chakras so energy can move freely through their body.
Blocked chakras are either spinning too slowly, too fast, or just become completely blocked — all of which can affect us mentally, physically, emotionally, and spiritually.
For many, you will be able to feel the physical signs of a blocked chakra before you understand how it is taking a toll on your mental, emotional, and spiritual well-being. When you start to notice signs that a chakra may be blocked, take note of it — and also where in your body you’re feeling the physicality or ailment that could be linked to your chakra.
From there, you’ll want to work on determining which of your chakras is blocked .
Once you’ve figured out which chakra is blocked, it’s time to work on bringing your chakras back into balance.
How Do I Unblock Chakras?
If you’re ready to dive into chakra work, there are a few things to keep in mind — especially if you are a beginner to chakras.
“Chakra work can be intense,” said Redger. “Please go in with an open mind and open heart. It is hard to really get to know yourself and open yourself up to the Universe. Don’t be afraid; you will notice a change in your life.”
So, the first step is to go in with an open mind. Also, allow your intuition to guide you; take those spiritual and “gut” cues on what might be the best way forward for you and your chakras.
When you’re ready to start, you will need to decide how you want to go about unblocking your chakras, especially because there are many different ways to approach unblocking chakras.
Yoga, meditation, herbs, and crystals are all great ways to work toward balancing your chakras. If you are more familiar with one of these methods than another, consider digging into how to use that method. You could also try Stefanie Palmer’s favorite method: aromatherapy .
“Since essential oils vibrate at a higher frequency, they encourage our body to raise its frequency when used,” she said. “This results in our ability to resonate at a higher state, therefore, inducing health and well-being.”
Whatever you decide, you want to make sure you’re comfortable and have the opportunity to be in tune with yourself and what you need. Chakra work is often accompanied by the need for an emotional release, so journaling , making art, or other creative pursuits that allow you to express your feelings and emotions could be very useful, too.
And, when your chakras are balanced, you will know.
“Have you ever felt like it was all going your way?” asked Palmer. “Like you were in the flow of the currents, gently floating you to where you needed to be? These are all signs that your chakras are balanced and open! Balanced chakras create a pathway to a blissful life in absolute gratitude.”
