Chakras For Beginners

The term "chakra" seems to belong to the New Age world but, really, it affects us all as living beings.

Chakras' concept was first found in the early (1st millenium BC) traditions of Hinduism, but has now taken its rightful place in Holistic therapies and medicine, as well as well-being practices.

The Chakras are energy centres within our body that help regulate all its processes, from organ function to immune system and emotions.  Think of them as electric power stations where the energy is originated and flows to be distributed to all power lines across a town/area/country to make all lights, TVs, kettles, radiators work and fulfill their function.

Our bodies are made of energy and its energy is primarily concentrated in these chakra centres to flow throughout our body. The word "chakra" comes from Sanskrit and means "wheel". Indeed, the energy in each chakra flows in a spinning motion like a wheel, in a clockwise direction.

There are 7 main chakras recognised, each representing an area of the body and has a specific function. They are positioned along the spinal column as in shown on the image below, from the tailbone to the top of the head. Each chakra is also represented by a colour, as the colour's vibration corresponds to the vibration created by the functioning chakra.

Our chakras work together, which means that if one is deficient or overactive, it will affect the remaining chakras and constant flow of energy throughout your body. For our optimum health, our chakras need to be balanced to function to their best abilities.

When a chakra is not functioning properly, we say that it is blocked. The energy is blocked, not flowing and builds up within you, creating imbalances. It needs to be released to feel more balanced in the body and mind. We call this clearing a chakra.

Blocked chakras, to be more down to earth, affect us negatively on a physical and emotional level. Indigestion as well as lack of self-esteem and confidence are but some of the physical and emotional signs of a solar plexus chakra block.

As esoteric as chakras may seem to the modern person, deeply rooted in believing what they see and consider anything that is not science or fact based to be a lot of baloney, they however have very real consequences and manifestations on our physical and emotional worlds.

Actually, the presence of chakras in our bodies was scientifically observed and recorded as far as late 1920s by C.W. Leadbeater in "The Chakras - A Monograph".

The chakras system is composed, as we mentioned earlier, of 7 main chakras: the root chakra, the sacral chakra, the solar plexus chakra, the heart chakra, the throat chakra, the third eye chakra and the crown chakra. Please see below in the illustration each chakra's main properties.

And here are the body areas that each chakra corresponds to and are affected by block.

As you can see, imbalances of chakras can influence us on a very deep level both physically and emotionally/intellectually.

I had heard of chakras for a long time without really knowing what they were apart from some "New Age" term (yes, I used to be one of these sceptics!).
My first experience of the chakras came to me last year when I discovered Sonic Yogi on the Insight Timer app. I was listening to one of his instrumental singing bowl and music pieces - he has one for each chakra. I first listened to them to relax and help me destress and sleep. But while listening, I could feel vibrations in different parts of my body. That felt really weird at first. This is when I started to research a bit more on what these chakras were all about and realised that, if I listened to the root chakra song, the base of my spine - tailbone, pubic bone - and surrounding area were vibrating. With the awareness of what the music was doing, I was able to enjoy the experience and make it help me by unblocking my chakras. 
Indeed, genuine chakra singing bowls resonate at the exact frequency the chakra it corresponds to resonate.

As we live in a fast pace modern world, even if the last few months have been for many of us a wake-up call to slow down without having any choice in the matter, this lifestyle creates many sources of stress that inevitably create imbalance. We are all bound to have imbalances chakras to varying degrees.

The question now is, how can we balance and clear our chakras of negative energy and blocks?

Luckily, there are many ways  this can be achieved. Here are but a few options:

SOUND

As I mentioned above, Tibetan singing bowls or music will assist in balancing particular chakras. The Insight Timer app is a great source, but so is YouTube. Just search " chakra music" and hundreds of results will come up.

Sound can range from singing bowls, musical instruments, synthesizers or voices. Each chakra also has a "sound" called Bija Mantra that resonates at the chakras' frequency.

Root: LAM [lum]

Sacral: VAM [vum]

Solar plexus: RAM [rum]

Heart: YAM [yum]

Throat: HAM [hum]

Third eye: U

Crown: OM

By repeating these mantras, your own voice activates each of your chakras.

BREATH WORK AND MEDITATION

Again, Insight Timer has a great selection of these. While meditating, you focus your attention on a particular chakra area and breathe into it to bring it more oxygen, space, energy.

AFFIRMATIONS/MANTRAS

As you might have noticed in the information diagram, I have included an affirmation example for each chakra, but once you understand what each chakra represents, you will be able to create your own affirmations that suit your particular current experience. Affirmations are positive statements that put you in a positive and motivating mindset. If you believe you can, then you will. This faith, or certainty, will bring your body and mind to positive frequencies that will align with your chakras.

YOGA

Breath and movement together to strengthen and re-balance your body and mind. Different yoga poses activate different chakras. I love the chakra series from Allie The Journey Junkie on YouTube (yoga sessions, plus chakra chats - so informative), as well as Yoga With Adrienne's chakra videos, and FightMasterYoga's "Yoga For Chakra Balancing" video, all on YouTube, and all free.

AROMATHERAPY

It is the science of using essential oils. Scents have holistic properties on our body and minds - we've all had lavender pouches or room mists to try to calm down and de-stress.

Certain essential oils mixed with carrier oils such as sweet almond oil (one of the cheapest and most accessible, but there are so many more) can be applied on chakra areas, or can be used in a diffuser. Caution note: never use essential oils pure on the skin, never ingest or put essential oils on the eye area, inside the mouth, nose or ears, as well as genital and anal parts. Also, if you suffer from any medical condition, always check with a professional aromatherapist which essential oils you need to avoid. These oils are very potent.

Suggestions for each chakra - 

Root: Patchouli (also stimulates sacral chakra), or Cypress essential oils

Sacral: Neroli (also stimulates heart chakra), or Ylang Ylang essential oils

Solar Plexus: Pine (also stimulates heart chakra), or ginger essential oils

Heart: Rosewood, rose, or jasmine essential oils

Throat: Lavender, or Roman chamomile essential oils

Third eye: Sandalwood, or rosemary essential oils

Crown: Lime, or frankincense essential oils

COLOURS

Wear or surround yourself with chakra colours.

MASSAGE

Massaging areas of the body corresponding to the chakras can help activate this chakra. By massaging, you increase blood flow.

You can follow the guidelines from this link HERE for easy massage tips on Chakra massage.

GRATITUDE

Practising gratitude puts you in a more positive mindset, which, in turn, raises your body's and mind's frequency. Higher frequencies give a sense of more vitality, energy and joy, enabling balance by freeing the energy flow.

VISUALISATION

Similar to meditation but using your imagination (your third eye chakra). Again, there are plenty of visualisations on Insight Timer and on YouTube; just search "chakra visualisation".

HEALING THROUGH CRYSTALS

Place the crystals on each corresponding chakra place on the body, or you can wear the crystals as jewellery (pendant, bracelets). Here are a few suggestions for each chakra:

Root: red and black crystals such as red garnet, red jasper, smoky quartz, black onyx, hematite

Sacral: carnelian, orange calcite, tiger's eye, sunstone

Solar Plexus: yellow gemstones such as citrine, yellow jasper, rutilated quartz, pyrite

Heart: green and pink stones such as chrysoprase, aventurine, rose quartz, rhodonite

Throat: angelite, sodalite, blue apatite, aquamarine

Third Eye: lapis lazuli, sodalite, fluorite, amethyst

Crown: clear quartz, amethyst, senelite, moonstone

On top of their healing properties (again, you have to believe it for it to work), they are lovely decorative elements as well. I like keeping some crystals in my little altar/sacred space for my card of the day, as inspiration and support.

I hope this introduction to the chakras would have given you a better understanding of what they are and how they can affect you, as well as ways to find balance in your health and life.