A Complete Guide to the 7 Chakras

Medically reviewed by Arno Kroner, DAOM

Chakra is the Sanskrit word for "wheel." Chakras are spinning wheels of energy, or energy centers in the body, in this traditional model. They're a complex energy system first discovered between 1500 and 500 B.C. This system is mentioned in the Vedas, an ancient Hindu text of spiritual knowledge.

Most people in the United States refer to seven chakras thought to run down your spine—though some people say there are as many as 114 chakras. These points along your spine provide a subtle energy that affects internal organs, nerves, emotions, and thoughts. Keeping your chakras open and aligned allows these areas of your body to function effectively.

Learn more about the seven chakras, where they're located, how you might be able to unblock them, and how to find a professional who may be able to support you.

Chakra Energy

According to chakra experts, prana (universal energy) flows through your chakra system. This energy is considered pure, healing energy designed to keep you healthy and vibrant. The belief is that open and aligned chakras allow prana to flow through them. Blocked chakras can lead to physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual imbalances.

There isn't much research supporting how spiritual energy affects the body and mind, but some recent studies have demonstrated the potential effects that balancing or opening blocked chakras can have on health. For instance, one study found that people enrolled in various chakra-based meditation programs reported less anxiety as well as improvement in their perception of their health.

Specific meditations, affirmations, and yoga poses can help bring chakras into greater balance. Mudras are hand gestures that support the flow of energy.

Root Chakra (Muladhara)

Your root chakra, or Muladhara, is considered the root or foundation of your body. Located at the base of your body near the bottom of your spine and your pelvic area, this chakra helps keep you grounded.

Physically, your root chakra governs your spine, kidneys, bladder, and large intestines. A blockage can lead to a variety of conditions including allergies, fatigue, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and stiff joints. Mentally, a blocked root chakra can contribute to things like depression, addiction, loneliness, anxiety, doubt, and fear of change.

How to Balance the Root Chakra

Opening or balancing a blocked root chakra can help you feel more grounded and calm. You can balance this chakra through breathing exercises and foundational yoga poses like:

• Mountain pose (Tadasana)

• Tree pose (Vrkshasana)

• Corpse pose (Shavasana)
  

Sacral Chakra (Svadhisthana)

The second chakra, or Svadhisthana, is often associated with sexual fulfillment, emotional intelligence, and social acceptance. Located between your belly button and your pubic bone, this chakra corresponds to your sexual and reproductive organs.

When the sacral chakra is blocked you may have reproductive or fertility issues, challenging menstrual cycles, or bladder issues. You might feel emotionally unstable or disconnected from emotions. Mentally, you might struggle with things like social anxiety or have trouble connecting with people. It also can lead to jealousy, lust, promiscuity, or a lack of sexual desire.

How to Balance the Sacral Chakra

Balancing the sacral chakra helps you feel more friendly, passionate, and joyful. If you believe this chakra is blocked, you can try Connecting with water can help balance this chakra. That might mean swimming or taking baths or long showers. Yoga poses include:

• Classical triangle pose (Trikonasana)

• Crow pose (Kakasana)

• Standing forward bend (Uttanasana)

Solar Plexus Chakra (Manipura)

The solar plexus chakra, or Manipura, is located between your upper abdomen and chest bone in the solar plexus. Linked to your liver, gallbladder, stomach, spleen, and pancreas, this third chakra is thought to be your source of individual power or your gut instinct. Your career, capabilities, and self-esteem are influenced by this chakra.

Physically, your solar plexus is connected to your gut and governs everything related to your metabolic and digestive systems. When it is blocked, you may develop stomach ulcers, pancreatitis, gall bladder disorders, diabetes, and other digestive disorders.

Chronic fatigue, claustrophobia (fear of small or confined spaces), difficulty making decisions, low self-esteem, and stubbornness have been linked to a blocked solar plexus.

How to Balance the Solar Plexus Chakra

Having a balanced solar plexus chakra often leads to good health and strong relationships. If you want to unblock or balance your solar plexus chakra, you can try meditation or pranayama breathing. You also can experiment with yoga poses like:

• Half spinal twist (Ardha Matsyendrasana)

• Bow pose (Dhanurasana)

• Cobra pose (Bhujangasana)

Heart Chakra (Anahata)

Your fourth chakra, or Anahata, is located in your chest, near the heart area. This chakra is connected with feelings of love, romance, and empathy for others. It supports your heart, circulation, and vagus nerve function.

A blocked heart chakra can make you more prone to heart conditions, nervous breakdowns, breast cancer, scoliosis (sideways curve of the spine), hypertension (high blood pressure), sleeping disorders, and more. You may be more prone to tearfulness, feel detached, or struggle to give and receive love.

How to Balance the Heart Chakra

A balanced heart chakra helps you feel full of love, compassion, empathy, and happiness. If your heart chakra is blocked or unbalanced, you can try meditation or mantras to clear the path to inner peace. Green foods like spinach, kale, broccoli, matcha, green tea, and cucumbers (the color of the heart chakra) can also promote greater balance. Heart-opening yoga poses include:

• Camel pose (Ustrasana)

• Half-bridge pose (Ardha Setu Bandhasana)

• Fish pose (Matsyasana)
  

Throat Chakra (Vishuddha)

The throat chakra, or Vishuddha, has been attributed to personal expression, self-awareness, and finding truth. Located in the throat area, this chakra corresponds with your lungs, larynx, pharynx, and vagus nerve.

Physically, a blocked throat chakra can lead to a sore throat, laryngitis, asthma, loss of taste, or difficulty swallowing. You also may have trouble expressing yourself, struggle with paranoia, and be overly insecure. People with a blocked throat chakra can become overly introverted or develop agoraphobia—fear of places where leaving or escaping may be challenging, such as large events.

How to Balance the Throat Chakra

When your throat chakra is balanced, you feel confident expressing yourself and listening to others. Inverted yoga poses can help a blocked throat chakra by releasing tension and bringing energy to your throat and thyroid. Poses to try include:

• Shoulder stand (Sarvangasana)

• Upward lotus pose (Urdhva Padmasana)

• Plough pose (Halasana)

You also can try deep breathing exercises to help cleanse and energize the throat area.

Third-Eye Chakra (Ajna)

The Ajna, or third-eye chakra, is located on your brow. It governs rational thoughts, insights, and intuition. Linked to your left brain, ears, nose, and left eye, this sixth chakra enables you to see the world clearly when it is balanced.

If this chakra is blocked or unbalanced, you may experience physical conditions like cataracts, migraines or headaches, dizziness, dyslexia, and even infectious diseases. Emotional and mental symptoms effects include chronic stress, indecision, irrationality, and discontent.

How to Balance the Third-Eye Chakra

Your third eye chakra heightens your intuition and perception and can even help you better understand your destiny. If you feel this chakra is blocked, you may want to try affirmations, repeating "om" while focusing all of your energy on your third eye, or simply rehydrating. Headstand pose (Shirshasana) may also be helpful.

Crown Chakra (Sahasrara)

Located at the top of the head, the crown chakra or Sahasrara, is the center of your connection with others and the world around you. It is connected to your right brain, upper brain, and your right eye as well as your facial muscles and trapezius muscles.

When you have a blocked or unbalanced crown chakra, you may experience migraines, epilepsy (seizure disorder), and conditions related to your right eye. It's not uncommon for people with a blocked seventh chakra to struggle with melancholy, delusions, and phobias. Arrogance, pride, and apathy also are associated with a blocked crown chakra.

How to Balance the Crown Chakra

As the highest point in your body, your crown chakra is the bridge between your physical body and the spiritual world. If you feel this chakra is blocked, you may want to start by connecting with nature. Doing so can promote a sense of unity, especially if you do sun salutations outside at dawn. You also can experiment with inverted or seated yoga poses like:

• Rabbit pose (Sasangasana)

• Corpse pose (Savasana)

• Headstand (Shirshasana)

How to Find a Chakra Healer

To locate a registered Reiki healing practitioner or Reiki master teacher in your area, look for those who have a professional designation like IARP (International Association of Reiki Professionals). This means they have undergone training in this area of therapy. You can search online for these trained professionals or search on specific websites, like the IARP site.

Always meet with the person first and ask questions about their approach, training, and fees. Make sure you feel comfortable and confident that they can help address your concerns.

You might also consider starting a practice that integrates wellness approaches like yoga, meditation, and ayurvedic medicine. Ayurvedic medicine, or Ayurveda, is a traditional medical system that focuses on restoring the balance between a person's mind, body, spirit, and environment. Treatment involves a personalized plan that includes diet, movement, massage, herbs, and other therapies.

A Quick Review

Chakras are thought to be spinning wheels of energy. They correspond to specific areas of your body and can affect your health and well-being. Blocked chakras can contribute to health conditions like depression, low self-esteem, constipation, and gut issues that reduce your quality of life.

You can use tools like meditation, affirmations, yoga poses, and diet to help restore the balance of energy. Chakra work can be a helpful part of holistic self-care. You can also research and meet with practitioners who specialize in chakras and energetic healing.

Balancing your chakras is meant to be a complementary treatment option. It's not a replacement for seeing a healthcare provider for specific medical conditions.

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