What are chakras ?

• Vortex of subtle energy
• The energy center that also coordinates energy throughout the system
• A chamber in the temple of the body that receives, integrates and transmits the energy of the life force.
• If the chakra is to be in balance, it must be able to perform the three functions of receiving, integrating and expressing at the appropriate level
• 7 main chakras

How to achieve chakra balance ?

• Meditation, yoga, affirmations, tasks specific to each chakra

Nadi

Life energy is called prana. It spreads through the body through a network of subtle pathways called nadis. 3 main nadis - Sushumna is the central channel, ida and pingala wind around the sushumna and meet in the chakras

1. The root chakra

• the lower end of the tailbone
• red
• LAM
• earth and everything material (even our physical body - bones, muscles)
• base, support, stability, security, grounding Practice : basic necessities of life (sleep, food, physical comfort.. ), barefoot walking, yoga : postures to connect with the earth - child, upside down dog, mountain, warriors, tree

2. Sacral Chakra

• between the navel and the genitals
• orange
• VAM
• water
• Flow, changeability, emotion, creativity, passion Practice : connection with water, fluid movement, improvisation, creative activity Yoga - lying : knees to chest, happy child, gentle twist in lying position, butterfly, child with knees apart, lizard, pigeon

3. Solar plexus chakra

• approx. 2 fingers above the navel
• yellow
• RAM
• fire
• energy, power, ego, will, determination, manipulation, self-confidence Practice : Sunning, affirmations (I am confident etc), goal setting and achievement Yoga : Kapalabhati - fire breath, power poses - vinyasa, plank, boat, warriors, rotation

4. Heart Chakra

• Chest
• Green
• YAM
• air
• Gentleness, love, dissolving ego and separateness, forgiveness, connecting, joy practice - walk in the green, conscious forgiveness, gratitude journal, deep breathing Yoga : chest opening poses, twists - cat/cow, puppy pose, cobra, camel, lying on bolster along the spine

5. Cervical Chakra

• Throat, tongue, throat, mouth, ears
• Blue
• HAM
• sound
• communication, truth-telling, harmony, listening
• imbalance - difficulties with self-expression, silence, thyroid problems Practice : listening to all sounds around, sound or chanting (mantras, songs, recitation), sharing thoughts, expressing truth, expressing disagreement when we don't want something Yoga : mantras, neck stretches, head twists and rotations, bridge, candle, plough

6. Third eye

• between the eyebrows (pituitary and pineal area)
• dark blue
• OM
• Light
• indigo blue
• radiance, beauty, intuition, single point focus, inner light, imagination, vision
• dristi - focus of sight and attention
• imbalance - lack of focus and clarity in life, lack of imagination, migraines and headaches practice : catching the light, visualization, meditation, listening to intuition Yoga : balance and inverted postures, eye warm up, warrior 3, eagle, headstand, handstand

7. Crown Chakra

• Crown of the head ( and a little above it)
• white
• OM/quiet
• consciousness, thought
• awareness, oneness with the universe, silence, intelligence, enlightenment, awakening practice : meditation, mindfulness, savasana