Module 6: Chakras

Your Body’s Energy Stations

 

What are chakras? How do they affect our health, mind, how we perceive the world, release our past trauma, and hold the keys to opening new doors to our future? 

 

My first introduction to chakras was in 1999 when I was in massage school, but it was only mentioned briefly in my classes. When I attended Scottsdale Community College to do my yoga training, we started to learn in-depth, and honestly, I listened and thought there wasn’t too much substance to know more. Well, over the years in my world of natural healing, I would keep hearing mention of chakras and how if they are blocked, they could affect your health along with many other things. 

 

It wasn’t until about 2017 when I was asked to teach yoga at a retreat for women with autoimmune diseases and focus on poses to open the chakras that I was now invested in learning more. As I started researching what poses helped open specific chakras and what the characteristics were if they were open versus blocked, it began to make sense, and I could see how this related to my health, blocks, and clients. 

 

I taught yoga at two retreats for people with autoimmune diseases about six months apart from each other. I focused the sessions around the group’s needs: the root, heart, and throat chakra. I carefully planned the yoga sessions to release these three areas. At both retreats, several women had an emotional release that was beyond their control during the session. I welcomed them not to hold back but to let it flow. Because when we let our emotions release and flow, that is when deep healing is done. This release gave them clarity and insight into what was holding them back or a clue into the next steps of what they needed to do for themselves to continue their healing journey. With those experiences and the clients I have privately coached, I have a deep belief that there is some substance to chakras and how they connect us to our past and future. 

 

From what I have read about chakras, Donna Eden’s info from her book Energy Medicine provides a wealth of knowledge. I will share different experts from her books to give you a somewhat brief overview of the chakras. As you read through this material, make notes of what stands out to you, especially the quick overview of chakras’ imbalances, etc., you know which chakras you can work on with my help.

Weeks Reading Material

From Donna Eden’s Book Energy Medicine

“The word chakra means disk, vortex, or wheel. Whereas meridians are an energy transportation system, the chakras are energy stations. Each major chakra in the human body is a center of swirling energy positioned at one of seven points, from the base of your spine to the top of your head. Memory is energetically coded in your chakras just as it is chemically coded in your neurons. While an “energy memory” system that parallels neural memory is foreign to Western thinking, it is taken for granted in many healing traditions. An imprint of every important or emotionally significant event you have is believed to be recorded in your chakra energy, and that is exactly how I experience it. If I know your chakras, I know your history, the obstacles to your growth, your vulnerabilities to illness, and your soul’s longings. ” 

 

Functions of the Chakras, Physiological, Psychological, Spiritual

 

Definitions of:

Physiological-relating to the branch of biology that deals with the normal functions of living organisms and their parts:

Psychological-of, affecting, or arising in the mind; related to the mental and emotional state of a person. 

 

“At the physiological level, the chakras envelop with their energies the organs in their proximity, influencing the health of those organs. Each chakra is named after the part of the body over which its energy spins. They are called, from the bottom up: the root chakra, womb chakra (the second chakra has a womblike shape in both women and men), solar plexus chakra, heart chakra, throat chakra, pituitary (third eye) chakra, pineal (crown) chakra. There is, indeed, some strong anecdotal evidence that the equilibrium in a chakra’s energies not only correlates with and influences the health of the organs located in the chakras’ field, but also that imbalances in the chakra’s energies precede (and thus predict) the onset of disease. Clearing and balancing impaired energies in a chakra can head off brewing illness and help heal physical symptoms that have emerged. The psychological aspects of the chakras also play into their physiological function. Because the chakras encode experience, they often reveal how a person’s history plays into current symptoms. By clearing chakras that are still locked into the energies and conflicts of your past, you can open the way for deep healing of chronic or underlying health problems.” 

 

“At the psychological level, each chakra is charged with specific psychological tasks such as regulation distinct aspects of your personality and integrating difficult experiences into your energy systems. The aspects of your personality regulated by a given chakra are related to that chakra’s developmental theme. Each chakra holds a slice of your story and is associated with a distinct developmental theme. These themes include survival and sexuality (root chakra), creativity (womb chakra), identity and power (solar plexus chakra) love and compassion (heart chakra) expression (throat chakra), deep perception and understanding (third eye chakra), and transcendence of the self (crown chakra). When two chakras are energetically cut off from each other, the aspects of the personality governed by each may become warring subpersonalities, as is seen, for instance, in the classic conflict between head and heart. While your chakras tell your story, they can also hold your story back. Once a chakra that has been energetically blocked is released, your life is able to again unfold according to the progressive guidance encoded within that chakra rather than to be mired in energies that keep you mired in issues related to the chakra’s theme.”

 

“Spiritual functions attributed to the chakras are based in the way the chakras are believed to be attuned to metaphysical constructs such as “ancestral memories” “past lives,” and archetypes.” Sometimes, for instance, the information that is coded in a specific chakra tells a story to an intuitive healer about a different person from a different era. If that story is interpreted as being about the individual in a previous lifetime, it may perfectly explain an elusive physical or emotional symptom the person is currently struggling with. More fundamental is the way the chakras resonate with certain archetypal themes, patterns of organization that transcend any of us but affect all of us. These universal themes parallel the psychological themes discussed above (such as survival, procreation, identity, love, and expression), and they are no less than forces that structure the unfolding of life on the planet. Each chakra’s energy is the microcosm of one of these universal principles, expressed within the body. They spiral these energetic prototypes into your body, feeding your physical structure and linking your body to Nature’s wisdom as reflected in the subtle energies that surround you. 

 

If you want to develop in one of these areas governed by a particular chakra, such as the capacity for clear strong expression that is the domain of the throat chakra, you can (1) focus on your throat chakra, (2) use physical techniques that balance and open it (3) direct your consciousness to your throat chakra and beyond, seeking to connect it with the principle of expression as it exists in the universe. When you do, you channel that force into your own center of expression, building the quality in a wholesome manner. “ 

 

“Each chakra influences the organs, muscles, ligaments, veins, and all other body parts within its energy field. Chakras also influence the endocrine system and so are strongly involved with your moods, personality, and overall health. Your physical and psychological evolution, as well as your spiritual journey, are all reflected in your chakras.”

Basic Overview of The Chakras

Root (Muladhara)

Root (Muladhara)- Great for feeling more alert, secure, and stable. The Muladhara governs your family ties and feelings of survival, belonging, and guardedness. Your earliest memories are stored here, including whether or not your basic needs are met. When it is blocked or out of balance, you can become needy, have low self-esteem, or have self-destructive behaviors. When Muladhara is in balance, you feel strong and confident; you can stand up on your own two feet and take care of yourself.

 

Signs of imbalance:

Physical – Cold feet, eczema, constipation, anorexia, addictive behavior, kidney stones, frequent urination, migraines, hypertension, hemorrhoids, prostate/rectal cancer, skin disorders.

Emotional – Fear, tension, rage, anger, fear of abandonment, uncertainty, anxiety, blaming others, inability to flow with life, afraid to let go, grudges, numbness.

Read more about the root chakra …

 

Poses to help open and balance:

Tree Pose (Vrksasana)-

Warrior II-The root chakra is related to our primal instincts, known as our fight or flight response.  Warrior II helps to ground the energy to feel strong, stable, and ready to face our fears and doubts. 

Standing forward BendThis standing forward bend can bring a sense of peace and calm to the busy mind. Physically, the sensation of having tight hamstrings can suggest to the brain that the body is prepared to run away. A gentle stretch on the hamstrings in Uttanasana can help to relieve this. 

CrowAs we rest in this pose, we bring ourselves closer to the earth and breathe slowly to quieten the chattering mind. Physically, the pose strengthens the lower back, ankles, and calves while opening the hips.

Seated forward bendThis seated pose brings a sense of grounding while also developing flexibility in the back, hamstrings, and hips. Sitting tall with a long spine and legs outstretched in front of you, bend your right knee and place the right foot’s sole against the inner left thigh.

Head to Knee Forward BendStand in mountain pose and fold forward. 

 

Easy seated pose-Sitting on your mat or a cushion if you need to elevate and tilt your pelvis forward a little to keep the spine long, bend your knees and cross your feet at the ankles, shins or tuck the left foot inside the right thigh and the right foot inside the left thigh. 

An excellent way to practice these poses is to bring an intention related to freeing yourself of any blockages within the root chakra. Invite inner peace, release any fears or anxiety, trust in the flow of life, believe in yourself, and feel grounded. As you begin to connect to the earth, draw on its energy and release any negativity you are holding on to unnecessarily. 

Sacral or Womb (Svadhisthana)

Sacral or Womb (Svadhisthana)

Great for generating creativity and emotional stability. This chakra corresponds with your reproductive and sexual organs and represents fluidity, creativity, and fertility. You can take a literal interpretation of this or associate this chakra with whether or not you feel deserving of a pleasurable, abundant, creative life. When it’s out of balance, you can feel emotionally unstable, guilty, or hard on yourself. When it’s in balance, you feel creative, positive, and receptive to change — like the ocean and its tides, you’re in the flow.

 

Signs of imbalance:

Physical – Frigidity, menstrual problems, impotence, bedwetting, irritable bowel syndrome, cystitis, ovarian cysts, muscle cramps and spasms, miscarriages.

Emotional – Neediness, rigid beliefs, tension, anger, feelings of repression, aches, and pains, believing sex is bad, blaming others, punishing one’s mate, sexual frustration, bitterness, inadequacy.

Read more about the sacral chakra …

 

Poses to help open and balance:

Goddess Pose (Deviasana)– Yoga Squat

Solar Plexus or Naval (Manipura)

Solar Plexus or Naval (Manipura)

Great for fostering personal power, change. You’ve heard the expression “firing on all cylinders.” When the Manipura is in balance, you feel alive and have the self-esteem and confidence to take action and be productive. When it’s blocked, you lack courage, have low self-esteem, and feel stagnant and inert. By working on this chakra, you can awaken your true personal inner power and work through your fear of taking risks.

 

Signs of imbalance:

Physical – Fatigue, gas, food allergies, hepatitis, shingles, jaundice, anemia, gastritis, abdominal cramps, hyperacidity, peptic ulcers, gallstones.

Emotional – Low self-esteem, chronic complaining, feelings of rejection, shame, powerlessness, finding fault in others constantly, justifying bad behavior, fear, lack of belief in oneself, feelings of dread and doom.

Read more about the solar plexus chakra …

 

 

Poses to help open and balance:

  • Boat Pose (Navasana)-
  • Plank-
  • Warrior III-
  • Bow-
  • Child Pose-

https://www.doyouyoga.com/5-yoga-poses-to-balance-the-solar-plexus-chakra-26778

Heart (Anahata

Heart  (Anahata)

Great for being more joyful, loving, and empathetic. Awaken to the power of unconditional love within you through compassion, forgiveness, and acceptance. When the heart chakra is blocked, you become possessive and codependent and may form dysfunctional relationships. You may also stay isolated for fear of rejection. When you stimulate the Anahata chakra, you can heal past wounds by reopening your heart, learn to love unconditionally, and form healthy relationships.

 

Signs of imbalance:

Physical – High blood pressure, pneumonia, asthma, hyperventilation, sleep disorders, fatigue, breast cancer, bronchitis, immune disorders.

Emotional – Self-victimization, grief, hopelessness, desperation, difficulty in giving and receiving, despair, suppression of crying, world-wariness, feeling stifled.

Read more about the heart chakra …

 

 

Poses to help open and balance: 

  • Do the stretches in the “Ways to release thoracic region webinar”
  • Camel-do low back stretch, hip openers, flight, or superman before 
Throat (Vishuddha)

Throat  (Vishuddha)

Great for becoming more outspoken, finding your voice. When this chakra is blocked, you may feel like you can’t find your voice or truth. You may also be overly talkative and not listen to others. When this chakra is open and stimulated, your voice moves through space to help you communicate your emotions in healthy ways. You also become better at listening to others and honoring their truths without judgment. 

 

Signs of imbalance:

Physical – Stiff neck, hearing problems, hay fever, hoarseness, teeth and gum problems, tonsillitis, asthma, bronchitis, ear infections, colds, thyroid issues.

Emotional – Social anxiety, repressed emotions, self-victimization, stubbornness, persecution-complex, erupting emotions, resentment, bitterness, anger, stress, stifled creativity.

Read more about the throat chakra …

 

Poses to help open and balance: 

 

  • Fish 
  • Plow 
  • Cat/cow
  • Shoulder stand

 

Third Eye (Anja)

Third Eye  (Anja)

Great for learning new things, trusting your instincts. This chakra is associated with your intuition, or sixth sense, and governs how the rest of the chakras function. When it’s functioning well, you have insight, and you trust your inner wisdom to face life’s challenges and choices. When it’s blocked, you feel close-minded, too attached to logic, untrusting, and cynical. Working on the sixth chakra opens your mind to the bigger picture and different perspectives, and it helps you receive the wisdom that cannot be seen or heard by ordinary senses.

 

Signs of imbalance:

Physical – Chronic fatigue, dizziness, hormonal imbalance, anxiety disorders, headaches, high blood pressure, cataracts, dyslexia, insomnia, amnesia, body-image disorders, sinus problems, mental fogginess.

Emotional – Depression, anger, feelings of isolation, emotional instability, self-centeredness, grudge-holding, self-criticism, inability to cope with stress.

Read more about the third eye chakra …

 

Poses to help open and balance: 

Easy Pose(sitting crossed legged) (Sukhasana) 

  • Child Pose
  • Dolphin
  • Warrior III
  • Shoulder stand 

 

Crown (Sahasrara)

Crown (Sahasrara)

Great for lifting your mood, detaching from ego. The crown chakra connects to beauty itself and the spiritual realm. It helps you understand who you are beyond your physical self — that you are a spiritual being having a human experience. It is not located in the body but hovers above the crown of the head. When it’s closed, you think happiness can only come from the outside, and you suffer. Working on this chakra helps you to feel free in any situation.

 

Signs of imbalance:

Physical – Insomnia, depression, Alzheimer’s disease, neurosis, psychosis, headaches, schizophrenia, cancer, epilepsy, dizziness, light sensitivity.

Emotional – Existential depression, cynicism, self-righteousness, mistrust, fear, hatred, aimlessness, narrow-mindedness, god-complex.

Read more about the crown chakra

 

 

Poses to help open and balance:

  • Corpse Pose (Savasana)
  • Warrior I & eagle arms w/ slight arch in the back- hold 4-5 breaths 
  • Eagle pose-variation is legs crossed, both feet touching ground 
  • Half-moon

If you want to learn more in-depth about the chakras, I would recommend buying Donna Eden’s Energy Medicine and reading the chakra part or see if she has a book just about chakras.

Assignment 1

Watch Donna Eden’s Youtube video to learn more about clearing and balancing the chakras.

Assignment 2

After reading through the material and watching Donna Eden’s video, write down or journal what chakras you think you need to open and balance. Write down a few poses for each that you can include in your movement plan.