Have you ever experienced an inability to express your emotions, a lack of creativity, or a spiritual block in your life? These are all signs that you may have suffered from an imbalanced or blocked chakra. The chakra system is a map of the energies that flow through our bodies. Each chakra is associated with a different aspect of our lives. When they are in alignment, we feel balanced and whole.
To learn about the essential functions of each chakra, signs they may be blocked, and how to align yoga chakras, keep reading!
The Root Chakra
The root chakra is located at the base of the spine, and it governs our sense of safety and security. This chakra helps us to feel safe and secure and provides a foundation from which we can explore and grow.
Signs that your root chakra is out of balance include feeling nervous or fearful, having difficulty staying present in the moment, or feeling disconnected from your body. We may also struggle with chronic low back pain or digestive problems.
Aligning the Root Chakra
Balancing your root chakra is prioritizing physical exercise and sound sleep. Another strategy is to cook with cloves or other foods associated with the root chakra. This chakra is mainly associated with the color red, so try incorporating red foods and teas like rooibos, pomegranates, and beets into your diet. This chakra corresponds to the syllable “Lam,” so meditating on this can be helpful.
The Sacral Chakra
The sacral chakra is located below the navel and is associated with the reproductive organs, lower back, and hips. This chakra is responsible for our creative energy and sexual expression. When it is in balance, we feel confident and sexual without being needy or overpowering. As a result, we can give and receive pleasure and express ourselves freely without judgment.
However, when the sacral chakra is blocked, we may feel creatively stunted, repressed sexually, or have difficulty maintaining healthy relationships. This can lead to people feeling self-doubt, fear, or shame in these areas of their lives. We may become manipulative or excessively passive. A blocked sacral chakra is also associated with physical problems in the lower abdomen or back.
Balancing the Sacral Chakra
Since the element of the sacral chakra is water, getting outside and experiencing relaxation near open water can help your emotions and the chakra’s energy flow. This includes physical activities like swimming, especially in natural settings such as oceans, hot springs, lakes, water aerobics, or even walking in the rain. Experiencing the flow that comes with these activities should help reactivate and bring that same flow back to your sacral chakra.
To help balance the sacral chakra, you can also meditate on the syllable “Vam,” use jasmine or orange essential oils, or try hip-opening yoga poses like Forward Fold or Bound Angle Pose.
The Solar Plexus Chakra
The solar plexus chakra is located just above the navel and governs our power and sense of self-worth. When this chakra is in balance, we feel confident and capable. Setting healthy boundaries and standing up for ourselves comes easily. We are more confidently able to take risks and follow our dreams.
However, when the solar plexus chakra is out of balance, we may feel insecure, powerless, and stuck. We may also find it difficult to assert ourselves or make decisions. Physical signs of the solar plexus chakra being out of balance include digestive problems such as indigestion, gas, and abdominal pain.
How to Align the Solar Plexus Chakra
To heal your solar plexus chakra, try doing puzzles, taking art classes, or reading empowering books. Simply following through with a task, the confidence that comes with it, and inviting creativity into your life can help move the stagnant energy in your third chakra. The color associated with the Solar Plexus is yellow, so expose yourself to sunshine, incorporate yellow foods and teas such as squash and chamomile, and prioritize yellow essential oils.
The Heart Chakra
The heart chakra is the fourth chakra, located in the center of the chest. It is associated with the color green and with the element of air. The heart chakra is responsible for our ability to love and be loved, give and receive forgiveness, and have compassion. When this chakra is in balance, we can express ourselves honestly and openly. As a result, we feel confident in our relationships and can give and receive love freely.
However, when the heart chakra is blocked, we may feel closed off emotionally, unable to give or receive love. We may also feel anxious or fearful in our relationships. This feeling of disconnection can lead to isolation and feelings of anger, resentment, and jealousy.
How to Balance the Heart Chakra
The key to reactivating the Heart Chakra is to spend time involved in activities that genuinely feed your soul and reprioritize connection to others. This means going on nature walks, spending time with family and close friends, and volunteering for those in need. These activities should help you tap into your compassion and reawaken your heart chakra. Examples of yoga poses that could help are heart-openers, like the Cobra pose and Fish pose. Gold is the most associated color with this chakra, so surround yourself with gold gemstones like topaz and amber. Use gold-colored oils like bergamot and sandalwood in your daily routine.
The Throat Chakra
The throat chakra, also known as the Vishuddha chakra, is located at the base of the throat. It is associated with the element of ether and is considered to be the chakra of communication and expression. When this chakra is balanced, we feel confident in our ability to express ourselves and can speak our truth with ease. We are also able to listen to others and communicate effectively.
Signs that the throat chakra may be blocked include feeling like you cannot express yourself, feeling unable to speak your truth, or feeling like you are not being heard. Physical signs include a feeling of tightness in the throat, hoarseness, or a loss of voice
Rebalancing the Throat Chakra
Since the Throat Chakra is all about self-expression, tapping into your creative and expressive side. You can do this through singing, reciting poetry, or simply having conversations where you express your inner thoughts and emotions and let yourself be seen. Focus on the color light blue by incorporating gemstones like aquamarine and amazonite and using blue essential oils like chamomile or geranium. Yoga poses such as Lion pose and Fish pose are also helpful in reactivating this chakra.
The Third Eye
The third eye chakra is located in the center of the forehead and is associated with the color indigo. This chakra governs our ability to see clearly, both physically and spiritually. When it is in balance, we have a strong sense of intuition and mental clarity. As a result, we can think clearly and make rational decisions. We are also open to new ideas and perspectives.
However, when the third eye chakra is blocked, we may experience confusion, doubt, and mental fog. We may find it difficult to trust our gut instincts or make decisions. We may also feel stuck in old patterns of thought and behavior.
Aligning the Third Eye
To align the third eye means to get in touch with your intuition and mental clarity. Meditating to help calm and focus your mind and getting enough sleep are the two building blocks of gaining clarity in the third eye. Unfortunately, a significant component of the third eye is the pineal gland, which is prone to calcification. You can combat this by eating chlorophyll-rich foods like seaweed, spinach, kale, and flaxseed. Two yoga poses to help rebalance the third eye are Seated Yoga Mudra and Child’s Pose.
The Crown Chakra
The crown chakra is located at the very top of the head, and it is responsible for our connection to the divine. When this chakra is in alignment, we feel a sense of oneness with the Universe, and we can access our highest level of intuition. We may also experience feelings of bliss, peace, and joy.
However, when the crown chakra is blocked, we can feel disconnected from our higher purpose. As a result, we may feel lost, confused, or anxious. We may also suffer from headaches, insomnia, or depression.
Balancing the Crown Chakra
To align the Crown Chakra, focus on reestablishing the connection with your higher self and the divine. Activities like meditation, a dream journal, or a vision board connect you to your intentions and the spiritual world. Visualize a white light pouring into the top of your head, filling your body with bright white light and light energy. Eating violet-colored foods like elderberry or plum can also be helpful.
Especially in yogic philosophies, everything in this world is energy, the human body included. There is so much more to most physical ailments than the objective symptoms; that is, they often have a symbolic or spiritual significance. By learning about the functions of the various yoga chakras and how to align them if they’re out of alignment, one begins to know better and understand themselves and the inner workings of their body.
Hopefully, this article helped you discover new ways to care for your physical and energetic body and showed you the importance of keeping your chakras in alignment.