A Beginner's Guide To The 7 Main Chakras

In total there are 7 main types of Chakras in the human body. Chakra means "spinning wheel" in Sanskrit. Our unconducive thoughts, emotions, and life events often block these energy centres.  

A well-balanced yoga practice, including opening, middle, and closing postures, as well as meditation and Pranayama (breathing), provides the foundation for balancing out these Chakras, helping us realising our full mental, emotional, and physical potential both on and off the mat. It is critical, however, for all chakras to work in harmony with one another. However, before we begin always remember to listen to your body's cues, respect your physical limitations, and practice with mindfulness when you are practising. Above all, have a good time! 

Here's a Quick Summary of Each Chakra and The Yoga Poses That Support it.

Muladhara: The Root or First Chakra of the body

Represented in red colour it corresponds to the adrenal glands and is located at the base of our spine. This chakra oversees our feet, legs, and hips, and is linked to our basic survival, stability, physical health, and anchoring needs. You can say that this chakra controls the balance of our entire foundation.  

Postures associated with it include any standing postures such as Tadasana (mountain) and Virabhadrasana 1 & 2 (warrior 1 & 2) to ground & stabilise. Concentrate on firmly placing your feet into the ground and feeling steady and stable.  

Svadhistana: The Sacral or Second Chakra of the body

Represented in orange colour, It corresponds to our ovaries/testes and is placed in the pelvic region, below the navel. This chakra is related to our sexuality, emotions, pleasure, creativity, and joy and oversees our hips, genitals, and lower back.

Postures associated with it include any hip opening postures including Baddha Konasana (seated bound angle), Eka Pada Rajakapotasana (one-legged pigeon), Gomukhasana (cow face) Parivrtta Trikonasana (revolved triangle).

Manipura: The Solar Plexus or the Third Chakra

Represented in Yellow colour, it corresponds to our pancreas and is positioned between the navel and the heart. This chakra is linked to our self-esteem, personal power, will, and confidence and regulates our digestion, metabolism, and middle back. 

Postures associated with it include any abdominal poses such as Navasana (boat), any twists such as Ardha Matsyendrasana (half seated spinal twist), and Sun Salutations and other heat-building exercises to aid you in balancing out your chakra energy.  

Anahata: The heart or the fourth Chakra

Represented in Green colour, it corresponds to our thymus glands and is positioned at the centre of the chest. This chakra is linked to love, relationship, compassion and self-acceptance and regulates our heart, lungs, shoulders, arms and upper back.

Postures associated with it include any back bending postures that open the centre of your heart including Bhujangasana (cobra), Salabhasana (locust), Matsyasana (fish), Dhanurasana (bow), and full Urdhva Dhanurasana (upward facing bow). 

Vishuddha: The Throat or the Fifth Chakra

Represented in light blue colour, it corresponds to our thyroid gland and is positioned at the base of the throat. This chakra is linked to communication, expression, creativity, and regulates our neck, throat, jaw, teeth and mouth.

Postures associated with it include any front and back stimulating and stretching poses of your throat including Salamba Sarvangasana (supported shoulder stand), Halasana (plough), Matsyasana (fish), Setu Bandha Sarvangasana (bridge), Simhasana (lion). In addition to that,  any head movement poses such as full flexion, extension and rotation of the head, as well as ear to shoulder and ear to armpit neck stretches to balance your communication process.

Anja: The Third Eye or Sixth Chakra

Represented in Indigo and Dark Blue colour, it corresponds to our pituitary gland and is positioned between the eyebrows. This chakra links to our wisdom, insight, intuition and self-reflection and regulates our eyes, ears, and brain.

Postures associated with it include any forward bending poses to rest your forehead that includes Balasana (child), and any seated forward bending poses. In addition to that, any gaze focused poses including Garudasana (eagle). You can use the power of meditations and visualizations to balance your Intuition Chakra.

Sahasrara: The Crown or the Seventh Chakra

Represented in purple or white colour, it corresponds to our pineal gland and is positioned at the top of your head. This chakra is linked to our knowledge, wisdom, consciousness and regulates  our central nervous system

Postures associated with it include any pressurising poses onto the crown of the head that includes Salamba Sirsasana (supported headstand) or Tripod Headstand, or simply headstand and tripod setup. Or any other form of meditation that will allow your Crown Chakra to stay in balance.

Chakras transmit energy up our spinal column, delivering vigour to our body while raising our consciousness. The chakras' energy can also become stagnant and obstructed, harming our bodily and mental health and making life more difficult for us. Stress, too much caffeine/alcohol/drugs, trauma, health issues, and spending too much time in our heads can all impair the free energy flow and proper function of our chakras.

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