Understanding the Seven Chakras and Their Connection to our Health & Emotions

About the Chakras:

Chakras are the seven vital energy centers within the human body. Each of them correspond to a specific color and elemental essence. These centers can encounter blockages, interrupting the natural flow of energy. The term "chakra" signifies a wheel, symbolizing the spiraling energies within us.

When these energy centers operate unobstructedly, they establish a seamless flow of energy from the grounded root chakra to the divine crown chakra. Essentially, our body serves as a conduit, accessing divine energies and intuition when the chakras are harmoniously aligned and unblocked.

Each chakra represents a building block that can impact all the others. When a chakra lacks energy or is blocked, it signifies a need for personal development or unmet needs. 

We can either overcompensate (overactive or excessive energy) or remain underactive (restricted or diminished energy) in meeting our needs. And these chakras may be balanced in one area of life but not the other, so you need to look at these areas by areas and circumstances by circumstances. For example, you may be capable of speaking truthfully in your relationships, but there might be constraints, like a blocked throat chakra, that hinder us from doing so in our professional life.

Root Chakra (Muladhara): 

Color - Red

Element - Earth

Located - Base of the spine

Symbolizes - Our foundation, stability, safety, security, and our basic needs being met

Health Connection: The root chakra is linked to the adrenal glands, legs, feet, bones, and the lower digestive system. Imbalances might result in issues such as constipation, lower back pain, or problems with the legs or feet.

Balanced: Provides a sense of security, stability, and connection to the present. It fosters feelings of being grounded, safe, and supported in life. It generates confidence, calmness, and readiness for life's challenges. 

Imbalance: Might lead to feelings of insecurity, fear, instability and doing things out of necessity. You may be in fight or flight mode, or feel like life is unstable, or that things can crash down at any moment. It’s like you are missing your foundation. You are in survival mode and have issues of connection to earth and body.

Overactive: Might manifest as materialism, greed, excessive focus on security, anxiousness, paranoia, questioning life, being confused about the future, feeling aggressive often, or overeating.

Underactive: Might result in lack of focus, disconnection from reality, distanced from relatives, spacey, homebody becuase of sadness, despressed, or chronic disorganization.

How these blocks happen?

If growing up you felt that you didn’t have enough, divorced parents, constant fighting, money issues, basically anything that may have challenged your safety and security you could have issues with your Root Chakra. The sense of safety and security within our environment is crucial. When this emotional need isn't met, it can lead to an imbalance affecting other chakras. 

Affirmation for Root Chakra: "I am safe and secure." These affirmations using "I AM" statements help establish a grounded feeling. “I am free to create the life I desire.”

Balancing Techniques:

• Visualizing a red light at the base of the spine.
• Dancing freely and moving the body.
• Getting a pedicure.
• Engaging in grounding exercises and outdoor meditation.
• Mindful bathing, walking in nature, and affirmations for safety and security.

Sacral Chakra (Svadhisthana): 

Color - Orange

Element - Water

Located - Two inches below the belly button

Symbolizes - Oversees emotions, creativity, and sexual energy

Health Connection: This chakra is associated with the reproductive organs, kidneys, bladder, and lower back. Imbalances may manifest as menstrual issues, lower back pain, urinary problems, or reproductive health issues.

Balanced: Encourages emotional balance, creativity, and the ability to experience pleasure. It supports healthy relationships and openness to new experiences.

Imbalance: May result in emotional instability, lack of creativity, feelings of guilt or shame, disconnection from feminine energy (we all have feminine energy no matter gender), or difficulties in forming intimate connections.

Overactive: Involve tendencies toward overindulgence, dramatic behavior, excessive ambition, heightened emotional states, boundary issues, additiction, and engaging in intimate experiences without caution. 

Underactive: May present as feeling emotionally numb, having low self-esteem, constantly comparing oneself to others, lack of creativity, difficulties in forming intimate connections, shyness, timidity, or poor social skills.

How these blocks happen?

This one everyone can have at some point or another. They can arise due to emotional trauma, repressed feelings, societal norms, unhealthy relationships, stress, and physical issues. Emotional wounds related to intimacy, guilt or shame about desires, and negative societal beliefs about pleasure and emotions contribute to these blockages. Dysfunctional relationships or a stressful lifestyle can also disrupt the chakra's balance.

Affirmation for Sacral Chakra: "I feel creative and connected to myself."  These affirmations use "I Feel" statements tying to the emotions. “I feel worthy.”

Balancing Techniques:

• Working with orange colors, foods, or crystals.
• Hip-opening stretches or yoga poses.
• Chakra-balancing meditation or creative activities to encourage emotional release.
• Journaling and really uncovering your emotions and feelings.
• Sitting in stillness with breath to really connect to yourself.

Solar Plexus Chakra (Manipura):

Color - Yellow

Element - Fire

Located - Upper abdomen, near the bottom of the rib cage

Symbolizes - Self-esteem, willpower, and confidence

Health Connection: The solar plexus chakra is linked to the digestive system, including the stomach, liver, pancreas, and adrenal glands. Imbalances might lead to digestive issues, such as indigestion, ulcers, or difficulties with metabolism.

Balanced: Empowers and instills self-assurance, fostering a sense of worthiness and personal power. It allows for the expression of truth and authenticity, embracing all facets of oneself while feeling inherently worthy.

Imbalance: May lead to feelings of shame, self-doubt, an inability to express oneself fully, reluctance to pursue dreams, or a hesitance to embody one's complete truth and power. 

Overactive: Might manifest as excessive aggression, a compulsive need to be right, power-seeking behavior, self-centeredness, a narrow mindset, having to always prove yourself, and taking on excessive responsibility.

Underactive: Might result in a lack of self-trust, slow digestion, a victim mentality, unreliability, low energy, over-trusting of others, and overextending oneself. 

How these blocks happen?

Blockages in this chakra, are often rooted in early experiences that can lead to self-critical thoughts, limiting beliefs, and difficulties in envisioning possibilities, affecting areas like relationships and personal empowerment. Overcoming these blocks entails embracing the unknown, trusting in your potential beyond current limitations, and recognizing that true healing involves surpassing familiar boundaries to reach greater fulfillment.

Affirmation for Solar Chakra: "I do my best and am confident in my decisions." These affirmations using "I Do" statements. “I do not chase, I attract”.

Balancing Techniques:

• Focusing on the color yellow and activities that boost self-esteem.
• Engaging in physical exercise or activities that focus on strengthening the core.
• Practicing self-care and setting healthy personal boundaries.
• Saying affitmations in the “I DO” format in the mirror to yourself daily.
• Make a list of all your qualities you believe are negative and find the positive in them.
• Realizing you cannot create the life you want if you do not believe you are worthy of them. Make a list of your desires and why you are worthy of having them.

Heart Chakra (Anahata): 

Color - Green

Element - Air

Located - At the center of the chest, within the heart space, and it extends down through the arms.

Symbolizes - Embodies love, compassion, and acceptance

Health Connection: The heart chakra is associated with the heart, lungs, thymus gland, and the circulatory system. Imbalances might manifest as heart or lung problems, high blood pressure, or difficulties with the immune system.

Balanced: Fosters love, compassion, and empathy towards oneself and others. Enriches our ability to effortlessly give and receive love. It facilitates the easy and natural flow of love, allowing for empathy and nurturing harmonious relationships.

Imbalance: Might lead to difficulties in giving or receiving love, feelings of loneliness, jealousy, or holding onto grudges, hindering the ability to form meaningful relationships. You may find it challenging to connect with others, express or accept love, or open up emotionally. This may be reflected in avoidant attachment styles.

Overactive: Might manifest as an anxious attachment style, clinginess, dependence on others for happiness and validation, people-pleasing tendencies (overly sacrificing for others), being overly trusting and getting hurt easily, or over-involvement in social matters.

Underactive: Might lead to a fear of loneliness, feelings of being unloved or unwanted, fear of getting hurt, excessive suspicion, antisocial behavior, judgment of others, poor self-care, being abusive towards others, and testing others to prove their love.

How these blocks happen?

They can arise from emotional wounds like heartbreak or loss, a lack of self-love, unresolved emotions such as resentment or grief, codependent relationships, fear of rejection, and societal influences. 

Affirmation for Heart Chakra: "I love myself wholeheartdly." These affirmations using "I Love" statements. “I love how far I have come.”

Balancing Techniques:

• Focusing on your posture to ensure it is proud and open to recieving.
• Write a letter to yourself of forgiveness, and why you are proud of who you’ve become.
• Engaging in acts of kindness or acts of service like volunteering.
• Heart-opening yoga poses or heart-centered meditation.
• Surrounding oneself with loving relationships, the ones that fill you up.

Throat Chakra (Vishuddha): 

Color - Blue

Element - Sound/Music

Located - Throat area

Symbolizes - Communication, the powers of your voice, authenticity, self-expression, and truth

Health Connection: This chakra is connected to the throat, thyroid gland, neck, mouth, and ears. Imbalances might result in thyroid issues, sore throat, or neck pain.

Balanced: Facilitates clear/honest communication, confident self-expression, and the ability to speak one's truth with kindness and clarity and ability to assert boundaries effectively.

Imbalance: May result in difficulties in expressing oneself, fear of speaking up, or issues with communication, leading to misunderstandings or feelings of being unheard or misunderstood.

Overactive: Might lead to excessive talking, dominating conversations/interupting others, habitual lying, frequency gossiping, or being overly opinionated, disregarding others' viewpoints.

Underactive: Might manifest as difficulty expressing thoughts, withholding opinions, or feeling shy or inhibited in verbal communication. It may result in suppressed feelings, fear of offending, difficulty sharing ideas clearly, inability to focus during conversations, and frequently getting interrupted.

How these blocks happen?

This can stem from communication issues, fear of expression due to past criticism, inauthenticity and trying to be someone you are not, suppressed emotions, and lack of expression. These factors hinder the free flow of energy in the Throat Chakra, affecting your ability to communicate authentically. 

Affirmation for Throat Chakra: "I speak my truth and honor my boundaires." These affirmations using "I Speak" statements. “I speak positively about my health and wellbeing.”

Balancing Techniques:

• Foster a safe space for open communication.
• Become aware of where you are saying “I can’t”, “I am not”, “I want and dont have”
• Singing, chanting, or engaging in vocal exercises to open the throat.
• Journaling or creative writing to express thoughts and emotions.
• Throat Chakra meditation focusing on the throat area.
• Surrounding oneself with the color blue or using blue gemstones during meditation.

Third Eye Chakra (Ajna):

Color - Purple

Element - Light

Located - Forehead, between the eyebrows

Symbolizes - Intuition, perception, wisdom, and imagination

Health Connection: The third eye chakra is related to the pituitary gland, eyes, sinuses, and the neurological system. Imbalances may lead to headaches, vision problems, neurological issues, or sleep disturbances.

Balanced: Enhances intuition, insight, and clarity of thought. It supports a deep understanding of oneself and others, fostering imagination and inner wisdom.

Imbalance: Might lead to lack of clarity, difficulty in making decisions, or feeling disconnected from intuition, hindering the ability to trust one's inner guidance.

Overactive: Feeling overly paranoid, space out, difficulty concentrating, frequent nightmares, over planning for future. Excessive focus on intuition and imagination, leading to vivid fantasies, over-reliance on intuition, and disconnection from reality.

Underactive: Feeling narrow minded, hard for you to set goals, bad memory, lack of imagination, overly concerned, ignoring intuition. Difficulty in trusting inner guidance, rigid thinking, and closed-mindedness, hindering visualization and imagination.

How these block happen?

They can stem from underdeveloped intuition, disregarding intuitive feelings, stress, lack of self-reflection, fear of facing uncomfortable truths, and imbalanced spiritual practices. These factors hinder the flow of energy through the chakra, impacting intuitive perception.

Affirmation for Thrid Eye Chakra: "I see abundance all around me.” These affirmations using "I See" statements. “I see myself glowing and radiating with happiness.”

Balancing Techniques:

• Meditation focusing on the Third Eye area to enhance intuition.
• Engaging in activities that stimulate creativity and imagination.
• Keep a dream journal.
• Yoga poses that target the forehead area.
• Connect to intuition through quieting the mind and listening to the answer that comes to you and trusting it.
• Visualization using all 5 senses.
• Reducing stress and shift focus to the good you see and have in your life

Crown Chakra (Sahasrara): 

Color - White

Element - Thought / Divine Consciousness

Located - Top of the head

Symbolizes - Spirituality, consciousness, higher wisdom, and enlightenment

Health Connection: The crown chakra is associated with the pineal gland, brain, and the entire nervous system. Imbalances might result in headaches, mental fog, or disturbances in the overall function of the nervous system.

Balanced: Fosters spiritual connection, higher consciousness, connection to the divine, and a sense of unity with the universe. It promotes inner peace, wisdom, and transcendence.

Imbalance: May result in feelings of disconnection from spirituality, closed-mindedness, or difficulty in finding meaning or purpose in life.

Overactive: Might lead to a disconnection from the physical world, excessive spiritual escapism (sacrificing personal power to faith), feeling overwhelmed by knowledge, or feeling disconnected from reality.

Underactive: Might manifest as a lack of spiritual connection, skepticism, sense of disconnection, lack of purpose, closed-mindedness, an emphasis on individuality, frequent forgetfulness, or an inability to find meaning or purpose in life.

How do blocks happen?

They can arise from a lack of spiritual connection or exposure, closed-minded beliefs, an overemphasis on materialism, trauma impacting faith, ego-centric attitudes, and a lack of practices encouraging higher consciousness. These factors hinder the energy flow through the Crown Chakra, affecting one's spiritual connection and understanding. 

Affirmation for Crown Chakra: "I understand that in order to heal, I need to let go of what no longer is serving me.” These affirmations using "I Understand" statements. “I understand I hold the power to create my reality”

Balancing Techniques:

• Connecting to your cycle and strengthening your circadian rhythm.
• Spending time in nature or engaging in activities that promote a sense of spiritual connection.
• Practicing gratitude and cultivating a sense of purpose or meaning in daily life.
• Yoga poses that focus on the crown of the head like headstands
• Be of service, how can you help others?
• Question your beliefs and where they came from? 

Final Thoughts:

Understanding chakras offers insights into the interconnectedness of physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being, rooted in ancient Eastern traditions dating back thousands of years. Studied and practiced in spiritual philosophies like Hinduism and Buddhism, the concept of chakras provides a framework to comprehend energy flow within oneself. This knowledge empowers you to identify imbalances, address issues, and cultivate practices promoting holistic health and harmony. Studying chakras provides a tool for self-awareness, personal growth, and well-being, deeply rooted in the wisdom of the Eastern world for ages.