The 7 Chakras And How To Balance Them: Beginners Guide (Updated)

Last Updated on November 14, 2022

If you have been to yoga or meditation classes, you are probably aware of chakras. Moreover, these are among the most common topics if you have had any healing session, such as Reiki, a Japanese form of energy healing.

Chakras are one of the essential elements that play an important role in maintaining your body’s energy flow.

According to spiritual views, our body is more than just the mental or physical aspect but also has an energetic system known as chakras. Chakras (cakra in Sanskrit) mean “wheel“.

Apart from this, as per popular beliefs, our body has seven major chakras ranging from the base of the spine to the crown of the head.

Balancing the chakras can lead to a healthy body and help to maintain energy flow across the mind and organs.

Although there are no medical studies to prove the existence of chakras, it helps in healing your mind and body.

What Are Chakras?

Chakras are considered spinning wheels that help keep the energies aligned in the body. The connection of organs, nerves and energetic points plays an important role in maintaining the emotional and physical well-being of the body.

The astral body refers to the energy body in our physical bodies. Every physical body has a specific astral body part that can’t be seen or touched, which is also one of the reasons why we can’t see the chakras.

Every Chakra is said to radiate a particular color and energy, and they coincide with specific glands in our body. Furthermore, every Chakra among the seven chakras connects to a physical, mental, and spiritual well-being part that helps to bring balance to our bodies.

If the chakras are blocked, people may experience emotional, physical, or even psychological disorders. However, one who knows how to balance these chakras will have a healthy and good life.

Yoga helps balance the chakras, and it helps activate the energy centers responsible for balancing the chakras.

What Are The Seven Chakras?

Our body has seven chakras, as we see in the images. However, one most important thing to note is that our body may have multiple chakras that control the five main pranas of the body.

When blocked, there are energy centers in our body that can lead to emotional and physical disturbances. Therefore, one must follow the essential measures to regulate it.

Here are the main seven chakras that form the core of the body:

Muladhara Chakra

• Color- Red
• Element- Earth
• Seed Mantra- Lam
• Postures for balancing Root chakra- Vrksasana (Tree Pose), Tadasana (Mountain Pose)

Also known as the root chakra, the Muladhara chakra is situated at the base of the spinal cord. It is meant to bring about different emotions such as stability, self-fulfillment, survival, etc.

If your Muladhara Chakra isn’t balanced, you may feel out of place, emotionally unstable, and even insecure. In some cases, it may trigger depression and a lack of purpose.

It is crucial to balance the Muladhara or root chakra to bring emotional stability to the lifestyle. A balanced root chakra also helps you balance your energy and strength. With all these aspects, you may feel more confident than ever.

Svadhishthana Chakra

• Color- Orange
• Element- Water
• Seed Mantra- Vam
• Postures for balancing the Svadhisthana Chakra- Trikonasana (Triangle Pose) and Kakasana (Crow pose)

After the Muladhara Chakra comes the Svadhisthana chakra or Sacral Chakra. It is located just four fingers below the navel in the power abdomen. It helps to foster a feeling of sexuality and self-worth and even boosts creativity.

The lack of balance in sacral Chakra can leave one frustrated. They may be easily manipulated or sexually obsessed. They will also lack positivity and energy. Sometimes, the emotional explosion can become too much to handle.

A balanced sacral chakra can foster a positive feeling. When the Chakra is in balance, you will feel more compassionate and satisfied. The satisfaction can be felt with your vibrant mood.

Manipura Chakra

• Color- Yellow
• Element- Fire
• Seed Mantra- Ram
• Postures for balancing the Manipura Chakra- Paschimottanasana (Forward Bend), Dhanurasana (Bow Pose), and Bhujangasana (Cobra Pose)

The Manipura Chakra is also called the solar plexus chakra because it is located at the right between the bottom of the rib cage and the navel.

According to many people, the Manipura chakra is also the brightest of all chakras as the main element is fire, and it is often represented as aggression or anger.

The imbalance of Manipura chakra can lead to liver problems and digestive issues. Since it is characterized by anger and aggression, the emotional imbalance may lead to frustration, self-doubt, depression, and the desire to achieve perfectionism but failing to do so.

If you are suffering from any of these conditions, the chances are that you’re suffering from problems in the Manipura chakra.

Practicing yoga and bringing balance in the Manipura chakra can help you achieve focus and become confident. Furthermore, it will allow you to be more productive than ever.

Anahata Chakra

• Color- Green
• Element- Air
• Seed Mantra- Yam
• Poses to control Anahata chakra- Ardha Setubandhasana (Half Bridge) and Matsyasana (Fish pose)

The Anahata Chakra is also referred to as the Heart chakra because it resides in the region of the heart.

Since the air element represents it, it plays an important role in balancing different emotions such as compassion, trust, love, and attachment. It also helps to drive the feeling of passion.

Lack of balance in the Anahata Chakra can make you feel angry, jealous, insecure, and have constant mood swings.

There will be a huge imbalance in your emotional state of mind. It is important to balance the Anahata Chakra carefully to overcome these emotions and become optimistic and motivated, and it will allow you to become compassionate and caring.

Vishuddha Chakra

• Color- Blue
• Element- Space
• Seed Mantra- Ham
• Postures to balance Vishuddha Chakra- Sarvangasana (Shoulderstand) and Halasana (Plough Pose)

The Vishuddha Chakra is also referred to as the throat chakra because of its location. It helps balance faith, inspiration, communication abilities, and maintaining healthy expression.

Blockage in the throat chakra can make you timid and quiet, and you may experience constant episodes of weakness and inability to experience thoughts.

Balancing the Vishuddha Chakra can help foster a feeling of self-expression and positivity. It will also help in achieving creativity and satisfaction. You won’t be feeling lagging.

Ajna Chakra

• Color- Indigo
• Element- No
• Seed Mantra- Om
• Postures to balance Ajna Chakra- Shirshasana (Headstand)

The Ajna Chakra is also referred to as Agya Chakra. It is known as the Third Eye Chakra because its location is between the eyebrows as if forming a third eye.

It is the major focal point where all your concentration and awareness lie when practicing yoga. Many spiritual leaders believe that focusing on this focal point while practicing yoga will play an important role in increasing knowledge and liberation. Furthermore, it is also said that this Chakra can help you get rid of the sons of your past.

The Third Eye Chakra is responsible for self-knowledge, intuition, and intelligence. The imbalance in the third eye chakra can make you feel egoistic and even afraid of success.

As far as physical problems are concerned, they will cause damage such as blurry vision and headaches. Many people may also experience migraine triggers.

However, stability or balancing of this Chakra can help you feel confident, and it will benefit you physically and emotionally.

The Third Eye Chakra helps you overcome the fear of death or of any attachments. When you’re free from attachments, you don’t fear anything.

Sahastra Chakra

• Color- Violet
• Element- None
• Seed Mantra- Aun
• Postures to balance Sahastra Chakra- Shirshasana (Headstand)

The Sahastra Chakra is also referred to as Crown Chakra because of its position.

It is the seventh and one of the most important Chakras of your body that is efficient for maintaining the energy flow across your body. According to spiritual leaders, the Crown Chakra is responsible for bringing in cosmic consciousness.

The inefficiency to balance the Crown Chakra can cause a lot of mental imbalance, such as triggering destructive feelings, frustration, and annoyance.

These emotional feelings will also trigger physical deterioration. However, balancing the Chakra can play an important role in bringing mental stability and the ability to get rid of any negative thoughts.

How To Balance Your Seven Chakras?

Any sort of imbalance in your Chakras will have a negative impact on your body, and not only will it deteriorate you physically but also mentally.

Our body has innumerable chakras, but the seven are the most important ones out of them. Each of these chakras is different but located in an almost straight line. In the sections below, we will be discussing how you can balance each of your Chakras.

The root chakra is the main Chakra of your body that offers energy to other Chakras in your body. If this Chakra is blocked, your body will become imbalanced.

Not only will you suffer emotionally, but also physically. It is in the opening of your chakra system. Therefore, it is important to keep it healthy n

Root Chakra will help you balance your body and increase self-confidence. Having a balanced root chakra will allow you to stay calm and centered, and it will allow you to be prepared for whatever life lessons bring your way.

Here are the major ways for balancing Root Chakra:

1. Dance

Dance like no one’s watching.

Dance like there’s no tomorrow.

When you feel distributed, you need to keep moving with the flow of soft music, and it will allow you to balance your root chakra.

Why only dance? You can also hum along while you dance when there’s music around.

2. Practice Yoga

As mentioned earlier, certain yoga postures will help balance your root chakra.

Before switching positions, you should practice at least five to eight breaths. While you do yoga, make sure you stay connected to the ground. The tree pose is one of the most effective ones to balance your root chakra.

3. Set out on a walk

Sometimes you may experience a feeling of fear and depression because you tend to stay in.

Therefore, you should consider setting out on a walk in these situations. Since it is about balancing the root chakra, staying connected to the Earth will help to cleanse your aura.

4. Take a warm shower

A warm shower can be extremely relaxing, and it is one of the best ways to balance your root chakra. You must accept and love yourself no matter what the situation is around you. You can move casually while taking a bath. Believe it or not, it is one strong form of meditation.

5. Envision the red color

While many may disregard this, envisioning the red color helps balance your root chakra. The root chakra is represented by the color red.

The best way to do so is to start small.

You should start with a simple form of meditation and keep the surroundings slightly red. When you’re meditating, you must focus as if something red around your tailbone extends through your body and connects you to the Earth.

How to Balance the Sacral Chakra?

The Sacral Chakra is the second most important Chakra of your body. The sacral Chakra originates when we’re between 8 to 14. Since it is situated slightly below the belly button, it helps trigger feelings of creativity and emotions towards ourselves and others.

A balanced sacral chakra can help to promote warmth and generosity.

Reiki Master Serena Poon, in an interview with Mind Body Green, says that the imbalance in the Sacral can often trigger “feelings of fear, overwhelm, depression, emotional instability, loss of creativity and addictive behaviors.”

These can, however, have a negative impact on your physical and mental health.

Experiencing a blockage in Sacral Chakra is a very common phenomenon. However, many people may be unaware of it.

Here are some of the common ways through which you can balance your Sacral Chakra:

1. Relish Foods That Are Good for Your Sacral Chakra

Believe it or not, certain foods can positively impact your Sacral Chakra. Since Orange Color represents sacral Chakra, consuming orange foods can help balance the Chakra.

It is important to choose foods that will align with the sacral Chakra of your body. It helps to promote energy flow that will help streamline the Sacral Chakra of your body.

Some of the common foods that can help nourish your sacral Chakra include mangos, melons, pumpkins, oranges, citrus fruits, and butternut squash.

2. Do Yoga

Either yoga or some hip-opening stretches can be of great help. One of the main reasons we experience Chakra blockage is that our Chakra seeks to be trapped.

Considering the location of the Sacral Chakra, we must focus on doing yoga or exercises that lay importance on the lower abs and hips.

The Butterfly posture in yoga can help to streamline your energy.

If you aren’t in the mood to do yoga, you can also practice some movements.

A free-flowing dance in a dimly lit room will help to enhance the impact.

3. Be Comfortable with Your Stillness

We, as humans, always like to be on the move. However, there are very few of us, or rather, let’s just say a handful of us, who tend to be comfortable in our stillness.

It is not an easy thing to be comfortable with your stillness. But, once you learn how to be comfortable with that, you will learn the art of mindfulness.

When you’re comfortable in silence and stillness, you tend to connect with yourself. One should practice connecting with themselves once a day for at least 10 minutes.

Having conversations with yourself will allow you to let the energy flow. You should check how your body is responding. Try practicing it every day, and you will eventually notice the change in your behavior before anyone else does so.

4. Journal Your Feelings

Journalling is a positive habit that will allow you to connect with yourself. While many people maintain a proper journal, you can always consider DIY-ing if you don’t have one. To journal your feelings, all you need is a pen and paper.

You should ask yourself certain questions and then work on answering them.

Are you satisfied with the answers you have?

If yes, what else is bothering you?

If not, what can you do to improve it?

It is all about you, so you should work on improving yourself.

4. Envision Orange Color

Sacral Chakra is represented using orange color. So, you should try and envision it. The orange carnelian crystals can help and incorporate them in any chakra healing ritual that you follow.

How to Balance Your Solar Plexus Chakra?

Your solar plexus chakra is responsible for healing digestive issues. Nonetheless, fixing your solar plexus Chakra is not an easy task as it can be a lengthy process, and it can cause stress management issues and hamper your lifestyle changes. Furthermore, the solar plexus chakra will also help to enhance the energy level.

A balanced solar plexus chakra helps overcome negative feelings such as unworthiness and insecurity. It will allow you to become more confident. The solar plexus chakra starts to originate from 14 to 21.

Here are some of the main ways to balance your solar plexus chakra:

1. Don’t stay stuck

Sometimes we tend to stay stuck. Sustainable healing can be efficient for overcoming these negative feelings. When you imagine things, you shouldn’t focus on the negative feelings but the positive ones. Once you decide to leap positive things, it will lead you to better things.

2. Exercise

No matter how hard it appears to be, exercise can always bear fruitful results.

If you aren’t an exercise person, you can always start small, like taking a jog or bicycling. But, one of the best ways to balance your solar plexus chakra is to engage in core exercise work.

You should start doing forearm planks, crunches, bicycle curls and to enhance the impact. The best way to do this is to start small, such as 90 seconds, and then move to the upper limits of three minutes.

3. Interact with your inner critic

You may not realize this, but interacting with people around you can help to bring about emotional stability. Apart from that, you should also criticize yourself.

You are the one who knows yourself the best, so why not just list down a few things you like and hate about yourself.

The moment you start criticizing yourself and rectifying your mistakes is the moment you will start noticing changes in your behavior.

4. Try mirror-gazing

Not enough stress is laid upon how beneficial mirror-gazing can be. This is when you get to interact with yourself fully, and you don’t have to worry about anyone thinking negatively about you.

Manifesting a positive mindset will help to overcome the challenge. You shouldn’t allow anything around you to make you feel uncomfortable.

5. Practice the breath of fire

Kundalini awakening can play an important role in enhancing your experience. The Kundalini yoga practice can help to balance your solar plexus. You need to inhale and exhale at equal lengths and breathe continuously from your nostrils.

While you inhale, you should allow the abdominal muscles to relax. It is advisable to allow the expansion of the diaphragm and relaxation. You must start practicing this for three minutes and then switch to seven.

How to Balance Your Heart Chakra?

Do you know lakhs of heart attacks are reported each year worldwide? Surely, cardiovascular disorders are the major cause, but what causes them?

Apart from the physical organ, the heart has an emotional aspect. As much as your heart suffers from physical damage such as high cholesterol, diabetes, and obesity, it also suffers from emotional damage.

While you can show the symptoms of physical heart damage, what about the emotional hurting? When we see heartbreak as a negative aspect, we start envisioning negative things around us. What if we start taking this heartbreak as a positive thing?

To be true, with every heartbreak comes a lesson, compassion, and love- a love that you give to yourself.

“An open heart can give and receive love without any limitations.”

Why lock the gates to your heart because of a small heartbreak? The world is a great place with several things to explore. When we start restricting ourselves, we stop acknowledging our emotional well-being, which eventually leads to heart chakra blockage.

“To fall in love with yourself is the first secret to happiness.“

A balanced heart chakra is extremely important to promote emotional well-being. When you are emotionally well, the desire to physically leave your body dies.

Here are some of the common ways to work on balancing your heart Chakra.

1. Adore yourself

One of the best mental practices is to realize the importance of self-love. We often think that our love is for others, but no, it’s for you.

A person who cannot love himself/herself fully will never be able to love anyone else fully.

When you love yourself, you should write small letters to yourself and mention all the things you love about yourself. When you start manifesting positive things is when you start achieving them.

“Be gentle with yourself, learn to love yourself, to forgive yourself, for only as we have the right attitude toward ourselves can we have the right attitude toward others.“

Wilfred Peterson

2. Try meditation

Meditation can have a strong impact on your mental and physical well-being. It allows you to connect with yourself, and with nature, so why not practice it regularly? Well, meditation shouldn’t only be about you, but also about someone you love.

When you meditate, you should wish for the well-being of everyone around you. Wish them a good life, a good heart, kindness, and all gentleness of the world.

But, in this practice, should you forget yourself? No. It is time that you focus on improving yourself. While meditating, you should not only wish for the welfare of people around you but also for the welfare of yourself.

If you have any negative feelings about yourself, try to battle them out. The world is a huge place, and if you can forgive others who did you wrong, you can always forgive yourself.

3. Participate in community service

Participating in community services allows you to give endlessly and selflessly. Several community groups are working as charity organizations, and you can join hands with them and eventually work on enhancing the impact.

4. Yoga

Certain yoga postures can play an important role in balancing your heart Chakra.

Shoulderstand and Plough Pose are the two of the most prominent positions for managing the imbalance in your heart structure. It allows you to de-stress and think from a clear perspective which is extremely crucial for your Heart Chakra.

How to Balance Your Throat Chakra?

As long as your lower chakras are healthy, your throat chakra will do well. It forms a development path for the energy flow in your body. A balanced throat Chakra will help to bring stability and build consciousness.

If the throat chakra is imbalanced, you may move to the negative feelings.

Many Reiki masters believe that people who have open-throat chakras have the power to bring a global change.

Sometimes it may so happen that we tend to communicate something negative, and we experience an imbalance in our throat structure.

When we express ourselves truly, do we experience an aligned throat chakra? Yes, mostly. In that case, here are some of the common ways through which you can balance your throat Chakra:

1. Communicate to create awareness

Communication is the key to balancing your throat Chakra. If you feel there is any blockage in your path preventing you from achieving what you want, make sure to communicate it.

You should talk to your friends about your goals, aspirations, etc. If a particular statement does not match your purpose, go back to fix it. There are just so many things to be done.

2. Sing to yourself

People don’t realize how important it is to pamper themselves. When you’re trying to balance your throat Chakra, you don’t have to be an excellent singer. If you just be who you are, you can work on fixing it.

Singing to yourself can be one of the best ways to know about your voice, and it will also help to evoke numerous emotions such as shame, discomfort, and embarrassment.

You can overcome these negative emotions only when you sing to yourself.

Sing songs that remind you of your happy memories of your childhood. Hum tunes when you walk down the road, and it helps you gain emotional stability.

3. Kundalini yoga

Doing kundalini yoga while chanting Sat Nam (truth is my identity) can help you heal spiritually. You should chant this eleven times a day, and it is like you are affirming yourself about positivity.

Chant it out loud so that the vibrations can bring about the necessary changes in your body.

How to Balance the Third Eye Chakra?

The third eye chakra is responsible for your intuition and psychic ability. The Third Eye Chakra is the sixth Chakra that can hugely impact your body.

It allows you to focus and concentrate and be aware of the bigger picture that may come your way. The third eye chakra is often connected to the pituitary gland. Why? The pituitary gland is responsible for balancing the hormonal flow of the body. On the other hand, the third eye chakra is responsible for maintaining energy flow in your body.

The third eye chakra is at its peak stage of development during the ages of 35 to 42. Only when your sixth chakra activates can you get through with spiritual awareness. You get to know yourself fully when you open your third eye, and it helps you understand your insecurities, your judgments, assumptions, and all the negative things.

Here are the common practices that will help you in balancing your third eye chakra:

1. Journal

Journaling can be an extremely efficient way to know yourself better. The more you know yourself, the closer you reach to activating your third eye chakra.

You should practice journaling daily where you mention your feelings and insecurities. You are bound to notice the changes in how you think of yourself over time.

2. Be frank about your emotions

One of the main reasons many of us undergo chakra blockage is that we aren’t frank about our emotions. We tend to suppress how and what we feel.

You should work on reaching yourself to act through your emotions. No matter what emotion your body is making you feel, you should accept it as it is. Focus on what makes you happy, sad, and angry, identify each one and work on expressing it.

While you practice accepting your emotions, know that none of these emotions last long.

“Every cloud has a silver lining.”

After every thunderstorm, there’s a rainbow. So, if you’re sad today, it is okay; affirm yourself that the future will be better. Not one single emotion will define you.

3. Understand your subconscious

Our subconscious state of mind has a lot to say about how we are. However, there are hardly any chances that we get to interact with ourselves. One such example is when we’re dreaming.

Our dreams are our subconscious state of mind. While we have very slim chances of remembering our dreams, we should try to note them down.

One best practice is connecting the dots about what you see in your dream. Becoming connected to your subconscious state of mind will allow you to activate and balance the third eye chakra.

How to Balance the Crown Chakra?

The Crown is the seventh Chakra that allows you to connect to the celestial world. It helps to maintain the emotional well-being of your body.

The crown chakra is located on the energy plane that helps us identify the purpose of our lives.

If the crown chakra isn’t balanced, we may experience episodes of insomnia, hypersomnia, depression, etc. In many cases, we may also feel disconnected from nature, and it feels heavy, and we tend to stay annoyed all the time.

Here are some of the ways to balance your Crown chakra:

1. Know your circadian rhythm

You should understand how your body functions, especially when you’re waking up and when you’re going to sleep.

The crown chakra is connected to the cycles of the body. Women should also keep a watch on their menstrual cycle. These are your natural cycles and will heavily influence your crown chakra.

2. Connect with nature

You should focus on connecting with nature. It is always a good idea to take a break and move to the mountains for a while now. Connecting with nature and manifesting positive thoughts can play an important role in building positive feelings.

Allow yourself to be one with nature. Try going out for a walk and observing the beautiful sunsets and sunrises.

3. Know your purpose

It is always advisable to contemplate the right questions. If anything is bothering you in life, you need to find answers.

Asking these questions can play an important role in activating your crown chakra. When you meditate, you need to ask yourself some important questions. Take a note of whatever thought comes to your mind and work on improving it.

Chakra Stones for Healing

Chakra stones can play an important role in enhancing the impact. A particular stone heals every chakra.

How to choose a particular chakra stone?

Here are some of the key ways through which you can pick the right stone:

• Choose the stone according to its color to suit the particular Chakra.
• Hold the stone and understand how it makes you feel?
• Does the glow and texture of the gemstone affect you?
• What is the sensation that you feel while you hold the stone?

It is often advisable to ask yourself some questions and choose a stone accordingly.

How to use the chakra stone for healing?

There is no accurate method to use these gemstones for healing your Chakra. However, here are a few ways through which you can work on healing your Chakra:

• While you meditate, keep these gemstones in your hand or in a place from where you can put your entire focus to these.

• Have a chakra therapy session for 20-30 minutes a day. You should place these crystals on your chakra points and follow holistic therapy.

• Wear these gemstones to heal your chakras. You can use it as a necklace, ring, or even earrings. The closer you keep these chakra stones to yourself, the better you will feel.

• While many may recommend you use these gemstones during the bath, it is advisable to know their properties. Some powerful chakras may not be compatible with water.

Chakras: Facts About The Seven Chakras

Before we move on to learn about different types of chakras and how to balance them, here are some important facts and figures people must know about chakras:

Shape of chakras

There has been a lot of debate regarding the shape of the Chakra. While some believe that a chakra has a disc-like shape, others believe it looks like a flower.

Many people also suggest that the chakras look like an ice-cream cone. One of the main reasons there is so much conflict around the shape of chakras is that they can’t be seen.

You may find a lot of diagrams regarding specific chakras on the internet, and you must know that these are just symbols that represent and not the actual Chakra.

As per the ancient scriptures, a chakra has the shape of a ball or sphere. Chakras are also compared in terms of the solar system.

Many people believe that Earth represents the major chakras for the solar system but a minor one for the galaxy.

The rotation of the Earth indeed reflects energy. However, there is not much information about the relationship between Earth, Chakra, and energy distribution because it is “beyond human imagination.”

Color

Whenever we see these chakra drawings, we are fascinated to learn about their color. However, one important thing to note is that none of these chakras have their own color.

The colour assigned to a particular chakra is usually in terms of the element associated with the particular chakra, and therefore, it will radiate particular energy accordingly.

Watch This Video On The Seven Chakra

Other Resources To Read About Seven Chakras

• Chakra (Wikipedia)
• Mystical Dimensions Of The Body’s Seven Chakras
• The Psychology of Extraordinary Beliefs

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