Chakras (chakra = spinning wheel) are energy centers located along the spine, from the coccyx to the top of the head. Each center has its own “intelligence” and plays a specific role on a physiological, emotional, mental and spiritual level.
One of the goals of yoga is to balance and stimulate the energy by liberating chakras from various blockages that prevent their expression and the circulation of energy within the body. When the energy is blocked somewhere in the organism, it creates an unbalance state that will manifest sooner or later on a physical level, most of time through a disease.
Therefore, the yogi pays a lot of attention to these energy centers which are often used as meditation objects.
The 7 Chakras
– Location : top of the head
– Nervous center : crown plexus
– Endocrine gland : pineal
– Function : seat of the Consciousness. Connects man to higher plans.
– Color : violet
– Element : no manifested element for this center
– Bija mantra : this center does not have a mantra associated to it
– Location : between the eyebrows
– Nervous center : cavernous plexus
– Endocrine gland : pituitary
– Function : imagination and abstract thinking
– Color : indigo
– Element : Manas (mental matter)
– Bija mantra : OM
– Location of the Shiva Granthi or “Shiva’s Knot”. (a Granthi is natural energy blockage that the yogi is trying to pierce through his practices. There are 3 granthis : coccyx, chest and forehead centers).
– Location : throat
– Nervous center : laryngeal plexus
– Endocrine gland : thyroid
– Function : communication and concrete thinking
– Color : light blue
– Element : ether
– Bija mantra : HAM
Anahata : chest center
– Location : center of the chest
– Nervous center : cardiac plexus
– Endocrine gland : thymus
– Function : breathing and feelings
– Color : green
– Element : air
– Bija mantra : YAM
– Location of the Vishnu Granthi.
Manipura : abdomen center
– Location : upper abdomen, about 3 fingers above the belly button
– Nervous center : solar plexus
– Endocrine gland : pancreas
– Function : food processing and emotions
– Color : yellow
– Element : fire
– Bija mantra : RAM
Swadhisthana : sexual center
– Location : lower abdomen, about 3 fingers below the belly button
– Nervous center : sacral plexus
– Endocrine gland : gonads (testicles or ovaries)
– Function : reproduction and sexual energy
– Color : orange
– Element : water
– Bija mantra : VAM
Muladhara : root center
– Location : base of the spine
– Nervous center : coccygian plexus
– Endocrine gland : adrenals
– Function : seat of Kundalini. Connects man to Earth
– Color : red
– Element : earth
– Bija mantra : LAM
– Location of Brahma Granthi
