MEDITATION CHAKRAS II
Introduction
The term Chakra means “spinning wheel” in Sanskrit. The 7 main chakras, or energy centres, are located along the spinal cord, from the base of the spine to to the top of the head. While their root lie in the axis of the spine, they are often easier to feel in front of the body where they open like a flower.
Physiologically speaking, although they are not made of physical tissues, their closest correspondance would be the main nervous plexuses along the spine. On a subtler plan, each centre has specific qualities and functions related to the expression of a particular aspect of a human being.
One of the goals of a yogi is to free the potential contained in each of these centres and to dissolve any blockages that might prevent the energy, prana, to circulate in the body. When a centre is purified and unlocked, its inherent qualities and abilities start to progressively manifest within the practitioner, granting him or her some new perspectives on life and evolution.
Chakra and meditation
Chakras are excellent objects of concentration. The reason why they are so widely used for meditation is that the degree of innervation of the nervous plexuses makes them relatively easy to feel once one has undergone proper training. Also, each of these chakras represents an access point to the depths of our being and contains powerful latent energies and knowledge that become available to the yogi that could unlock them.
For more details about chakras, please refer to the article : The energy centres.
Technique
- Sitting in a meditation posture, back straight, neck in line with the spine, eyes closed, hands interlocked or on the knees.
- Bring your awareness in the sole of your feet.
Stay there for 5 seconds (same duration for each of the concentration points). - Knees
- Muladhara, at the base of the spine
- Swadisthana, below the belly button
- Manipura, solar plexus, above the belly button
- Anahata, centre of the chest
- Shoulders
- Elbows
- Palms of the hands
- Elbows
- Shoulders
- Anahata
- Vishuddha, in the throat
- Ajna, between the eyebrows
- Sahasrara, top of the head
- Then go backwards.
- Repeat 5 times, taking one second out each time
1st round: 5 sec. per chakra, 2nd round: 4 sec. per chakra, 3rd round: 3 sec., 4th round: 2 sec, 5th round: 1 sec.) - After a while, you should start to feel a kind of pulse for each second.
- Difficulty is increasing when reducing the time of concentration because you may not get an immediate feedback from the nervous system, in terms of sensations.
- When the 5 rounds are done, place your awareness in the heart chakra. Imagine you are opening up to a higher dimension and cultivate a feeling of unconditional love and of being part of the Whole, allowing the limits of your body to expand and dissolve in the ether.
Benefits
- Increases concentration power
- Refines sensory perceptions
- Reduces brainwaves’ frequency and amplitude
- Regulates the heart rate
- Relaxes the brain and the nerves
- Considerably increases resistance to stress, if practiced regularly
- Relaxes the entire organism in depth
- Regulates sleep cycles
- Increases pranic capacity
- Develops the capacity to move prana inside the body
- Provides a deep feeling of joy and inner peace
