Yoga Poses for the Sixth Chakra
The Sixth Chakra is known in Sanskrit as the “Ajna Chakra.” This chakra is also known as the Third Eye Chakra. It is where spiritual…
Yoga and the Svadisthana Chakra
As the sun travels toward her yearly zenith point, her warmth and energy begin to permeate the earth, coaxing new life to emerge from its winter stasis. With each passing day, we begin to witness the perennial growth of abundant flowers and plants. The sunshine and warm temperatures also bring bears out of hibernation and the bees back to the business of making honey! Traditionally, the Incas worshiped the yellow color of the sun as a symbol of optimism, happiness, pleasure, and wealth.
Yoga and the Muladhara Chakra
The central chakra that forms the very root of our seat on the earth is the Muladhara Chakra, which is also aptly named the Root Chakra. According to ancient seers and Yogis, this chakra emanates the deep-maroon color of the red tulip. It is the first of seven chakras that follow our spinal column from the pelvic area all the way to the crown of the head. A balanced and healthy Root Chakra is integral to allowing us to stand in a balanced and healthy way on the earth.
Yoga Poses for the Second Chakra
The Second Chakra or Svadisthana Chakra is located in the lower part of the abdominal area below the belly button. The Second Chakra is…
Spring Green Leaves, Yoga and the Heart Chakra
Often, our bodies reflect our emotions, or the need to blunt our emotions, without us being consciously aware of this process. However, somatizing painful emotions by closing down your Heart Chakra will also block the flow of prana throughout your body. When pranic energy is not able to circulate through your body with ease, your vitality will likewise become diminished. Many different health problems can be directly linked to blocked energy throughout the body. In the long run, you may even develop heart or breathing problems if your Heart Chakra remains blocked for many years, hence the saying that he or she died of a broken heart.
Yoga Poses for the Fifth Chakra
There are many effective Yoga poses for opening up and re-balancing the Throat Chakra. All backbending asanas will open up the front of the chest, throat and neck. Many standing poses, including all three Warrior poses, will help to release tension and stress in the neck, shoulders and jaw. Inverted postures such as Shoulder Stand and Plow Pose will also help to balance the Vissudda Chakra. Ustrasana or Camel Pose is one of the most profoundly effective Yoga asanas for opening up the entire Throat Chakra area.
Yoga and Reiki Chakra Theory
Yoga and Reiki are spiritual healing arts based on the theory that the body contains seven major chakras, or energy centers. To understand how this works, we first need to first need to know the meanings of several words:
Morning Glories, Yoga and the Throat Chakra
According to ancient mystic Yogis and Yoginis, this chakra is a sixteen-petal flower that pulsates with a bluish-purple color and, upon which, the sixteen letters of the Sanskrit vowels are written in gold. At the very center of the Visuddha Chakra is a pure white color where its bija or seed mantra resonates with the sound “ham.” One of the most well known Sanskrit mantras is So-Ham. When this mantra is repeated for an extended period of time, it will help to remove blockages in the Throat Chakra area. Repeating this mantra also helps to soothe the heart and balance the movement of prana between the Heart and Throat Chakras.
Daffodils, Yoga and the Manipura Chakra
Surrounding yourself with the color yellow, whether it is in the form of a bunch of delicately scented daffodils or yellow pillows and curtains, will also help to nurture a healthy Manipura Chakra. Additionally, offering selfless service to your community and laughing are both said to increase the energy of the Manipura Chakra. In terms of a Yoga practice, incorporating poses that specifically release tension and generate energy in the solar plexus will help to dispel inertia and invigorate your entire being. This invigoration will help to fuel the process of initiating new projects, speaking up for yourself and following through on the many tasks that must be accomplished, in order to make your dreams and goals a reality.
Lotus Flowers, Yoga and the Ajna Chakra
There are a number of Yoga practices that can help to stimulate and balance the Ajna Chakra. These practices include physical Yoga postures, pranayama exercises and chanting the bija mantra of this chakra, “Aum.” Because the very essence of the energy that creates, sustains and dissolves physical reality resides in the Ajna Chakra, chanting this primordial seed mantra will re-calibrate this energy center, so that it is balanced and healthy. If you chant Aum while holding your gaze in Shambhavi Mudra, the effect of your practice will be much stronger. Shambhavi Mudra simply means to hold your gaze at the point directly between your eyebrows in an unremitting fashion.