image source; Tartooful.com
Not long ago, the word Chakra came onto my radar. How did it come up? Well, the store I worked in sold jewelry related to our Chakras.
For example, there is a troll bead (as seen in this image) to represent each Chakra. Trollbeads are glass beads that are designed to be worn on bracelet or necklace.
I recall ladies coming into the store and collecting all 7 beads. They insisted their bracelet wouldn’t be balanced without all of them. I was bewildered as I knew nothing about the Chakra philosophy.
Since then, I have been learning more about the Chakras and the importance of ‘opening’ and balancing them. Since practicing yoga for 2 ½ years I’ve been using meditation and poses to activate my Chakras.
It may all sound silly (I wasn’t sure what to believe when I first heard the word) but when you consider that the Chakras are an ancient Eastern philosophy, you have to give it some credence.
Simply put, it is the belief that the human body is made up of sections of energy called chakras, and if those energies don’t flow freely our emotional health suffers.
I think it worthwhile to consider the Chakras in healing our emotional state of mind especially during stressful events. If I had learned more about this during my divorce, for example, I’d have been more likely to remain emotionally balanced while under stress.
Increased stress causes weight gain or loss, illness, sleeplessness, and self medicating. So, I thought it might benefit us to look at simple ways to maintain balanced Chakras to improve our emotional health during stress.
“According to Buddhist/Hindu teaching, all of the Chakras should contribute to a human’s well-being. Our instincts would join forces with our feelings and thinking. Some of our chakras are usually not open all the way (meaning, they operate just like when you were born), but some are over-active, or even near closed. If the chakras are not balanced, peace with the self cannot be achieved.”-WikiHow
image source; creative commons
Essentially, each Chakra represents a section of our body and along with that a color energy and associated gland. Let’s take a look at each chakra:
Located at the base of the spine, the root chakra is associated with being physically aware and grounded. Physical activity of almost any kind where feet are on the ground and give you the feeling of stability and strength will help to keep this chakra flowing. When this chakra is open, you feel comfortable in most situations, stable and secure. It is associated with the basic needs and survival.
Color association-Red
gland association-Adrenal
Open it by; meditating, using or wearing the color red, dancing, yoga, walking, being bare feet on the grass, get a pedicure, take a shower, hot bath or steam. Any physical grooming and caring for your body will also open your root chakra.
Located below your naval through to perineum, the sacral Chakra is related to sexual well being, passion, interaction and creativity. When this chakra is open we feel out going, confident in our creative expression and sexuality.
Color association-orange
Gland association-gonad
Open it by; yoga, pelvic exercise, sketching, painting or any creative problem solving exercises. Also, eating oranges, nuts and wearing orange clothing or orange stones in jewelry.
Located three inches above the naval, Solar Plexus Chakra is associated with self confidence, self esteem, power, assertion and control. When it’s open we feel confident about our decisions and positive about our accomplishments. We hush our inner critic.
Color association-yellow
gland association-pancreas
How to open it; boat pose, abdominal and core exercise, dance, eat grains, drink chamomile or peppermint tea, wear yellow or yellow jewelry. Use lemon scented candles or oils.
This chakra represents energy to give and receive love. Enabling us to be open to giving love, compassion and forgiveness. If it is under active, we are cold and unfriendly, or the opposite if it is overactive and we become suffocating and insecure in our relationships.
Color association-green
Gland association-thymus
How to open it; give more love, try random acts of kindness, heart-opening yoga poses. Be vulnerable in order to receive love. Eat greens and drink green tea, wear green, and green apple scents.
Located in the throat area, this chakra is all about voice. Expression of our voice through written or verbal communication. Listening is also part of a balanced, throat chakra.
Color association-light blue
Gland association-thyroid
How to open it; meditation, word associate in a journal, paint, decorate, incorporate light blue into your décor, practice breathing techniques, wear light blue clothing or jewelry.
Located in the middle of the forehead, between the eye brows, Third eye deals with insight and seeing the big picture. If it’s open we can decipher truth from fiction and dream yet remain focused on goals. Also, when open clairvoyance is activated and we are open to receiving wisdom.
Color association-Indigo
Gland association-Pituitary
How to open it; forward folds in yoga, child’s pose, meditation, eat blueberries, chocolate, lavender tea. As well, wearing and surrounding yourself with the associated color of indigo blue.
Located at the top of the head, the Crown is considered the most spiritual Chakra. It only functions fully when all other chakras leading up to the crown through the spine, are balanced. If it’s open, you see and understand your connection to the world. You let go of ingrained beliefs and prejudices. When activated our crown chakra enables us to be mindful, live in the present moment and our intuition is sharp.
Color association-purple
Gland association-Pineal
How to open it; outdoor exercise, fresh air, i.e. being by the ocean. Also meditating, wearing dark purple or lavender and even white. Choose jewelry with diamonds or sapphires. This chakra doesn’t benefit from healing foods according to mindbodygreen.
The common belief is that if one chakra is under active or closed, it can throw all the chakra energies in our body out of balance because some are over compensating. To find balance start at the Root chakra because it’s the foundation.
Was there a time you didn’t feel grounded or rooted? That’s exactly when we need to focus on our root chakra.
For example, when we had a fire and had to evacuate from our apartment I was displaced for several months. I stayed in hotels and motels and had no access to my belongings for a week.
When we were able to access our apartment, we had to wear masks because the smoke residue was toxic. The smell and the sight of my home covered in soot, and plants dying, was a visceral and sad experience. It was a time to re-evaluate possessions, find a new place to live, and try to re-establish my roots.
Would it surprise you to learn that when we finally moved into our new apartment and I had to replace some of our lost items, I chose a red and green color scheme?
I was puzzled by my own intuition to choose green to accent with the reds in my kitchen. Normally, red and green is associated with Christmas so what the heck was I thinking? In the past I used blues and pinks so red and green was a departure for me.
Then my friend explained to me that I was working subconsciously on my root chakra. I was in survival mode. This made sense since I was floating around for months without a place to call home.
image source; mommyspot
I also bought more green clothing that autumn. Apparently, the heart knows what it needs. I was intuitively opening my heart chakra.
Incidentally that’s when I took up yoga for the first time in my entire life. I walked past the yoga studio on the main street of our little town and I was physically drawn to it. I stopped in front of it a few times to look inside and see people in warrior poses. I felt a longing to join. Interesting how the universe pushes you toward what you need at the right time.
Evaluate your chakra energies. Work on the associated area you’re struggling with. Don’t forget to include some of the exercises related to that area of the body.
Also, remember the emotional power of color associated with the specific chakra. Eating colorful foods, wearing and decorating in your chakra colors, as well as using aromatherapy can have a powerful impact. It begins with intuition that triggers our thoughts until we finally take action.
Even if you don’t believe in the power of chakra energies in our body, the very act of thinking about our emotional health, is bound to create improvements.
resource links
Comments are closed.
Design by ThemeShift.
Anima Sur
May 2, 2019 at 4:12 amNice Article. Loved reading it.
5 Self Care Habits To Do At Home - Lisa Thomson~Author
November 6, 2018 at 6:58 am[…] it a part of your self care routine. As well, I would add that periodically checking that your chakras are balanced is a good self care tactic, […]
Chakras do Corpo
February 23, 2017 at 9:48 amVery informative your article. Gratitude for sharing your knowledge.
Kimberly
July 27, 2015 at 9:09 pmMy girlfriend is actually a ReKi master 😉
She volunteers her time at a rehabilitation centre for women and they find it very beneficial. I find it relaxing also. She opens up each chakra and heals them using her own energy. It’s very interesting!
lisa
July 27, 2015 at 11:15 pmHi Kim, that’s very interesting! Really nice that she volunteers. I’m happy to hear you have benefited from Reiki and opening the chakras. Thanks for sharing!
Jess @UsedYorkCity
July 27, 2015 at 6:30 amThis is fascinating, Lisa! I’ve been doing yoga for several years now, but never really delved into any of the other teachings associated with it. I totally dig this chakra business;-)
lisa
July 27, 2015 at 7:36 pmHi Jess, I’m so glad you’re digging this. I’m fascinated by it and can’t help but believe there is validity to it.
tracie @ beets+birch
July 26, 2015 at 5:29 amwonderful post!
i believe in the chakras! i just makes perfect sense to me.
i started yoga practice when i was pregnant with my first child so that was 30 yrs ago!!! am i good at it… no. but do i feel good after… YES!!!!
i think it’s mostly the act of self care.
in the same theme i’ve tried so many times to meditate without much success. recently went to an actual class and for the first time felt like i really get it and now i can’t get enough.
btw my main colors are red and green too… lime green and tomato red mostly. so very fresh and vibrant happy colors!
lisa
July 26, 2015 at 6:50 pmHi Tracie, thanks for reading and I’m not surprised to hear you’re a believer 🙂 I bet you’re awesome at yoga practice!All shades of green, I LOVE. I love color and so I’m fascinated with the chakra color relationships. Meditation is a tough one, for sure and takes much practice. I can’t sit for very long and meditate unless I’m in a class and have to LOL. It’s gotten easier though. Nice to see you, Tracie xo
tracie @ beets+birch
July 26, 2015 at 11:26 pmi’m on a bit of a blogging break these days but i wanted to pop by and say hi 😀
colors!!! i’ve often thought how sad i would be if i ever lost my eyesight because i love color so much also.
the meditation class i go to is actually done in corpse pose which was a game changer. i have a bad hip so i could never get comfortable in meditation until then.
you might try that some time. although in the last class 2 people fell asleep and were snoring. haaaaa
lisa
July 27, 2015 at 7:35 pmOh, I thought you might be on a break. I miss your blog posts 🙂 Corpse pose is the best part about yoga! I went this morning and the class was so hard I felt like cursing. Then the reward at the end made it all worthwhile. I felt immobilized after.
tracie @ beets+birch
July 27, 2015 at 10:49 pmawww thank you! i will get back to writing soon. i’ve been painting and working on some stuff in our flat.
i’ve also been going through a ‘i hate the internet’ phase. i’ve felt overloaded by too much bad news, mean people, mob mentality and general bullshit.
corpse pose IS THE BEST!!!! haaaaa
i was thinking about the heart chakra being green and things that i’ve unintentionally done over the years that correlate with green.
coincidence in taking care of my heart… maybe or maybe not!
i’m a 20 yr vegetarian (green)
my favorite daily perfume is DKNY (apple) and i wear a green apple scented body lotion.
i would say green is my favorite color and i gravitate to it in clothing and decor.
i also bought a kiwi green honda element right at the time of my divorce which my ex husband was livid over. just made me love that car even more!!!
lisa
July 27, 2015 at 11:14 pmHa! That’s awesome, Tracie. I love all the green. That DKNY scent is very fresh. Enjoy your break. I’ll be off for August as well. 🙂
Marcia @ Menopausal Mother
July 24, 2015 at 7:25 pmI’m glad you shared this–lots of info here that I wasn’t aware of!
lisa
July 26, 2015 at 6:47 pmThanks, Marcia! Hope you find it interesting.
Charlotte
July 23, 2015 at 1:43 pmI love that you shared this here today. I’ve actually been giving a lot of thought to the idea of these Chakras ever since I took that reiki healing class and the instructor mentioned the ones that were out of alignment. I find it interesting that they are all interrelated and that their primary functions are so different.
Thank you for this explanation, Lisa! XOXO and hope you’re having a great week/happy summer!
lisa
July 23, 2015 at 3:30 pmHey Charlotte, did you find the Reiki treatment helpful? I don’t know much about Reiki except to say that it’s their job to determine what needs to be opened in our bodies. I’m not sure how you know which ones are reputable so I didn’t bring it up in the post but I thank you for doing so. It’s amazing how the body works biologically and not surprising that everything is interrelated. Thanks for sharing here! 🙂
Charlotte
July 23, 2015 at 5:15 pmI did find it very useful, yes, thank you! Though it took me a few days to fully process everything, to be honest. But I loved it and would love to do reiki again.
Thank YOU! XOXO
marie
July 23, 2015 at 2:00 amI heard a lot about chakras Lisa but never really looked into it that much. I love this post and the details you are giving us. It definitely makes more sense.
Balance is key.
Thanks a lot for sharing these valuable ideas with us.
lisa
July 23, 2015 at 2:29 pmHi Marie, I hadn’t really given it much thought in the past. Since starting yoga, the teachers will often refer to them, this triggered my interest. I hope you enjoyed this info! Thanks for stopping by 🙂
Chrys Fey
July 22, 2015 at 8:56 amI’ve always wanted to learn more about chakras. Thanks for this!
lisa
July 22, 2015 at 4:11 pmThat’s cool, Chrys. I’m so glad you enjoyed this post. It’s really only skimming the surface. Let me know if you try anything and if it helps balance things out. 🙂
Tamara
July 22, 2015 at 7:33 amMy mom has studied chakras for years. I remember not really knowing what she was talking about, but being open to it. We talk a lot about my throat chakra. Whenever I’m stressed, that’s what seems to tense up. And of course, I’m a writer/photographer and sometimes don’t express myself well in person. I always thought it was all related.
lisa
July 22, 2015 at 4:09 pmHi Tamara, yes it definitely is all related. Sometimes one area is over active to compensate for the underactive chakra. Maybe you’re communicating through your photography and writing so, in person you’re quieter and less able to express your ideas, opinions etc. Communication is important though, so give the color and exercise options a try to see if that opens the throat chakra for you. 🙂
My Inner Chick
July 22, 2015 at 7:06 am***I felt a longing to join. Interesting how the universe pushes you toward what you need at the right time.***
Yes, I listen to those pushes and intuitions now!
We have those for a reason, darling! xxxx
lisa
July 22, 2015 at 4:06 pmHi Kim, isn’t it true about our intuition? It’s almost always right. Even if we don’t understand it in the moment, it give us the information and intelligence we need. xo
Balroop Singh
July 21, 2015 at 8:36 pmHi Lisa,
Wow! what a terrific post! I have heard of chakras but never really tried to explore the details. As you say, it seems silly if you don’t try to understand the depth of such a traditional healing.
I am glad you have received so much of solace from the power of chakras. They are indeed meaningful and carry a lot of positive energy. When emotions are balanced, happiness automatically steps in! Thanks for sharing such a well researched post.
lisa
July 22, 2015 at 4:05 pmHi Balroop, well I’m still exploring and have much to learn. I do like to keep the chakras in mind when it comes to unblocking creativity or other areas in life that feel out of balance. Glad you enjoyed this information!