Yoga is so much more than the physical posture or asana practice. Although this is what is is known for we in the western world there are many layers of the philosophical and spiritual world of yoga to consider too. The chakras are one of these many elements.
The seven chakras are points within the body known as energy centres or wheels of light which all link to a subtle body energy system that runs throughout the physical body. This is all linked by sushumna which is within the spinal cord and is one of the main paths of energy. These energy paths or nadis, help to govern the movement and balance of energy and what that influences.
Although primarily seen as subtle body anatomy the chakras all correspond physically to a collection of nerves, one specific gland or a set of glands within the physical body. There is also a seven year life cycle that they all link to which can govern the key energies in your body during that particular time.
At points we can be governed by one chakra more than the others, leaving an imbalance of either over activity or under activity. Chakras can be rebalanced by using asanas specific to that chakra in order to bring the body back in line and in balance. These postures are either active asanas or passive asanas. Active asanas clear excess and negative energies from the body and auric field. This ascends the energy from the root to the crown clearing excess or negative energy. Passive asanas draw the prana or energy deeply inwards, harmonising energies and stopping the overactive energy. When a chakra is excessive it is too overloaded to operate in a healthy way and becomes a dominating force. Although few of us consciously realise when practicing yoga we tend to rebalance our chakras through the sequences we are guided through, hence why we often leave feeling calm, collected and balanced!
In the first of my beginners guides, over the next seven weeks I am going to look into each one of these chakras in turn and introduce some ways you can balance these energies within your asana practice. I’ll also throw in some facts about the yantras or symbols that relate to each chakra and their qualities. Hopefully bringing some awareness of the chakras into your practice going forward