What are Chakras?

Chakra is a Sanskrit word which translates to wheel. In yoga, this refers to the 7 main vortexes of energy/prana along the spine, starting from the base of the spine through to the crown of the head. If any or all of these centers are blocked, we can experience illness, emotional imbalance or fatigue. In order to restore balance in your chakras, figure out which chakra to stimulate to counteract the imbalance.

Muladhara (Root) Chakra

Colour: Red
Element: Earth
Positive expressions: Grounded, confident, sense of belonging
Unbalanced expressions: Insecure, needy, self-destructive
Poses: Tadasana, Dandasana, Virabhadrasana II

Svadhisthana (Sacral) Chakra

Colour: Orange
Element: Water
Positive expressions: Creative, positive, receptive to change
Unbalanced expressions: Emotionally unstable, guilty, hard on yourself
Poses: Malasana, Upavista Konasana, Gomukhasana

Manipura (Navel) Chakra

Colour: Yellow
Element: Fire
Positive expressions: Powerful, courageous, productive
Unbalanced expressions: Anxious, stagnant, low self-esteem
Poses: Ardha Matsyendrasana, Navasana, Dhanurasana

Anahata (Heart) Chakra

Colour: Green
Element: Air
Positive expressions: Unconditional love, compassion, forgiveness
Unbalanced expressions: Possessive, codependent, fear of rejection
Poses: Trikonasana, Urdva Danurasana, Ustrasana

Visuddha (Throat) Chakra

Colour: Light blue
Element: Ether
Positive expressions: Communicative, good listener, truthful
Unbalanced expressions: Low will power, judgmental, overly critical
Poses: Matsyasana, Halasana, Sarvangasana

Ajna (Third Eye) Chakra

Colour: Indigo
Element: Light
Positive expressions: Inner wisdom, intuition, isight
Unbalanced expressions: Close-minded, lack of clarity, untrusting
Poses: Balasana, Sukasana

Sahasrara (Crown) Chakra

Colour: Violet
Element: Cosmic Energy
Positive expressions: Illumination, wisdom, higher awareness
Unbalanced expressions: Narrow mindedness, intellectualism, ego-centeredness
Poses: Sirsasana, Savasana