Chakra Healing: Everything You Need to Know

In general, balancing through chakra healing can be the result of a number of different methods that are related to three main categories: energy transmission, meditation/introspection, and physical. Practicing yoga and meditation is said to assist in keeping everything aligned, as is having a holistic view of health with maintaining a proper diet, exercise routine, and focusing on one’s mental, emotional, and spiritual well being.

If things get too unaligned, hiring a trained reiki, pranic, or chakra healing master can help.

1. The Root Chakra

There seems to be a particular significance to Muladhara, the root chakra. Usually it is portrayed as being red. It is located at the bottom of the spine, near the pelvis. It is claimed to be connected to our sense of security and survival. In a way, it can be seen as the base chakra.

Blockages and imbalances within this one can be the result of trauma, intense fear, and pent up emotions. Problems in Muladhara can manifest itself as insecurity, interpersonal relationship problems, worries about money or career, weight gain in the regions near the root chakra, and a feeling of disconnection.

Chakra healing of the root chakra can be done in a variety of ways. In general, the aim is to ground or root oneself to the Earth. This can be done by spending more time in nature, engaging in focused crystal healing, eating root vegetables, practicing mindfulness meditation or yoga asanas that stimulate the root chakra (child’s pose, warrior, mountain pose, or squat) or walking barefoot so you can feel your connection to the earth below you directly.

It is also thought that certain vibrations can help heal Muladhara, for example didgeridoo music, throat singing, and repeating the mantra “lam”.

2. The Sacral Chakra

Above the root chakra sits the Sacral Chakra or Svadhisthana as it is called in Sanskrit. It is usually represented as being orange and is located just below the navel. It is considered to be related to water and can control our emotions, relationship, sexuality and sexual pleasure, creativity, and our general connections to other people and feelings.

Problems with Svadhisthana can manifest itself in a variety of ways. Commonly, blockages can result in codependent relationships, and people with problems here are often unable to control their emotions. As it is connected to our ability to feel pleasure, some people might experience emotional numbness or a feeling of being trapped in a particular emotional state.

Many sexual problems can also stem from this chakra, be it a lack of sexual desire or an unhealthy sexual relationship through overindulgence and sex addiction. On the physical side issues here can cause anemia, menstrual issues, impotence, lower back pain, and ailments of the spleen or kidneys.

There are numerous ways to open your sacral chakra and initiate chakra healing. It is thought to have a connection to the color orange, so surrounding yourself with orange can have an effect. Some essential oils including bergamont, patchouli, sandalwood, or jasmine can help. Because it is connected to our emotions, engaging in some form of therapy of dealing with one’s emotional issues may have a positive effect.

Some yoga asanas can open up this chakra as well, especially those that encourage hip flexibility (pigeon, half frog, or fire log poses among others).

3. The Solar Plexus Chakra

The third chakra, located at the diaphragm, is the solar plexus chakra or manipura. It is represented by the color yellow and is related to the element of fire. It is thought to be connected to our personality, intellect, opinions and beliefs, will power, confidence, and independence.

People with issues in their manipura can suffer a number of problems. First off, they may be overly controlling in their relationships or may feel helpless. This can be also manifested as a lack of ambition or too much ambition. Potentially people with these issues can be pedantic or detail-obsessed. On the physical side, manipura regulates our metabolism and pancreatic functioning, so overeating, ulcers and other issues with these things may originate in this chakra.

One can begin solar plexus chakra healing by eating foods connected to the color yellow such as bananas, sunflowers seed, cumin, and ginger. It has been said that meditation can help, namely when focusing on the color yellow. Citrusy essential oils and aromas can also help.

Regular yoga practice, namely asanas that focus on core strength (warrior, boat, or sun salutations) are recommended.

Chakra healing experts also say that sunshine is important.

4. The Heart Chakra

Above manipura is the heart chakra, also known as anahata. It is represented by the color green and is connected to the element of air. Despite its name, it is not actually located in the heart, but in the center of the chest. It is thought of as a bridge between our upper and lower chakras.

Emotionally, anahata is related to compassion, intimacy, transformation, empathy, and love. Thus, blockages in this chakra may lead to a lack of emotional connection to others, jealousy, codependency, and feelings of being withdrawn from others. Problems with anahata have also been connected to the immune systems and thymus and hormonal issues. Due to its location, it can affect the lungs and people with blockages may have respiratory or heart problems.

This chakra seems to be receptive to crystal healing through jade, pink quartz, or green calcite. Expressing gratitude and having a healthy relationship with the act of giving can with heart chakra healing. Also recognizing the beauty of the world can help.

Heart opening yoga asanas such as cobra, crow, and upward facing dog are thought to help.

Also, there may be a connection between rose oil and the heart chakra.

5. The Throat Chakra

Next up the body is the throat chakra or vishuddha. It is thought to be related to the element of sound and is represented by the color turquoise. As its name implies, it is located at the throat. Vishudda is thought to regulate our ability to express ourselves and has a connection to the sacral chakra. Problems with vishuddha may result in excessive secretiveness or conversely, the inability to keep secrets or too much gossiping. Some may also have trouble speaking or possibly listening. It may have physical connection to our thyroid gland. It may also manifest itself with problems in the shoulders, nose and throat and can cause headaches.

The color blue is thought to have a particularly strong effect on chakra healing of vishuddha, so surrounding yourself with that color may help, as can meditating on the color. Also blue colored stones are thought to have the right types of vibrations to help our throat.

Consuming large amounts of water and eating lots of fruits such as apples, peaches, and citrus fruits may help too. Doing activities to encourage vocalization such as simply talking, writing and singing may have a powerful influence on vishuddha.

Yoga asanas that focus on the neck may be effective.

6. The Third Eye Chakra

The sixth chakra is the third eye chakra or ajna. It is located between the eyebrows and is represented by the color purple or indigo. It is connected to the “supreme element” or the pure combination of the elements. It is often thought of being related to our pineal gland and can regulate our sleep patterns. Ajna is deeply related to our perceptions of not just the outside world, but of ourselves and the mystical realm.

Awakening the third eye can be seen as a synonym for achieving clairvoyance or psychic abilities and having a deeper perception of the universe as a whole. Imbalances with this chakra can cause a lack of clarity, an inability to differentiate between fantasy and reality, a lack of belief in the spiritual realm. This means that many people suffering from vivid nightmares, migraine headaches, delusions, and paranoia may have problems in their third eye chakra.

In general, chakra healing of anja rests with the release of our ego. Meditation may be the most powerful actor on this chakra and many forms of meditation encourage a focus on the third eye. This chakra is especially receptive to energy healing.

Most importantly, because it is so deeply rooted in the other chakras, encouraging a holistic view on health and balance of all aspects of your life can have a profound effect on anja.

7. The Crown Chakra

The last of the seven main chakras is the crown chakra or sahasrara. It is represented by the color white and sometimes violet. It is located on the top of head and may be connected to our pituitary gland, brain, and nervous system. It is thought to regulate our awareness of higher consciousness, bliss, presence, and awareness of the sacred. It is the pathway to the higher self, the infinite.

People with crown chakra problems may have issues with their relationship to the divine or spiritual matters. They may be closed-minded or disconnected from the entirety of the world around them. It can also manifest itself as headaches, mental illness, boredom, sleep problems, and neurological disorders.

Silent mindfulness meditation may be the most effective method of crown chakra healing as food is thought to have little effect. Crystal healing with diamond, amethyst, and quartz can also help.

It can also be helped by engaging in brain stimulating activities such as deep thought and puzzle solving.

It is hard to argue against the effectiveness of such an all-encompassing philosophy of life. Since the general focus is on balance, problems with each of the chakras come in pairs (such as being emotionally open and emotionally closed). The model itself can therefore give a chakra explanation for every ailment. This makes it incredibly hard to study or dispute.

In general, since chakra healing has a holistic approach, it focuses on all aspects of health. Followers will naturally see a benefit from this type of chakra healing because meditation, yoga, and a healthy diet are generally healthy behaviors.

Many people who believe in chakra healing have turned to Hindu philosophy after experiencing a major trauma, such as the death of a loved one or a serious illness. A number of chakra healers have scientific backgrounds and have switched from modern medicine to chakra healing in order to live a “pill-free, disease-free, stress-free” life and to help others do the same. It is important to note that they do not reject conventional medicine, but believe that the often inexplicable Eastern spiritual wisdom and Western science are not mutually exclusive, but on the contrary, mutually reinforcing.