A Beginner’s Guide to Understanding the Chakras (& How They Can Help You Heal)

I am frequently asked about the chakras.  In truth, I have done plenty of work with the chakras. This is due to my work as a Yoga Instructor, Thai Massage Therapist and Reiki Master. I have a set of quartz crystal chakra singing bowls which have been with me for many years. If you have found your way here, then you probably know that energy work has healing effects on the body, mind and spirit.

I believe that the energy of the chakras is incredibly powerful and can open up a doorway to a whole new level of awareness and awakening, if explored in the right way. Through my years of experience, I have come to understand that it is important to work in harmony with the body’s energetic pathways and keep the chakras balanced. This can be done through daily meditation, yoga and mindfulness practices, as well as through energy healing modalities like Reiki or chakra healing sessions.

With the right guidance, such practices can help us to better understand our physical, mental and emotional states, and better connect us to our own innate power and creative potential.

Achieving this potential can be a beautiful and deeply rewarding experience, and ultimately help us to live our lives with more harmony, balance and purpose.

It is very important to be aware of the subtle signals that we are being sent from our bodies and take action accordingly. We must learn how to listen to our intuition and trust it without fail. For example, if you experience tension in your heart chakra, it could be an indication that you need to practice more self-love and compassion. Or if you feel stagnant energy in your sacral chakra, it could mean that you need to open yourself up to new experiences and take some risks. Working with the energy of the chakras is a powerful way to become more in tune with your true self and tap into your highest potential.

When people embark on a journey of self-discovery, they generally focus on their physical health or self-improvement.

They might want to stop procrastinating or learn how to boost their self-confidence.  They might be interested in the spiritual side of things or feel like there is something missing in their lives. Sometimes an interest in spirituality is triggered by a serious illness or the loss of a loved one. When we explore the spiritual parts of ourselves, we open up a whole new vista of opportunities we probably never realized existed. 

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So what are the chakras, and how can working consciously with them help to heal us? 

“Chakra” is a Sanskrit word meaning “spinning wheel”. There is a system of seven energy centers located along the spine. Each chakra corresponds to an area of the body, a set of behavioral characteristics and stages of spiritual growth. The chakras are also associated with different parts of the body along the spine from the perineum to the crown of your head. Each chakra is associated with a color, a central emotional/behavioral issue, as well as many other personal aspects including identity, goals, rights, etc.

Practicing yoga and focusing your energies during different postures aligns your chakras and gets them spinning in a balanced way. Understanding how to fine tune your chakras through yoga and meditation brings balance and peace to your mind, body and spirit. This post discusses the seven primary chakras, but there are secondary chakras as well.

The seven chakra colors, locations and Bija mantras are:

Muladhara – Red – Base of the Spine – LAM

Svadhisthana – Orange – Behind the Navel, Lower Back/Hip – VAM

Manipura – Yellow – Solar Plexus – RAM

Anahata – Green/Ping – Heart -YAM

Visshudha – Blue – Throat – HAM

Ajna – Indigo – Brow – AUM

Sahasrara – Violet – Top of Head, Cerebral Cortex – SILENCE/BREATH/PRESENCE

In Yoga we talk of Prana, energy or life force, and the Chinese of Qi or Chi, or Ki in Japanese.  

The energy travels along channels or meridians (Sen Lines, in Thai Massage terms), and anchors its power in the chakras. These wheels or vortexes are like disks spinning from front to back. They are connected through channels and loops of our moving energy.

You will gain energy, youthfulness and transformative powers by learning to activate and balance your chakras. One fun thing to do is to move your energy up and down your chakras via the central main energy channel in the body. Visualization and breath work play a big part in this, so take your time and be patient!

How Can You Work With Chakras For Healing?

These are powerful energy centers we all have, and learning to harness their power will help heal your body, mind and spirit. Once you are familiar with each chakra, begin to work with each chakra on its own or in tandem with each other.  

Try combining your chakra work with other healing methods.  For example, work to balance your chakras through meditation, yoga, aromatherapy, crystal work, mandalas, and sound mantras.  

Meditation transforms the mind through techniques that develop concentration, clarity, emotional positivity, and tranquility. With consistent practice you can energize your mind and deepen your understanding of the world.

Get to Know Your Chakras with Yoga

Through the movements and postures of yoga, you can focus your concentration and energy to and from the various chakras. This allows you to compensate for areas that may be out of sync with the rest of your body or not functioning properly. By balancing the energy among all seven of the chakras, balance in your whole body will be achieved. Are you familiar with Kundalini energy? In its dormant state, Kundalini remains resting at the base of your spine within the Muladhara chakra.

Chakras act as valves or pumps regulating the flow of energy through your system. Controlled and purposeful movements such as yoga realign your chakras which benefits your physical and emotional well being. One of the many benefits of steady yoga training is that we get a better handle on our emotions. We also realize that we are not enlightened or perfect all the time!

Bring Aromatherapy into Your Life

Aromatherapy uses scent to heal. Essential oils can be inhaled, or diluted and used as part of a massage. Aromatherapy using certain essential oils can enhance particular chakras. You might like to read my post on essential oils for making a spiritual connection.

Aromatherapy promotes relaxation and healing. Many essential oils help to balance the body, mind, and spirit. For example, lavender is often used to relax and reduce stress. Rosemary is used to enhance focus and concentration. And chamomile is often used to provide a sense of calm. To get the most from aromatherapy, it’s important to find the best combination of essential oils for the desired outcome. For example, the combination of lemon, rosemary and lavender can be used to reduce anxiety.

In addition to being used for relaxation and calming, aromatherapy can also be used to explore the power of the chakras.

Each of the seven chakras has its own healing properties and is associated with an essential oil or combination of essential oils. For example, the root chakra is associated with the grounding, earthy aroma of sandalwood while the third eye chakra is linked with the energizing scent of peppermint. By combining the appropriate essential oils with meditation, visualization and sound, you can use aromatherapy to open, balance and heal your chakras – creating the perfect environment for spiritual exploration.

Try Working with Crystals

Crystal work is as old as mankind itself. People have always worn stones as amulets for protection. You can use a range of crystals to awaken and magnify the power of each chakra or use all of them together. Please see my post on the metaphysical properties of crystals and stones.

The meaningful symbolism found in stones and crystals goes beyond protection, to represent deeper personal and spiritual growth. For example, green jade can awaken the heart chakra, while rose quartz helps promote inner peace. A crystal grid is a tool used to send healing energy to a specific person, space or situation. Creating a grid is a simple practice, involving placing stones in a particular formation and infusing the grid with your intent. You may choose to include a combination of crystals or just use one. Whatever your intention, this is a powerful practice that can help to amplify your efforts.

Crystals and stones have the ability to help us connect to our highest selves and to the universe.

They can help us focus our intentions and tap into our intuition. They can also help us amplify awareness and clarify our spiritual needs. By working with crystals in specific ways, we can open and balance our chakras, receive healing energies, and invite more positive energies into our lives. Working with crystals helps to clear and cleanse your energy, allowing you to feel more connected, grounded, and balanced. With their powerful vibrations and frequencies, each crystal helps to amplify the energy of whatever you intend to bring into your life.

Explore Chakra Mandalas

In terms of imagery, the word mandala means circle or universe. It is a particular pattern that can be used as a tool to focus our concentration. Each chakra has its own mandala representation. You could also get guidance from a Reiki teacher or Reiki master. Reiki teachers are very familiar with the Chakra system and very helpful.

These mandala representations can become meditative tools to achieve a deeper level of relaxation and stillness. With the help of visualization, you can focus on each individual mandala and its associated energy center, thereby allowing strength to flow through all the chakras. Through this practice, you may be able to identify where your body is weak and strengthen the areas which need extra attention. Visualizing a particular mandala corresponding to a particular chakra can help you to become more aware of the subtler aspects of your emotions, helping you to process them more effectively.

Use Meditative Mantras to Balance Your Chakras

A mantra is a word or phrase that is intoned and repeated for during meditation. Sound is vibration, so mantras have a vibrational effect on the mind and body.  The mantra syllable OM is one of the most common mantras used before and after yoga sessions and during meditation to focus the mind. 

When used properly, a mantra can be a powerful tool for stilling the mind and calming the body. Mantras are said to help promote positive thinking and attitude, resulting in increased clarity and concentration. They can increase the connection between body and mind, aiding in stress reduction. Studies have even shown that mantras can help reduce pain and improve physical conditions. By using mantras in meditation, we can reduce stress and mental exhaustion, and increase our overall mental, emotional and physical well-being.

By working with your chakras, you will go deeper into your study of the chakras and harness their power to create positive change in your life. 

Working with the chakras will bring you increased clarity and awareness. Your intuition becomes sharper. You learn to think with head, heart and gut all at the same time. This allows for better decision-making and a more fulfilled life.

There is no shortage of detailed information, made available by yoga and chakra enthusiasts such as Anodea Judith. She has a very popular book called The Wheels of Life, which you may have heard of (or even read!). I personally love this free course she offers: Supercharge Your Chakra Practice: How to Heal Your Energy Centers & Unleash the Full Power of Your Life Force. 

I’m sure it comes as no surprise to you that most of us have energetic blocks and imbalances.

And we also tend to have self-sabotaging habits! It’s our human nature. The issues arise when these habits keep us from accessing our full vitality. And if we aren’t accessing our full vitality we begin to feel exhausted, scattered, dull – even ill.

The key to living a vibrant life is not only in breaking these self-sabotaging habits, but also in finding creative ways to reconnect with your natural vitality. Tuning into your body and surroundings is a great way to start. Really focus on the present moment. Notice the smells, sounds, and movements that are all around you. With experimentation, you can find practices that make you feel light, connected and inspired. These could include yoga, mindful walks, intentional breathing, or any of the countless ways people tap into their full vitality. It’s important to remember that living fully is an ongoing creative journey, not a one-time destination.

Fortunately, there are tools we can use to improve our physical and mental wellness.

From exercise and healthy eating to yoga and meditation, we have options that can help us reconnect to our natural vibrancy. By consciously tuning in to our body and mind, we can realign our energy and create equilibrium. This will result in improved clarity, focus, and productivity. And, of course, it will help us live more authentically and in-tune with our purpose.

These are very practical and simple ways to work with chakras, which allow you to tap into a vast field of energy whenever you need it!