I used Ai Microsoft Designer to generate an image of a person with their chakras glowing. by Lynne Machin

If you have ever done Yoga or had an holistic treatment you would have heard a little bit about the chakras.

So for those who have never heard of chakras lets explore what they are.

The word Chakra in Sanskrit means disk or wheel, these refer to the energy centres in your body that allow life force energy to flow into and out of your system, your mind, body and emotions rely on these energy centres to function properly to maintain good health. So it is important to keep these open, balanced and healthy. If the chakras become unbalanced or blocked it can lead to illness or emotional symptoms related to that chakra.

Each chakra corresponds to certain nerve bundles and major organs. Some say we have 114 chakras but the main ones are :-

The Root Chakra or Sanskrit name Muladhara it is located at the base of the spine in the tail bone area.

• Colour Red
• Element Earth same as the star signs Capricorn, Taurus and Virgo
• Stone Hematite, Smokey quartz, Red jasper, Obsidian, and Jet,
• Scent Cedarwood, Frankincense, Black pepper, Patchouli and Sandlewood.
• Mantra “I feel safe and secure”
• Sound Lam

Corresponds to your lower back/coccyx, rectum, spine ,adrenal glands, blood, skeleton, feet, knees, hips, nails, and teeth. The root chakra helps us to stay grounded with the feeling of being secure in everyday tasks, helping you to stay present in the moment. If the root chakra becomes blocked you can experience it in many ways you could start to have money and health issues like constipation, lower back pains, stiffness in the legs, feet to name a few.

How to balance. Any grounding exercise that connects you back to nature this could be a barefoot dance routine, a nice barefoot walk along the beach, stretching and moving your body, declutter and get rid of the things you don’t need anymore, eat fruit and veg or just wear something red.

The benefits of saying Mantras Have you heard of the saying fake it till you make it? The body can not tell the difference especially if said in a positive loving way. This practice is easy to do once you get into a routine. You can say them when you hit that snooze button in the morning when the alarm goes off. (we all do it) you can say them in the shower or whilst waiting in the queue. So try some of theses or find ones that resonate with you. :-

• I love myself
• I feel deeply rooted.
• I am supported by those around me.
• I release all doubts and worries.
• I am independent and strong.
• I have everything I need.
• I am financially secure.

Reiki is another loving healing energy method used to unblock chakra helping you to feel grounded and balance. To use Meditation to unblock the root chakra you just concentrate on the area of the root chakra and imagine a beautiful cleansing bright red light washing away any negativity. Yoga is another way to keep the chakras balanced and healthy and the poses used are balancing postures like the tree, mountain and warrior.

The Sacral chakra or Sanskrit named Svadhisthana. Located a few centimetres below the belly button.

• Colour Orange.
• Element Water same as the star sign Pisces, Cancer and Scorpio.
• Stone Carnelian, Peach moonstone and Bloodstone
• Scent Sandalwood, Rose, Clary sage, Orange and Verbena.
• Mantra ” I attract people who treat me with respect.”
• Sound Vam

Corresponds to ovaries or testes, kidneys, bladder, prostate, pelvis and lower back. This chakra is responsible for emotions, sexual and creative energy. It is linked to how you see and relate to yourself and the emotions of others. If you start to experience being out of touch with your emotions, a loss of creativity, pains in your lower back, hips or start to have sexual or reproductive issues this chakra could be blocked.

How to unblock Spend sometime in or around water. Try and do something fun that moves that area like belly dancing. Use the stones and scents associated with this chakra. Wear something orange. Practice saying the following mantras or ones that suits you.

• I am at peace with my body.
• I choose to feel joy everyday.
• I am loveable and desirable being.
• I enjoy life to the fullest.
• I respect other people and their boundaries.
• I am in touch with my emotions.
• I am passionate.

Meditate on the area and see a loving orange colour clean and restore the energy within. The Yoga poses for this chakra are the Pigeon or Bridge pose which strengthen your pelvic floor.

The Solar Plexus or Sanskrit name Manipura. Is located a few centimetres above the belly button.

• Colour Yellow
• Element Fire as is the star sign Aries, Leo and Sagittarius.
• Stone Amber, Citrine, Tigers eye and Yellow Calcite.
• Scent Lemon, Citrus scents, Cedarwood and ginger.
• Mantra “I am motivated to pursue my true purpose.”
• Sound Ram

Corresponds to your liver, pancreas, stomach, spleen, gallbladder, small intestines, abdomen, sternum and back. It relates to your self esteem, confidence. helping you feel in control of your life. To be able to stick to your goals and your self belief in your abilities. So if you start to experience any physical pains in your stomach or have increased anxiety or just the feeling of not being good enough its time to do the following.

To unblock Have a reiki session or if you are attuned to reiki do some self healing on your chakras. Wear something yellow, take walks in the sunshine and strengthen your core. Do a candle meditation concentrating on the area of the Solar Plexus filling it with the loving healing energy of the colour yellow, whilst enjoying the lovely scented candle melt for the Solar Plexus. Have some fun saying the mantras to open and balance the chakra. The more times you say them the more the body believes

• I am powerful.
• I am strong.
• I am motivated to find my life purpose.
• I can achieve what I set out to do.
• I am valuable.
• I am manifesting easily and gracefully.
• I follow my intuition and inner guidance. Yoga poses for this chakra are the boat and the triangle it’s all about your inner fire and core so have some fun.

The Heart chakra or Sanskrit named Anahara is in the center of your chest.

• Colour Green
• Element Air like the star signs Aquarius, Gemini and Libra
• Stone Rose quartz, Green Aventurine, Green Jade and Malachite.
• Scent Lavender, Rosewood and Jasmine.
• Mantra “when I love myself, loving others comes easily”.
• Sound Yam

Corresponds to the thymus, lungs, circulation, heart, hands, shoulders, upper back and breast. It relates to the ability to love and show compassion to yourself and others, it’s about giving and receiving unconditional love. It’s choosing to let go, why worry about the things you can not change. As Buddha said ” Holding on to anger is like grasping a hot coal with intent of throwing it at someone else, you are the one who gets burned.” So if you are starting to struggle to share your feelings, starting to be jealous or envious of someone. Not maintaining your boundaries and over-giving its time to start to unblock.

To unblock

Have a reiki session to unblock all the chakras. Meditate on the sound of the word Yam with the delicate lavender scented candle melt. Concentrate on the heart space and visualise the colour green cleansing the energy centre. Practice the art of Ho’oponopono forgiveness by saying “Thank you, Please forgive me, I’m sorry, I love you.” Watch or read something romantic. Say the following Mantras

• I am open to give and receive love.
• I am worthy of pure love.
• I forgive myself for the mistakes of my past.
• I only attract loving and supportive relationships.
• I am peaceful.
• I release and let go of all resentment.
• I trust myself and others.

The yoga pose for this chakra is anything that opens up the heart space like the camel pose, wheel, cow face pose and the humble warrior, which helps to open your chest, shoulder and arms so you can embrace others.

The Throat chakra or Sanskrit name Vishudda is located in your throat.

• Colour Light blue.
• Element Sound/music
• Stone Blue lace agate, Angelite, Blue tiger eye (hawks eye).
• Scent Geranium, Jasmine, Sage, Cypress and Ylang Ylang
• Mantra ” I speak my truth freely and openly”.
• Sound Ham

Corresponds to the thyroid, throat, mouth, jaw, neck, ears, and arms. It relates to giving us the ability to speak clearly in a positive manner. You know when this is getting blocked if you have trouble in saying what you want to say, you doubt that what you have to say is important. You could be talking all the time and not listening, you could be verbally abusive, lying or gossiping. To unblock Sing, drink warm soothing tea, wear something blue, practice the art of really listening to someone. Say the following Mantras

• I communicate my feelings
• I always speak my mind with ease.
• I stand up for myself.
• My voice is clear and powerful.
• I am assertive.
• I am a good listener.
• I trust myself and my intuition.

The yoga poses for this chakra are the Plow and Fish which are great for opening up your back, front and sides of the neck.

The Third eye chakra or Sanskrit name Ajna located between your eyes.

• Colour Indigo
• Element Light
• Stone Lapis Lazuli, Sapphire, Sodalite and Amethyst.
• Scent Rosemary Frankincense, sandalwood, Pine and Lavender.
• Mantra “I am connected to the wisdom of the universe”
• Sound Sham

Corresponds to the pituitary glands, eyes, nose, sinuses, head and face. It is the link to your intuition and imagination. It allows you to have clear thoughts and a have a good memory with the ability to visualise, you simple know things like who is calling before you answer the phone. When it becomes blocked you may experience an overactive mind, anxiety, nightmares or insomnia, headaches, earaches, poor vision or blindness and stress. To unblock Treat yourself to some reiki. Meditate on the area and visualise the colour Indigo cleansing the energy centre in between the eyes. Wear something Indigo or purple. Sing or chant the word Sham. Immerse yourself in the smell of the rosemary scented candle associated with the third eye chakra. Say the following Mantras

• My dreams and visions guides me.
• I am creating a clear vision for my life.
• I am peaceful.
• I get clear guidance from my higher self.
• Everything I seek is within me.
• I envision a positive future.
• I trust myself and my intuition.

The yoga pose for this chakra is the forward fold or the folded eagle.

The crown chakra or Sahasrara which sits on the top of the head.

• Colour Violet or white.
• Element connection to the divine
• Stone clear quartz, Selenite, Moonstone or Amethyst.
• Scent Rose, Pure Frankincense, Myrrh and Neroli
• Mantra ” I am a vessel for love and light”
• Sound OM

The crown chakra connects you to the divine, it is the source of your inner self and life purpose. If the crown chakra is balanced and healthy you will have a strong sense of well being towards yourself and others.

If it is blocked you could have the feeling of everything going wrong or falling apart, nothing turns out right for you. You attract loads of drama into your life, make repeatedly silly mistakes. You can show signs of confusion, general lack of purpose, or Alzheimer’s. Have the feeling of exhaustion, chronic fatigue, or be sensitive to light and noise.

How to balance

You can surround yourself in a scent for calming the chakra, Listen or sing the sound Om, Meditate, keep a gratitude journal or wear the colour Violet.

Carve yourself out a few minutes a day to say the affirmations relating to the chakra. You can say these in your head or out aloud if you wish. Say them when you wake up in the morning and have just hit the snooze button, In the shower, In your lunch break, before you go to bed or instead of reaching for your phone to go on social media say a few kind words to yourself, your body will thank you for it.

Whilst concentrating on your crown chakra say the following affirmations or think of ones that you can resonate with.

• I am open to let go of attachments.
• I am healed on all levels of my being.
• I can achieve anything, My experiences are blissful.
• I love and accept myself.
• Everything I seek is within me.
• All is well I understand my life purpose.
• I have unlimited possibilities available to me.

Yoga is another form to help balance the chakras and the pose for the crown is called Savasana or corpse pose. It is said that this pose helps to strengthen your crown chakra by connecting you with your eternal self-your soul-and reminding you of where you came from and where you will go.