The 7 Chakras: How to Open and Balance Your Energy Centers

What is the easiest way to determine which chakra is blocked?

what is chakra healing?

The word chakra comes from the Sanskrit word meaning wheel or circle. There are seven major chakras in the human body, each of which corresponds to a different area of life. Opening your chakra is a way to help heal yourself and others around you.

The first step is to identify which chakra needs healing and then find ways to open it. For example, if you are feeling depressed or anxious, it might be because your root chakra is blocked. To unblock your root chakra, you can meditate on earth energy, eat grounding foods such as potatoes or drink plenty of water.

1. Root Chakra

First Energy Center – Muladhara Chakra

Name in Sanskrit: Mula meaning “root” and Adhara meaning “support” or “base”
Location: The base of the spine, the pelvic floor, and the first three vertebrae.
Color: Red
Mantra: LAM
Element: Earth

The first chakra is the root chakra and it is located at the base of the spine in the perineum, which is just below the navel. The root chakra connects to the earth element and it has the job of grounding us.
The first chakra is also known as Muladhara, which means “root support”. It is where your energy starts to flow up, out of your feet, and into your body. This energy sustains us with life-force energy or prana. 

The Root Chakra governs our sense of stability, security, and power. When this chakra is balanced, we feel grounded and safe. When it’s out of balance, we can feel insecure or unstable. In order for a person to be healthy, they need to have a strong connection with this root chakra or else they will not be able to feel grounded and will be susceptible to emotional imbalances.

Signs of a blocked Muladhara Chakra

• Fear, panic, over-worrying, overthinking
• Slothfulness
• Depression, anxiety, negative energy
• Anger, rage, resentment 
• Lack of trust, emotional disconnect
• Lack of confidence

How to heal Root Chakra? Ways to open the Muladhara Energy Center

1. Inhale the aromas of Muladhara incense and essential oils

Aromatherapy offers powerful healing effects that help us feel comfortable and secure. Burn incense like sandalwood, cypress, cedarwood, rosewood, patchouli, cloves, black pepper, ginger or essential oils, candles to awaken the root energy center.

2. Repeat positive safety affirmations

Affirmations are useful for breaking old patterns and generating new ones. Repeat affirmations about safety to awaken the root chakra. Some examples are as follows:

• I am always safe.
• I love my body. 
• I am financially secure. 
• My home is safe and secure. 

3. Practice Yoga postures

Yoga asanas (postures) help to connect the spiritual and physical aspects of the body. Holding asanas while connecting to the breath helps to relieve tension and awaken the root energy center. Mountain, squat, warrior, goddess, and child’s pose are examples of such positions.

4. Meditating on root chakra

Meditation can be used to help you connect your body with the world around you. Try different meditations like simple root chakra meditation, lam-chanting meditation, grounding cord meditation, walking meditation, etc. to unblock root chakra.

5. Chanting Mantra

Each chakra has its own distinct sound. The root chakra’s sound is the seed sound ‘lam,’ which can have a tremendous effect of stimulating and awakening this energy center when chanted several times.

6. Reconnect with earth

To reconnect with the earth, you could practice mindful walking on grass, sand, or dirt while barefoot. Spending more time outdoors and connecting with the earth can also help.

2. Sacral Chakra

Second Energy Center – Svadhishthana Chakra

Sanskrit meaning: “Your own seat,” or “One’s own place.”
Location: Two inches south of the navel
Color: Orange
Mantra: VAM
Element: Water

The sacral chakra is the second of seven major energy centers in the body. This chakra is located in the lower abdomen and it regulates our creativity, emotion, sexual energy, and pleasure.

The sacral chakra is associated with water and it has been said that this center is the storehouse for all that we have learned since birth. It also controls our creativity and emotions. The sacral chakra’s element is water.

Signs of a blocked Svadisthana Chakra

• Creative blockages
• Toxicity in relationships
• Belief that one does not deserve love
• Feeling detached from one’s soul or self
• Belief that others do not care
• Block in motivation
• Lack of control around sexual urges, unhealthy sexual desires
• Insecurity
• Lack of emotion

How to heal Sacral Chakra? Ways to open the Svadhishthana Energy Center

1. Burn Svadhisthana incense and essential oils

Burning cleansing aromas like cardamom, eucalyptus, chamomile, spearmint, patchouli, ylang-ylang, rose, or clary sage can help open the sacral chakra.

2. Repeat personal power positive affirmations

We can reverse negative thinking patterns and replace them with constructive ones by repeating affirmations aloud, in our heads, or on paper. Try the below-listed affirmations to activate the sacral energy center

• As I take on new challenges, I feel calm, confident, and powerful.
• I feel motivated to pursue my purpose.
• I am ambitious and capable.
• I forgive myself for past mistakes, and I learn from them.
• The only thing I need to control is how I respond to situations.
• I have the courage to create positive change in my life.
• I stand in my personal power.

3. Practice postures that stabilize the sacral energy center

Poses like bound angle, squat, goddess, and happy baby help to bring the sacral chakra back into balance.

4. Chant Mantra

Meditation that activates the sacral chakra’s water element can be quite beneficial. Repeat the water element mantra “Vam” silently.

5. Reconnect with Water

The sacral chakra is associated with the water element and our ability to flow with the change. Spending time with water, such as going for a swim, sitting by the sea or a running stream, or taking a relaxing bath, might help you reconnect with this energy center. Watsu, a type of water-based therapy in which a person is gently held and led in water, can also be a powerful ritual for sacral healing.

3. Solar Plexus Chakra

Third Energy Center – Manipura Chakra

Sanskrit Meaning: Jewel city
Location: Navel
Colour: Yellow
Mantra: RAM
Element: Fire

The solar plexus region of the spine is located in the abdomen. It is often referred to as “the seat of our emotions” and is said to govern self-esteem and self-confidence.

It’s thought that when this chakra is unbalanced, we may feel insecure or have low self-esteem. The third chakra also governs our ability to make decisions and take action on those decisions.

Signs of a blocked Manipura Chakra

• Feeling powerless, lack of belief in oneself
• Feeling like a victim, blaming others for your failures or bad luck
• Trouble sleeping and have nightmares.
• Relinquishing one’s power to others
• Liver, pancreas, and stomach problems
• Aggressiveness
• Egoism

How to heal Manipura Chakra? Ways to open the Manipura Energy Center

1. Burn Manipura incense and essential oils

Burn saffron, musk, sandalwood, ginger, cinnamon incense, and essential oils to open the solar plexus.

2. Repeat positive affirmations about personal power

By repeating affirmations, either out loud, in our heads, or by writing them down, we help reverse negative thought patterns and replace them with constructive ones. Change the script by repeating affirmations like: 

3. Repeat positive affirmations about personal power

• As I take on new challenges, I feel calm, confident, and powerful.
• I feel motivated to pursue my purpose.
• I am ambitious and capable.
• I forgive myself for past mistakes, and I learn from them.
• The only thing I need to control is how I respond to situations.
• I have the courage to create positive change in my life.
• I stand in my personal power.

4. Practice Yoga

Focus on the inner fire or the belly in yoga activities such as sun salutations, boat pose, bow pose, and cobra pose to unblock this energy center.

5. Practice Meditation

Practice the editions like “breath of fire” (Bhastrika Pranayama) or” bellows breath” (Kapalabhati Pranayama) to activate the solar plexus energy center.

4. Heart Chakra

Fourth Energy Center – Anahata Chakra

Sanskrit meaning: “Unhurt,” unstruck, immaculate, unspoiled.
Location: Heart center
Color: Green
Mantra: YAM
Element: Air

The Anahata chakra is the fourth of seven energy centers in the human body. It is located in the center of the chest, in front of the spine.

The Anahata chakra has many different names, including The Heart Chakra, The Green Chakra, and The Love Chakra.

It is associated with many different concepts such as love, compassion, empathy, forgiveness, and understanding.

This article will explore some of these concepts and how they can be applied to your life.

Signs of a blocked Anahata Chakra

• Lack of compassion
• Unwillingness to let go of past relationships
• Holding onto grudges
• Lack of commitment, co-dependence and clinginess.
• Dysfunctional relationships
• Loneliness and isolation, closing off the heart/not letting people in
• Anxiety, stress

How to heal Anahata Chakra? Ways to open the Anahata Energy Center

1. Burn Anahata incense and essential oils

Burn rose, lavender, sandalwood, orange, and jasmine-scented essential oils, candles, or incense to open the heart energy center.

2. Repeat positive affirmations about love

Repeat affirmations that inspire love and compassion to open the heart chakra, such as:

• I welcome love with an open heart.
• My heart is free from all the wounds of the past.
• I forgive others, and I forgive myself.
• I am open to love and receive more of it every day.
• I naturally attract love everywhere I go.
• I create supportive, loving relationships that are good for me.

3. Practice Yoga postures that open the heart

Heart chakra opened by holding yoga poses with mindful breathing. Poses like an upward-facing dog, camel, and bridge open the Anahata chakra by driving the chest toward the sky.

4. Give love to receive love

Giving love is the best way to get it. Try smiling at the people you come across. Allow old grudges to be forgiven and old grievances to be forgotten. Don’t be harsh on yourself or others. Compliment those you know on their accomplishments and strengths. The heart chakra can be balanced by going out of your way to being kind to others.

5. Throat Chakra

Fifth Energy Center – Vishuddha Chakra

Name in Sanskrit: Vishuddha meaning “especially pure”
Location: The region of the throat, jaw, neck, mouth, and thyroid
Color: Blue
Mantra: HAM
Element: Ether (Space)

The 5th Charka is called the Throat chakra. It is located in the throat and it governs communication, creativity, and self-expression.

This energy center is associated with a lot of other things such as:

– Communication – Speech, language, and hearing

– Creativity – Imagination, intuition, and inspiration

– Self Expression – Self-expression through art or communication

Signs of a blocked Vishuddha Chakra

• Sore throat/neckx stiffness
• Shyness, feeling embarrassed or confused
• Temporomandibular (TMJ) syndrome
• Problems with the larynx and thyroid
• Fear of speaking out
• Unwillingness to use one’s voice or share one’s opinions

How to heal Vishuddha Chakra? Ways to open the Vishuddha Energy Center

1. Burn Vishuddha incense and essential oils. 

Burn ether incense, essential oils, and candles like frankincense, geranium, jasmine, sage, cypress, peppermint, eucalyptus, clove, tree tea, and lavender to unblock this energy center.

2. Repeat positive affirmations about authenticity.

Repeat affirmations that relate to authenticity and open communication to open the throat chakra. Here are some examples:

“I communicate confidently and with ease.”
“I feel comfortable speaking my mind.”
“I am balanced in speaking and listening.”
“I am an active listener.” 
“I speak my true thoughts with ease.”
“I set clear boundaries.”

3. Practice postures that activate the throat energy center

Executing asanas, while connecting to the breath helps alleviate tension and provide vitality to the throat and thyroid. Camel, plow, cat-cow with lion’s breath, shoulder stand, and fish position are all throat chakra poses. 

4. Mindfulness Meditation

Connecting with our inner truth begins with quieting the mind. Mindful breathing presents a way to calm thoughts by focusing attention on the breath. With each inhale, think to yourself: breathing in. Then, with each exhale, think to yourself: breathing out. When thoughts or distractions arise, observe them and let them calmly pass.

6. Third-Eye Chakra

Sixth Energy Center – Ajna Chakra

Name in Sanskrit: Ajna meaning “beyond wisdom”, Knowledge
Location: The space between the eyebrows
Color: Indigo
Mantra: OM/KSHAM
Element: Light

The third eye chakra is where intuition and insight come from. It is the center of our psychic awareness and the gateway to higher knowledge.

The third eye chakra is located in the middle of your forehead, just above your eyebrows. It is associated with wisdom and understanding, as well as seeing into other people’s thoughts, feelings, and motives.

Signs of a blocked Ajna Chakra

• Lack of intuition
• Difficulty concentrating or retaining information
• Being stuck in one “truth.
• Anxiety/fear of the unknown
• Lack of self-reflection
• Dualistic thinking feeling that the thoughts are “cloudy”
• Inability to stay present
• Abundance of daydreaming
• Headaches

How to heal Ajna Chakra? Ways to open the Ajna Energy Center 

1. Burn Ajna incense and essential oils

Burn essential oils, candles, or incense like bay laurel, palo santo, myrrh, Roman chamomile, nutmeg, sandalwood, and St. John’s Wort to open the third eye energy center.

2. Repeat positive affirmations about intuition and awareness

Repeat affirmations that relate to intuition, awareness, and insight to unblock this energy center. Here are some examples:

• I trust my intuition.
• I feel connected to my spiritual truth.
• I let me inner wisdom guide me.
• My thoughts are calm and peaceful.

3. Practice postures that open the third eye energy center

Yoga, which means union in Sanskrit, involves connecting the spiritual and physical of the body through postures, called asanas. Mindful breathing while holding asanas helps to release tension and activate the third eye chakra. Such poses include humble warrior, wide-legged forward bend, locust, camel, dolphin, and the oh-so-relaxing, child’s pose.

7. Crown Chakra

Seventh Energy Center – Sahasrara Chakra

Name in Sanskrit: Sahaswara meaning the thousand petal lotus
Location: The crown of the head
Color: White/violet
Mantra: OM
Element: Thought/all other elements

The Crown Chakra is the seventh chakra and the last one in the human body. It is located at the top of the head and it governs our spirituality, creativity, and wisdom.

The Crown Chakra is also known as Sahasrara. It is located at the top of our head and it governs our spirituality, creativity, wisdom, intuition, and insight.

Signs of a blocked Sahasrara Chakra

• Lack of intuition
• Feeling unconnected, detachment from reality, Isolation
• Egoism
• Headaches
• Fear of death/dying
• Lack of balance/coordination
• Mental disorders, trouble with memory

Bringing energy to this chakra while the other chakras aren’t fully developed can cause major issues.

How to heal Sahasrara Chakra? Ways to open the Sahasrara Energy Center 

1. Burn Sahaswara incense and essential oils

Burn enlightening aromas like myrrh, camphor, and frankincense to connect to this energy center.

2. Repeat positive affirmations about enlightenment and spiritual connection

To open the crown chakra, set aside time each day to repeat these affirmations out loud, in your head, or by writing them down. Below you can find some examples of affirmations to balance the crown chakra:

Set aside time each day to repeat positive affirmations aloud, in your brain, or on paper to awaken the crown chakra. Here are some examples of affirmations to help you balance your crown chakra:

• I feel connected to my higher self.
• I am an extension of the universe.
• I receive guidance from my higher self.
• I am complete with the divine.

3. Practice postures that stabilize the crown energy center

Asanas such as meditative poses include lotus or half-lotus, savasana, and tree pose. 

4. Reconnect with Your Innermost Self

Mindful breathing represents one form of meditation to help quiet the mind and open the crown energy center. Close the eyes while sitting in an upright crossed-legged position or laying on the back in a savasana pose. Focus on the breath as you breathe in and breathe out. As thoughts arise, observe them, and let them pass. Over time, you experience a sense of spirituality that exists as we connect to our divine selves.