Can Yoga Invoke Our Chakras

The real purpose of Chakras is still unknown to many. Know about Chakras and how Yoga invokes them with asana practice.

We often feel disconnected from ourselves or the world. The constant mood change, low confidence, feeling of being unhappy, might indicate misaligned energy system of the Chakras.

Chakras or the spinning wheel of the energy, if not aligned or balanced, can contribute to emotional or physical agitation.

Chakra is not an unknown term to us. It has become a popular topic in the modern age of alternative medicine – yoga. We surely are aware of the term Chakras, but restrict it to the physical definition, obscuring its real functioning and purpose.

What is Chakra?

Chakra is a Sanskrit word that means wheel or disk.

Chakras or wheel is a prana or energy center, a whirlwind of energy in our subtle body. Forming a straight line from the base of the spine to the crown of the head, these Chakras are located in the physical counterparts of the body like arteries, nerves, and veins.

The seven major Chakras are responsible for physiological functioning and emotional experiences. When it gets stuck or blocked, it impacts physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual wellbeing.

Yoga for Chakras

Yoga is an ideal practice to release the energy blockage in the system through asanas, pranayama, and dhyana practice. Yoga poses are the most preferred way to invoke the energies of the chakras to balance it and to awaken and open the deeper aspects of life.

Root Chakra or Muladhara Chakra: Located at the pelvic region and the base of the spine, it is a foundational Chakra which if blocked, can make you fall sick.

Poses to invoke the Root Chakra:

Child Pose or Balasana

Kneel on the floor with toes together, and knees kept hip-width apart.
Exhale and lower down the torso and sit on your feet, keeping hips over heels.
Inhale and stretch the arms upward, exhale and bend the torso forward folding from the hips.
Make sure your chest touches the knees, abdomen is pressed by thighs, and the forehead rests on the mat.
Your hands should be placed in front of you, over the head, and hold the pose for a minute.

Mountain Pose or Tadasana

Stand straight on the mat with hands beside the body and feet slightly apart.
Your palms should be open and then relax your shoulders.
Breathe deeply, focus on your energetic connection with self, and hold the pose for a while.
Sacral Chakra or Savadhisthana Chakra: Located just above the pubic bone and below the navel, the Chakra houses creativity, sensuality, career, money, pleasure. If out of balance, you may feel discomfort.

Pose to invoke the Sacral Chakra:

Goddess Pose or Utkata Konasana

Stand straight with hands placed beside the body and feet kept 3-4 feet apart.
Now turn your feet outward and then bend your knees in such a way that the thighs should become parallel to the ground.
Now join your palms in Anjali Mudra and pull your shoulders backward.
Fix gaze forward, breathe normally, and hold the pose for 30-60 seconds.

Revolved Triangle Pose or Parivrrta Trikonasana

Assume Pyramid Pose and keep your legs 3-4 feet apart.
Ensure that the right foot is placed outward at a 90-degree angle and left inward at a 60-degree angle.
Exhale and turn the torso towards the right, lean forward over the right leg, and place the left hand on the floor.
Now stretch the right hand upward, ensuring the arms are placed in a straight line.
Your head should turn upward, and gaze should be fixed on the right-hand thumb.
Hold the pose for 30 seconds, release, and repeat the same steps on the other side.
Solar Plexus Chakra or Manipura Chakra: Located above the navel up to the breastbone, the imbalance of Chakra affects the organ functioning of the abdomen region.

Poses to invoke the Solar Plexus Chakra:

Boat Pose or Navasana

Lie down on the mat on your back with legs together and hands beside the body.
Now lift your head, neck, chest, and abdomen with the support of your arms.
Then lift the lower body, and bring the balance on your hips.
Extend the arms forward, breathe deeply, and hold the pose for 30 seconds.
Learn the modification of this pose during yoga and Ayurveda courses Kerala.

Sun Salutation

Known to be a complete asana practice in itself, Sun Salutation or Surya Namaskar comprises of 12 powerful poses for overall wellbeing. Practice two series of Surya Namaskar to fire up the core in a dynamic way.

Heart Chakra or Anahata Chakra: Located around the heart, the Chakra represents love, kindness and compassion, and imbalance of the Chakra results in negative behavior, unstable emotions, and health problems.

Poses to invoke the Heart Chakra:

Eagle Pose or Garudasana

Assume Tadasana, and then bend your knees.
Balance the bodyweight on your right foot as you cross your left thigh over the right thigh.
Look forward and then extend your arms in front of you, fold them from the elbow, and wrap them together with palms pressing each other.
Hold the pose for 30-40 seconds, release, and repeat the same steps switching the sides.

Backbends

Open your heart and avail all the big benefits of it with amazing backbend yoga poses. Try Anhatasana, Chakra Asana, Salabhasana, Setu Bandha Sarvangasana, Purvottanasana, Padangusthasa Dhanurasana, Matsyendrasana, and more.

Throat Chakra or Vishuddha Chakra: Known as the first spiritual Chakra and is associated with self-expression, communication, and understanding. Imbalance of the Chakra leads to the bad throat, thyroid, and affect mouth, jaw, and neck.

Poses to invoke the Throat Chakra:

Rabbit Pose or Sasakasana

From child pose, you can go into Rabbit pose. You need to bring the hands back and hold your heels.
Now try to pull the forehead towards the knees while placing the crown of the head on the floor.
Inhale and lift the hips upward, roll the crown of the head, press the forehead as close to knees as possible, and hold it for 20-30 seconds.

Easy Pose or Sukhasana

Sit on the mat with legs stretched outward, spine straight, and hands beside the body.
Now fold your legs inward to sit in a cross-legged position.
Close your eyes, take a deep breath, and place your hands over the knees.
Ensure hands should be straight and palm should be in Gyan mudra
Relax and stay in the pose for a minute. You can also chant mantras.

Third Eye Chakra or Ajna Chakra: Ajna means beyond wisdom, and this Chakra is known as the second spiritual chakra located between and just above the eyebrows. Invisible to the human eye, the Chakra is strong and is also known as the sixth sense.

Poses to invoke the Third Eye Chakra:

Dolphin Pose or Ardha Pincha Mayurasana

Lie on the mat on your stomach, and then come on your hands and knees.
Your wrist should be under the shoulders and knees under your hips.
Now lower the elbow and place it on the floor below the shoulders.
Lift your knees off the floor and bring the body balance on your arms and toes.
Place the crown of the head on the floor and ensure that your upper arms are touching your ears.
Fix your gaze towards naval and hold the pose for 30-40 seconds.

Shoulder Stand or Salamba Sarvangasana

Lie on your back with legs together and hands beside the body.
Now shift your hands and place them on your back for the support.
Slowly and gently lift your legs, hips, and back, and then straighten your spine and legs.
Shift the body weight on the shoulders and upper arms.
Do not support your body on your neck or head.
Your body forms a straight line till shoulder; hold the pose for 30 seconds, and then release.

Crown Chakra or Sahasrara Chakra: The final Chakra, which is located on the top of the body- crown of the head. It is the third spiritual chakra and is connected to enlightenment. Meditation is considered the best practice to evoke the Chakra.

Padmasana or Lotus Pose

Sit on the mat with a straight spine and legs stretched out.

Now bend the knees and place each foot on the opposite thigh.

Make sure your soles point upward and heels placed close to the abdomen.

Now you sit in a crossed-leg position and then place your hands over the knee in a mudra of your choice.

Breathe, relax, hold for a minute, release, and repeat the steps with the other leg on top.

You can also meditate for a while sitting in the pose.

Headstand or Sirasana

Follow similar steps as Shoulder stand.
Once you start lifting the upper back, do it gently and prevent putting weight on your neck and head instantly.
Your weight should be managed by your forearms. Hold the pose for as long as you can.

Practice the above mentioned asanas to keep your Chakras balanced and aligned. The poses also help you to achieve good health and attain a positive mindset. If you wish to learn more about the Chakras then, you can be a part of Chakra healing retreats, yoga retreats, and Ayurveda beauty treatment courses in Kerala.

Balance and align the Chakras, evoke them with the powerful tool of yoga asana. You’ll be able to feel more connected to self and divine and bring a sense of harmony and balance into your life.

Can Yoga Invoke Our Chakras?