The 7 chakras and how to unlock them

Translating from Hindi as “wheel of spinning energy”, the word ‘chakra’ derived from Sanskrit. Explained simply as each Chakra being a wheel of energy, they are lined in a row of 7 radiating from the ‘root’ at the base of your spine, to your ‘crown’ found on top of the head. In this article, we explore how to open and truly balance your chakras.

Each of the seven Chakras throughout the body corresponds to a nerve center, in addition to being highly influential regarding our state of mind, emotions and physical wellness.  When feeling happy, relaxed and healthy, your chakras will all be flowing as they should. However, chakras have the potential to become blocked in times of stress and ill-health, resulting in your feeling emotionally and physically unbalanced.

The 7 Chakras

Here we will be going into more detail about the 7 Chakras and how to open each individual one:

Chakra 1 – The Root

Located at the very bottom of your spine, the Root, or Muladhara as its officially referred to, is red in colour. Due to being the closest chakra to the earth, the Root represents stability and security and it is what grounds you as a person.

What your Root Chakra does

You will know when your Root Chakra is open due to feeling safe, secure and confident. Experiencing feelings of paranoia and instability in addition to worrying about things in your everyday life such as money and work, may mean that the Root Chakra is blocked or overworked.

Effects of an overworked Root Chakra

Digestive problems, lower back pain, and emotional instability are all common issues caused by an overworked Root Chakra.

How to open your Root Chakra

if you believe to be experiencing symptoms of an overworked Root Chakra, it is best to try and address the cause of this. Participating in daily meditation or yoga is a great way to calm the mind, in addition to connecting with the earth and relaxing the body; pick up a yoga mat and breathe your worries away.

Chakra 2 – The Sacral

Better known as the “Navel” or, officially, the Svadhisthana Chakra, the Sacral is located below the belly button and is orange in colour. Associated with pleasure, this Chakra relates to feelings and emotions caused by subjects including excellent food, and sex. 

What your Sacral Chakra does

Feeling happy and comfortable with life is a good indication that your Sacral Chakra is balanced, as well as feelings of acceptance that you are enjoying life as you should be.

Effects of an overworked Sacral Chakra

There’s no doubt that enjoying life’s pleasures is a positive thing, but sometimes there is the potential for us as humans to over-do it. Adverse effects of an imbalanced or overworked Sacral Chakra include greed and addiction, subsequently with the result of possible weight gain and sometimes, insomnia.

How to open your Sacral Chakra

There is the possibility for this Chakra to be underworked, which may be the result of not enjoying life as much as usual due to stress or lack of time. Symptoms such as lack of passion, depression, and low sex drive can all be good indicators that your Sacral Chakra may be underworked. To get yourself back on the right track in terms of opening the Chakra is simple, all you need to do is concentrate on living life to its full potential, focussing on enjoying great food, love making and embracing adventure whenever possible.

Chakra 3 – The Solar Plexus

The Solar Plexus, or, officially, the Manipura Chakra is located in between the top of your belly button and the bottom of the chest. Your identity, self-confidence and personal drive to live and thrive all come from this Chakra.

What your Solar Plexus Chakra does

When balanced, your Solar Plexus Chakra will give you feelings of determination, knowledge, and decisiveness about the direction you want life to take you.

Effects of an overworked Solar Plexus Chakra

Although confidence is key to a successful and fulfilling life, overconfidence has the potential to be damaging. When overworked, this Chakra may result in you being short tempered, selfish and at times, controlling to others.

How to open your Solar Plexus Chakra

If you are feeling tired and insecure, your Solar Plexus Chakra may be underactive. This may result in you appearing shy, and under confident in social situations. Reassuring your body and mind of your talents can be key to opening this Chakra. Creating personal targets to work towards to help remind yourself what you excel in can be a great help.

Chakra 4 – The Heart

The Heart, or Anahata, Chakra is obviously located near the heart and is green in colour. Love, kindness, and compassion all thrive from this area. An important quality of the Heart Chakra is its teachings about not only love for others but also loving ourselves.

What your Heart Chakra does

The Heart Chakra is simple. When balanced, feelings of compassion and love towards yourself and others will be apparent.

Effects of an overworked Heart Chakra

If overworked, the Heart Chakra may cause you to be too selfless, resulting in you always putting others needs ahead of your own. Common symptoms associated with an overworked Heart Chakra are heart palpitations and heartburn.

How to open your Heart Chakra

If your heart Chakra is closed, you may feel yourself being reluctant to let people into your life, mind, and emotions. It is also possible for physical problems to be caused including circulation issues, which may end up resulting in you feeling or acting ‘cold-hearted’. To make sure that the Chakra returns to its optimal, balanced state, try treating yourself to some you-time, doing an activity that relaxes your mind. Participating in a light activity such as yoga can be great for the heart and mind, so why not pick up a pair of comfy yoga pants and attending a local class.

Chakra 5 – The Throat

The Throat Chakra, or the Vishuddha Chakra as it’s formally referred to, is located between the collar bone and is purple in colour. The Throat Chakra, on both a physical and emotional level, is what provides you with a unique, personal voice.

What your Throat Chakra does

Your Throat Chakra helps you to present your opinion and advice to others, allowing you to speak with kindness and compassion.

Effects of an overworked Throat Chakra

Struggling to have your opinion heard one of the usual causes of an overworked Throat Chakra. The result of this may cause to you to become more abrupt, and often louder in volume.  Physical symptoms of an overworked Throat Chakra may also be present, sometimes including throat pain and mouth ulcers.

How to open your Throat Chakra

A common symptom of a Throat Chakra being out of balance is the feeling of wanting to remind unnoticed, particularly when in a room filled with others. Although you may feel this way, the best way to open that Chakra back up again is to do the opposite. Thriving on charisma, the Throat Chakra will only fall back into balance by voicing your opinion.

Chakra 6 – The Third Eye

The Third Eye Chakra, also known as the Aina, is located between the eyebrows. Translating to ‘beyond wisdom’, the Third Eye helps you to focus on perceptions beyond the physical world, relating to psychic energy and intuition.

What your Third Eye does

One of the most powerful in the body, when balanced the Chakra allows you to feel at peace with both the physical world and material.

Effects of an overworked Third Eye

Because most us are unable to harness the power of the Third Eye, it’s rare for the Chakra to fall out the balance, or to become overworked. However, being involved in regular psychic centered activities may cause symptoms such as feeling distracted from real life. Taking time to rediscover yourself in the world can be a helpful way to ensure your Chakra is rebalanced once more.

How to open your Third Eye

With immense dedication, it’s possible to find the ability to open your Third Eye by activities such as regular meditation, in which you can discover your inner spirituality.

Chakra 7 – The Crown

The Crown Chakra or the Sahaswara as it is formally known is located on top of your head. Representing all the energy we see and feel, the Crown Chakra goes beyond the bounds of our being.

What your Crown Chakra does

The opening of the Crown Chakra is seen as the same thing as reaching ‘enlightenment’ in Buddhist terms. Although for most people this feels like a completely unattainable task, the path to enlightenment is what keeps our bodies happy and healthy, no matter whether we achieve to end goal or not.

Effects of an overworked Crown Chakra

To many people’s disbelief, the Crown Chakra is the one energy point on the body that is impossible to overwork.

How to open your Crown Chakra

Instead of focussing straight away on the end goal of achieving enlightenment, try focussing on opening and completely balancing all the other Chakras on the body, first. Although next to nobody is seen to full reach enlightenment, the journey you will take your body on while trying to get there is more than worth it.

No matter what type of lifestyle you are living, open, free-flowing Chakras are key to a balanced, happy existence. Try our useful tips on how to keep the Chakras in balance for a healthier and happier future.