Third Coast Yoga Studio

Chakra in Sanskrit means wheel or disk, and is a metaphor for the movement of energy (kundalini) within the body.  This movement of energy is like a spinning or vibrating wheel—akin to a vortex—that corresponds to nerves, organs, and glands on a human, physical plane.  Although the chakras are invisible, their presence can be felt as physical and/or psychological symptoms of ease or dis-ease.  In this respect, we can use the chakra metaphor as an indicator of health and well-Being.  When the energy flows freely throughout the eight main chakras, then health is optimal, and according to the Kundalini Yoga tradition, the “kundalini” can rise; when the kundalini rises, we are animated, radiant, and shine with a vital joy or passion for life.  We truly live in the present moment.  The goal of Kundalini yoga, then, is to balance and open the flow of the energy through the vibration of the chakras.  The Kundalini “technology” (kriyas, meditations, mudras, pranayamas, etc.) does just that.

The Chakra system is a metaphor in another sense: It mediates the human form (flesh, bones, blood, etc.) with the formlessness of the ever present cosmic or universal energy that vibrates within and though everything.  Think of the infinite energy of the universe—always moving, flowing, transforming—vibrating as the structuring principle of all matter (even modern physics acknowledges the “nothingness” at the heart of all atoms in the sub atomic particle theory).  Now, think of the finite movement within the human body (western medicine and science use the metaphor of multiple systems—circulatory, muscular, skeletal, respiratory, endocrine, nervous, digestive, etc.).  The Chakra system (as a metaphor of the way energy moves) links the finite, human kundalini energy with the infinite energy of the universe.  Ultimately, the Chakras represent the infinite within the finite.

Each vibrating chakra (often called energy center) relates to a specific frequency of sound and light as it corresponds to both the finite and infinite.  The lower chakras (referred to as the lower triad) have a more dense energy frequency (as symbolized in the petals of a lotus flower), while the upper chakras operate at a higher frequency of light and sound.  In this creative system metaphors abound!  See the chakra chart below for specific finite correspondences.

Meditate on the following mantras and affirmations to bring balance to your chakras:

1^st Root Chakra: Red Earth Energy

Sound: LAM
Affirmation: I have the right to be; I have the right to have

2^nd Sex Chakra: Orange Water Energy

Sound: VAM
Affirmation: I have the right to feel

3^rd Navel Chakra: Bright Yellow Firey Sun

Sound: RAM
Affirmation: I have the right to act; to step into my power

4^th Heart Chakra: Sparkling Emerald Green Heart Energy

Sound: YAM
Affirmation: I have the right to love and be loved

5^th Throat Chakra: Sky Blue Creative Energy

Sound: HAM
Affirmation: I have the right to speak my create truth

6^th Third Eye Chakra: Indigo Wisdom Energy

Sound: OM (ONG)
Affirmation: I have the right to See; to step into my intuition

7^th Crown Chakra: Rainbow Crystalline Light Energy

Sound: none
Affirmation: I AM Spirit (Wahe Guru)

8^th Aura: Protective Projective Energy

Sound: none
Affirmation: I am protected and connected to the Infinite; (Sat Nam)