Introduction

Hello and welcome! Today, we’re diving into some yoga philosophy by exploring the seven chakras. Whether you’re new to this or have some experience, this post is here to welcome you with an quick and easy-to-understand guide.

To make things easy, I’ve put together a simple chakra “cheat sheet” that highlights each of the seven chakras along with their core themes, functions, and qualities. Think of it as your go-to reference and something you can return to whenever you want a refresher or feel curious about what’s happening in your energetic centers.

In future posts, I may dive deeper into each chakra individually, because there’s so much to explore. For now, I hope this overview offers a helpful starting point. So, let’s get into it!

What Are the 7 Chakras?

The idea of chakras comes from ancient Indian spiritual traditions, where they’re described as subtle energy centers that influence our emotional, physical, and spiritual well-being. The word chakra actually comes from Sanskrit and translates to “wheel,” “circle,” or “lotus.” These energy centers are said to bridge the gap between our physical form and our more subtle, energetic self. There are seven main chakras, starting at the base of the spine and rising all the way up to the crown of the head.

Each chakra is associated with specific areas of the body, as well as particular emotional themes and energetic qualities. In yoga philosophy, the flow of prana, our life force, is influenced by how open and balanced these energy centers are. When our chakras are aligned, we tend to feel grounded, inspired, and in tune with ourselves. When one of them is blocked or out of balance, it can show up as anything from emotional tension to physical discomfort.

Because of this, many people use the chakra system as a roadmap for self-awareness. It offers a way to understand where we might feel stuck and how we can reconnect with a sense of harmony within ourselves.

The 7 Chakras

1. Root Chakra (Muladhara)

Pronunciation

Overview

• Sanskrit Meaning: Root Support
• Color: Red
• Element: Earth
• Location: Base of the spine
• Associated Parts of the Body: The adrenal glands
• Balanced: Grounding and safety
• Unbalanced: Insecurity, anxiety or worry
• Asana Category: Standing poses

Summary

The Root Chakra, Muladhara, is the first of the seven chakras and sits at the base of your spine. It’s connected to the color red and relates to your feet, legs, large intestines, and adrenal glands. This chakra represents your basic needs as a human being.

When your Root chakra is balanced, you’ll feel grounded, secure, and connected. When it’s off, you might experience anxiety, insecurity, overthinking, or a general sense of disconnection. It can even show up physically as leg or foot pain, bladder issues, or circulation problems.

To help rebalance it, try adding more root vegetables into your life, and use grounding affirmations like “I feel safe” or “All of my needs are being met.” Standing poses such as Mountain, Tree, Warrior I & II, and High Lunge, as well as seated poses like Easy Seat, Bound Angle, and Seated Forward Fold, also help.

Balancing this chakra is all about helping yourself feel secure, steady, safe, grounded, and rooted.

2. Sacral Chakra (Svadhisthana)

Pronunciation

Overview

• Sanskrit Meaning: One’s own base
• Color: Orange
• Element: Water
• Location: Pelvic Area
• Associated Parts of the Body: The reproductive and uinary systems
• Balanced: Pleasure and creativity
• Unbalanced: Uncreative, unmotivated, lacking joy, or dysfunction in relationships
• Asana Category: Hip openers

Summary

The Sacral Chakra, Svadhisthana, is the second chakra and sits just below your navel in the pelvic area. It’s connected to the color orange and relates to your reproductive organs, bladder, creativity, and pleasure.

When your Sacral Chakra is balanced, you’ll feel creative and connected in your relationships. When it’s off, you might notice low self-esteem, lack of inspiration, relationship challenges, or compulsive habits. Physically, it can show up as PMS discomfort, bladder issues, constipation, fatigue, or hip pain.

To help rebalance it, try adding more naturally orange foods to your day and ensure you’re staying hydrated, as this chakra is associated with the water element. Affirmations like “I accept and love myself as I am” or “My relationships are thriving” can also support the healing process. Yoga poses that open the hips, such as Pigeon, Goddess, and Bound Angle, are especially helpful.

Balancing this chakra is about reconnecting with creativity, pleasure, and joy.

3. Solar Plexus Chakra (Manipura)

Pronunciation

Overview

• Sanskrit Meaning: Jewel city
• Color: Yellow
• Element: Fire
• Location: Upper abdomen (above the navel)
• Associated Body Parts: The digestive system
• Balanced: Confidence and passion
• Unbalanced: Low self-esteem or no willpower
• Asana Category: Twists

Summary

The Solar Plexus Chakra, Manipura, is the third chakra and lives in your upper abdomen, right above the navel. Represented by the color yellow, this chakra is about your personal power, confidence, self-worth, motivation, and inner fire.

When your Solar Plexus is balanced, you feel empowered, driven, and capable of taking on whatever life throws your way. But when it’s out of balance, you might struggle with low self-esteem, self-doubt, or a lack of willpower. Physically, an imbalanced Solar Plexus can show up as digestive issues, ulcers, unhealthy weight, or liver concerns.

To help bring this chakra back into harmony, try incorporating more naturally yellow, nutrient-rich foods. Support your inner fire with affirmations like “I always act with courage and confidence” or “I take positive action toward my goals every day.” Yoga poses that strengthen your core and build heat, such as Warrior I, II, and III, Goddess, Plank, Chair, and Boat, are especially beneficial for this chakra.

Balancing Manipura is really about reconnecting with your personal power and stepping boldly into who you are with unshakeable confidence.

4. Heart Chakra (Anahata)

Pronunciation

Overview

• Sanskrit Meaning: Unstuck
• Color: Green
• Element: Air
• Location: Heart
• Associated Body Parts: The heart, lungs, circulatory system, and immune system.
• Balanced: Love and compassion
• Unbalanced: Loneliness, apathy, or jealousy
• Asana Category: Back bends and side bends

Summary

The Heart Chakra, Anahata, is the fourth chakra and rests right in the center of your chest. It’s associated with the color green and connects to your heart, lungs, circulatory system, and immune health. This chakra is all about love, love for yourself, for others, and for the world around you, as well as compassion, joy, and gratitude.

When your Heart chakra is balanced, you’ll feel open, connected, and able to both give and receive love with ease. Relationships tend to flow more harmoniously, and self-love comes more naturally. When it’s out of balance, you might notice loneliness, jealousy, relationship struggles, or difficulty forgiving yourself or others. Physically, it may show up as asthma, lung or heart issues, or tightness in the chest and shoulders.

To help rebalance this chakra, try incorporating more naturally green fruits and vegetables into your diet. Heart-centered affirmations such as “I give and receive love easily” or “I forgive myself and others with ease” can also be grounding and healing. Yoga poses that open the chest, such as Camel, Cobra, Bridge, and Dancer, are especially supportive for encouraging openness and emotional release.

Balancing this chakra is all about softening into love, both for yourself and for those around you.

5. Throat Chakra (Vishuddha)

Pronunciation

Overview

• Sanskrit Meaning: Very pure
• Color: Blue
• Element: Sound
• Location: Throat
• Associated Body Parts: The thyroid
• Balanced: Communication and listening
• Unbalanced: Miscommunication, gossiping, or inexpressiveness
• Asana Category: Forward folds

Summary

The Throat Chakra, Vishuddha, is the fifth chakra and is located right in the center of your throat. Connected to the color blue, it relates to your thyroid, communication, self-expression, and your ability to listen to others.

When your Throat Chakra is balanced, communicating feels natural, you speak with confidence, express yourself clearly, and listen with compassion. When it’s out of balance, you might struggle to say what you mean, find yourself gossiping, or feel blocked when trying to express your thoughts. Physically, imbalances can show up as neck tension, thyroid concerns, jaw pain, dental issues, or frequent sore throats.

To help bring this chakra back into harmony, consider adding more blue-hued foods to your diet. Some examples include blueberries, blackberries, grapes, plums, and soothing herbs like licorice. Increasing your liquid intake, herbal teas, water, and nourishing soups can also support the throat. Ground yourself with affirmations such as “I communicate easily and clearly” or “I listen with compassion.” Yoga poses that open the throat and chest, such as Bridge, Camel, Bow, Cobra, and Cow, are especially helpful.

Balancing this chakra is all about finding your voice, speaking your truth, and feeling heard.

6. Third Eye Chakra (Ajna)

Pronunciation

Overview

• Sanskrit Meaning: To percieve
• Color: Indigo
• Element: Light
• Location: Between the eyebrows
• Associated Body Parts: The endocrine system.
• Balanced: Calm and focused
• Unbalanced: Unimaginative, distracted, or closed-minded
• Asana Category: Balance

Summary

The Third Eye Chakra, Ajna, is located in the space between your eyebrows and is associated with the color indigo and the endocrine system. It represents intuition, imagination, wisdom, and mental clarity.

When your Third Eye Chakra is balanced, you’re more open to learning from your experiences, trusting your intuition, and seeing life with clarity. When it’s out of balance, you might struggle with focus, goal-setting, imagination, or even feel stuck in narrow-minded thinking. Physically, you may notice headaches, eye strain, vision issues, anxiety, or mental fatigue.

To help rebalance Ajna, try including more naturally purple foods in your meals, along with antioxidant-filled and omega-3-rich foods to support brain health. Affirmations such as “I am open to guidance and inspiration” or “I learn from every experience” can help strengthen this chakra. Yoga poses that calm and center the mind, like Tree, Easy Pose, Child’s Pose, Pigeon, and Savasana, are especially supportive.

Balancing this chakra represents deepening your intuition, expanding your imagination, and reconnecting with inner wisdom.

7. Crown Chakra (Sahasrara)

Pronunciation

Overview

• Sanskrit Meaning: Thousand petals
• Color: Violet
• Element: Thought or spirit
• Location: Crown of the head and beyond
• Associated Body Parts: The brain and central nervous sytem
• Balanced: Peace, connection, and consciousness
• Unbalanced: Disconnection, depression, worry, stress, apathy, or isolation
• Asana Category: Inversions and meditation

Summary

The Crown Chakra, Sahasrara, is the seventh chakra and rests at the very top of your head, extending upward into the spiritual or energetic realm. It’s connected to the color violet and relates to inner peace, intuition, and your sense of connection with life, the Universe, or a Higher Power.

When your Crown Chakra is balanced, you’ll feel deeply peaceful, spiritually connected, and guided by something bigger than yourself. Your faith feels steady, and there’s a sense of trust and purpose in everything you do. When it’s out of balance, you may feel disconnected, depressed, overwhelmed, stressed, or apathetic. Physically, this can show up as migraines, insomnia, fatigue, or general mental fog.

To help rebalance it, try eating lighter foods and staying well-hydrated with water, herbal teas, or nourishing broths. Gentle detox practices, such as healthy intermittent fasting, may also support clarity. Affirmations like “I am connected and one with the Universe” or “I am pure light and love” can help shift your energy. Yoga poses like Plow, Seated Forward Fold, Mountain, Child’s Pose, Easy Pose, and Savasana are especially grounding and supportive.

Balancing this chakra is all about connecting to peace, clarity, and a sense of divine presence.

Conclusion

I hope today’s post helped you gain a better understanding of your chakras and provided a clearer insight into how these energy centers can influence your everyday life. We have only scratched the surface here since chakra wisdom and yoga philosophy delve much deeper. Most of what I shared in this post comes from my YogaRenew training and the book The 7 Chakras by Alex Toro, both of which I highly recommend if you’re curious to explore more.

The chakra system is such a beautiful place to begin if you’re looking to support your emotional or spiritual well-being. With more and more studies showing how our thoughts, self-talk, and energy affect our physical health, it’s becoming easier to see why this work matters. If one of these chakras really spoke to you, I hope this guide sparked a few ideas for where to start on your own healing path.

Above all, trust yourself and your intuition. You already carry inner wisdom about what you need mentally, physically, and spiritually. Your healing is your own, and always remember, you’re exactly where you’re supposed to be.

One last thing, I want to give a big shout-out and heartfelt thank-you to my beautiful friend Ellie for creating the amazing artwork featured throughout this post. If you’d like to show her some support you can find her on Instagram @elliegrvce.

As always, thank you for taking the time and energy to read this post. I hope to see you in the next one. Namaste.