Your Complete Guide To The Body Chakras

Chakras, meaning “wheel” or “disk” in Sanskrit, are thought to be portals through which the main energetic channels of the body flow.

There are more than 72,000 energetic channels in the body called nadis (pronounced “nah-dees”), according to Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, global activist and founder of the Art of Living Foundation. Similar to veins carrying blood through the body, nadis are pathways carrying vital life force energy, often referred to as “prana,” throughout your entire being, according to practitioners of the chakra system.

There are three major nadis involved in the discussion of chakras: ida, pingala and sushumna. These nadis run up and down the spine in a DNA-like helix, and chakras form where these three nadis intersect.

Although there are more than 100 chakras in the body, seven main chakras align on the axis from the base of the spine to the top, or crown, of the head, and these chakras are what most people refer to when discussing the chakras.

History of Chakras

The concept of chakras is an ancient one. Originating in India, chakras were first mentioned in the Vedas, ancient yogic and spiritual texts, between 500 and 1500 BCE (though some Indian scholars believe the system can be traced back even further). The chakra system is closely linked to the practice and teachings of both yoga and Ayurveda, an ancient traditional medicine system.

“The Vedic way of life was all gathered by observation and intuitive knowledge,” says Shankar. “It’s amazing how [ancient peoples] could feel the connection between the microcosm and the macrocosm in those days—how stars, planets and the nadis/chakras in the body are connected.”

The purpose of chakras is to maintain the free flow of energy in our bodies, which explains the translation of chakra as a “wheel” or “cycle.”

“Chakras are electromagnetic vortices that take in and redistribute subtle life force energy in and around the body,” says Damla Aktekin, inner child energetic wound healer and founder of A Drop of Om. “Understanding this system can give you a roadmap for what areas of your body and your life need attention and care right now.”

Each of the chakras is associated with nerve bundles, organs or glands in the particular area in which they’re located. As such, they not only affect the physical functionality of that region but also may influence an individual’s emotional and spiritual state.

What Is a Blocked Chakra?

When a chakra is balanced, energy flows freely throughout the body. However, when the free flow of energy is blocked in a chakra, which can occur due to certain lifestyles, experiences, physical environments and more, imbalance occurs. If a chakra is obstructed, a person may exhibit physical and emotional manifestations of the imbalance.

It’s unhealthy for the chakras to be either completely blocked or continuously overflowing with energy—balance is the goal. However, when a non-life-affirming (stressful or traumatic) event occurs related to a particular chakra, that chakra begins to work faster to try to resolve the issue.

“When your nervous system goes into a fight, flight or freeze mode, your heart beats faster and your blood flow increases,” says Aktekin. “Your chakra system mimics this [reaction] on an energetic level by going into an overactive state and increases its rotation and activity where necessary.”

For example, imagine you find yourself in the aftermath of a car accident in which you were unharmed. You would still need to talk (thereby activating your throat chakra) to explain the situation to a police officer. Afterward, you most likely would feel like you didn’t want to talk anymore (which indicates throat chakra energy depletion) and would probably want to lie down and rest (energy depletion in all your chakras), explains Aktekin.

“Over time, if the chakra keeps rotating at an unusually fast pace, it eventually breaks down and slows to a depleted rotation, even appearing as not rotating,” says Aktekin. “This means that chakra will then try to take energy from the other healthy rotating chakras, which means a complete depletion and an almost stopped motion in the entire chakra system.” This extremely slowed movement is what most people refer to as a “blocked chakra,” but Aktekin prefers to call them “not fully flowing” chakras.

“In an ideal case, you want to have a flowing and resilient chakra system that knows when to open or close—rotate or not rotate too much—and doesn’t get stuck in a certain position creating imbalances,” says Aktekin. A lack of flow within the chakras can manifest as heaviness, discomfort, numbness and occasionally as pain in the body, she adds.

Pain or discomfort in an area of the body might correspond to an area of your life that isn’t flowing or functioning optimally, according to Aktekin. The stagnation manifesting physically due to a blocked chakra can begin to affect other areas of life as well, such as interpersonal relationships and career performance.

“Your emotions are felt and stored in your body, including complex emotional patterns related to traumas and stresses of your life,” says Aktekin. “These patterns of emotions may not be currently helping your life, especially if they require too much energy from your nervous system and energy body (chakras). These places of discomfort and pain are amazing opportunities for finding other ways to engage with life.”

In other words, unprocessed emotions may turn into physically stored symptoms. Because of this connection, chakras can be an important part of your inner guidance system.

Awareness and understanding of the chakras can lead to a more holistic understanding of the connection between the physical, emotional and energetic body.

The Seven Chakras

The seven main chakras correspond to specific places in the body. Together, they create a symbolic energetic healing roadmap. Each chakra has specific attributes, such as a corresponding number, element, sense, color and more.

The Root Chakra (Muladhara)

The root chakra, Muladhara, meaning “base support” in Sanskrit, is located at the base of the spine, encompassing the sacrum, pelvic floor and first three spinal vertebrae. It’s associated with survival, physical stability, grounding and more.

Attributes of the Root Chakra

Color: Red

Sense: Smell

Element: Earth

Function: Grounding

Developmental age: 0 to 2 years old

Body parts affected: Hips, legs, feet, bones, teeth, adrenals

What it governs: Physical safety and security, feeling safe in the body, ancestral roots, DNA

Affirmation: “I am”

Signs of a blocked root chakra include:

• Weight problems
• Constipation
• Degenerative arthritis
• Osteoporosis
• Lack of enthusiasm, purpose or ambition
• Insecurity
• Anxiety
• Fear

The Sacral Chakra (Svadhisthana)

The sacral chakra, Svadhisthana, meaning “sweetness” in Sanskrit, is located in the lower abdomen (midway between the navel and perineum). It’s associated with sexuality and emotions.

Attributes of the Sacral Chakra

Color: Orange

Sense: Taste

Element: Water

Function: Creation, procreation

Developmental age: 2 to 5 years old

Body parts affected: Genitals, womb, kidney, bladder, circulatory system

What it governs: Desire, pleasure, sexuality, creativity, emotions

Affirmation: “I feel”

Signs of a blocked sacral chakra include:

• Uterine, bladder or kidney issues
• Stiff lower back
• Impotence
• Irritability
• Repressed sexuality
• Jealousy
• Lack of inspiration

The Solar Plexus Chakra (Manipura)

The solar plexus chakra, Manipura, meaning “lustrous gem” or “city of jewels” in Sanskrit, is located between the navel and diaphragm and is associated with personal power.

Attributes of the Solar Plexus Chakra

Color: Yellow

Sense: Sight

Element: Fire

Function: Will, assertiveness

Developmental age: 5 to 7 years old

Body parts affected: Digestive system, pancreas, muscles

What it governs: Personal power, being an individual, discovering you can do things, shining your own unique light

Affirmation: “I can”

Signs of a blocked solar plexus chakra include:

• Digestive problems
• Muscle weakness
• Ulcers
• Diabetes
• Liver issues
• Poor self-esteem
• Perfectionism
• Egotism

The Heart Chakra (Anahata)

The heart chakra, Anahata, meaning “unhurt” in Sanskrit, is located in the middle of the chest next to the physical heart and is associated with love.

Attributes of the Heart Chakra

Color: Green

Sense: Touch

Element: Air

Function: Compassion, love

Developmental age: 7 to 9 years old

Body parts affected: Lungs, heart, arms, hands

What it governs: Loving and being loved, giving and receiving, compassion, being part of a community or group of friends (including collective grief)

Affirmation: “I love”

Signs of a blocked heart chakra include:

• Asthma
• Heart disease or lung disease
• High blood pressure
• Poor emotional boundaries
• Fear of rejection
• Self-sabotage

The Throat Chakra (Vishuddah)

The throat chakra, Vishuddah, meaning “purification” in Sanskrit, is located in the throat and is associated with communication.

Attributes of the Throat Chakra

Color: Blue

Sense: Hearing

Element: Sound

Function: Communication, gratitude

Developmental age: 9 to 13 years old

Body parts affected: Entire throat region, thyroid, neck, shoulders

What it governs: Listening and being heard, refined artistic expression, creating your reality through your words, voicing your needs

Affirmation: “I speak”

Signs of a blocked throat chakra include:

• Sore throat
• Stiff neck
• Frequent colds
• Thyroid issues
• Hearing problems
• Fear of speaking up
• Excessive lying
• Timidity
• Inconsistency

The Third Eye Chakra (Ajna)

The third eye chakra, Ajna, meaning “to perceive” in Sanskrit, is located in between the eyebrows slightly above eye level and is associated with inspiration, intuition, seeing and self-knowledge.

Attributes of the Third Eye Chakra

Color: Indigo/purple

Sense: Intuition

Element: Light

Function: Seeing, intuition, clarity

Developmental age: 14+ years old

Body parts affected: Eyes, pineal gland, face

What it governs: Listening to your insight or inner sight, tapping into your intuition, choosing your thoughts

Affirmation: “I see”

Signs of a blocked third eye chakra include:

• Headaches/migraines
• Eye issues, such as blindness, eye strain and blurred vision
• Dizziness
• Inability to focus
• Disillusionment
• Manipulation

The Crown Chakra (Sahasrara)

The crown chakra, Sahasrara, meaning “thousandfold” in Sanskrit, is located at the very top of the head and is associated with intelligence and bliss.

Attributes of the Crown Chakra

Color: Violet

Sense: All senses

Element: Thought

Function: Wisdom, information, awareness

Developmental age: Forms through all life stages

Body parts affected: Pituitary, cerebral cortex, central nervous system

What it governs: Relationship to all life, consciousness, your purpose and how you choose to spend your time, the element of vibrations or vibrational quantum realm

Affirmation: “I know”

Signs of a blocked crown chakra include:

• Imbalance and poor coordination
• Frustration
• Alienation
• Apathy
• Inability to learn
• Confusion
• Depression

All chakras are meant to rotate at a healthy pace, taking in and redistributing subtle life energy throughout the body. If a chakra becomes blocked, there are ways to clear or restore balance to the affected chakra.

How to Identify a Blocked Chakra

Recognizing the physical and emotional effects of blocked chakras is the first step in restoring balance to the chakra system. A blocked chakra generally correlates with a heavy, stuck or uncomfortable sensation, including tingling or numbness in some cases. By tuning in to your body, you can discover any chakra blockages.

To begin, mentally scan your body from feet to head (first chakra to seventh chakra) and head to toe (seventh to first), noticing anything that occurs, says Aktekin. Pain or discomfort in a certain area of your body may correlate to an area of your life that isn’t flowing or functioning as you’d like.

Once you identify where you’re feeling “off,” you can begin to identify why that chakra region requires attention and what might bring balance to the area.

For example, if your body scan takes you to your heart, notice where in your life there may be an imbalance of giving and receiving. Or, if your focus is being drawn to your throat chakra, think about all the ways you communicate with others using your words. If you’re someone who frequently experiences stomach pain or digestive issues, the solar plexus chakra may be asking you to look at the power dynamics in your life.

“Our early developmental patterns often show up as certain body or chakra issues and patterns that repeat,” says Aktekin. “Becoming aware of these patterns opens up the doorway for you to take action toward your health and find ways to nourish yourself and meet your physical and energetic needs.”

How Can Chakras Be Cleared and Kept Healthy?

Practicing yoga is one of the main chakra-balancing activities, as both systems have ancient Vedic roots and are therefore interconnected. In fact, there are specific exercises one can learn to support the health of each chakra.

Meditation is also important. According to Shankar, if people could go on a silent meditation retreat every six months for three days, they could reboot their entire chakra system.

Because frequent meditation retreats may not be practical for many individuals, he highly recommends breathing exercises, such as pranayama, a yogic breathing technique designed to help clear physical and emotional blockages in the body. Two of the three major nadis terminate in the nostrils. If healthy breath and energy are flowing through the nadis, the chakras remain open and flow appropriately.

Certain types of music may also positively affect the chakras, according to Shankar, who recommends listening to anything with big drums to activate the the root and sacral chakras, instruments like the saxophone for the sacral and solar plexus chakras, string instruments like the cello and harp for the heart chakra, flute and piano for the throat chakra and tinkling bell sounds, gongs or even chirping birds for the third eye chakra. As for the crown chakra, “by then, you want the whole symphony,” says Shankar.

Who Can Help Unblock Chakras?

If blocked chakras are impacting your life physically or emotionally, there are certain practitioners who may be able to help resolve energetic stagnation for individuals interested in exploring this concept.

“In the case of long-standing childhood wounds and trauma and/or when it feels overwhelming to feel into your body, I recommend getting the help of a professional energy healer you trust,” says Aktekin. That practitioner might be skilled in reiki, acupuncture, tapping, light therapy, crystal healing, aura cleansing, massage or other types of energy medicine.

The theory of chakras is that when they are in balance, you can live your best energetic life. Tune into your own chakra system to see if there are any areas that feel stuck, and maybe you can free the energy flow to feel more vibrant and healthy.