Dear yogi friend

You will have heard me mention the chakras in class but I wanted to explain a little more for those of you who might not have an understanding of these terms.

In Indian spiritual science, the body is more than just what we can see and touch, it includes energy fields which encompass the body. These layers combine to become the body’s aura; yogis call this lots of different things: the “subtle” body, the “light body” or the “spiritual body.”

In yoga, what we think of as life force energy or “prana”, moves through the subtle body in channels. Chakras are where these channels intersect and the energy becomes intensified. Chakras correspond to glands along the spine and skull. The human body has seven major chakras; each chakra is related to specific behaviours and values in our lives and regulates a different body system. Every chakra also corresponds to an element, a “mantra” (which just means a repeated syllable), and to a colour.

When the channels become blocked, the chakras stagnate, causing energy to become tired which then leads to reduced physical, mental, and emotional health. Practicing yoga revitalises this system and allows energy to once again flow freely.

Yoga helps to balance each chakra by creating alignment in the body; it also rebalances your subtle body which realigns the chakras, which then regulate the specific behaviours, thus making it easier to overcome bad habits or difficulties.

Below is a description of the seven major chakras, along with a few yoga postures that will help to stimulate and balance each one.

1. Root Chakra — Muladhara Chakra
Location: Base of the spine
System: Skeletal
Gland: Gonads
Associations: Safety, money, vitality
Colour: Red
Element: Earth
Mantra: Lam
Yoga Pose: Mountain Pose

2. Belly Chakra — Svadhishthana Chakra
Location: Pelvic basin
System: Reproductive
Gland: Adrenals
Associations: Sexuality, appetite, creativity, desires, sensations
Colour: Orange
Element: Water
Mantra: Vam
Yoga Pose: Warrior II

3. Solar Plexus Chakra — Manipura Chakra
Location: Solar plexus and navel
System: Muscular and digestive
Gland: Pancreas
Associations: Power, determination, self-control, intellect, introversion/extroversion
Colour: Yellow
Element: Fire
Mantra: Ram
Yoga Pose: Plank Pose

4. Heart Chakra — Anahata Chakra
Location: Heart
System: Circulatory, respiratory, immune
Gland: Thymus
Associations: Compassion, love, acceptance, emotional openness, relating, giving
Colour: Green
Element: Air
Mantra: Yam
Yoga Pose: Camel Pose

5. Throat Chakra — Vishuddha Chakra
Location: Throat
System: Metabolism
Gland: Thyroid
Associations: Expression, abundance, manifestation, intuition, communication
Colour: Blue
Element: Ether
Mantra: Ham
Yoga Pose: Bridge Pose

6. Third Eye Chakra — Ajna Chakra
Location: Between eyebrows (third eye)
System: Endocrine
Gland: Pituitary
Associations: Insight, wisdom, self-awareness, spiritual awareness, self-realization
Colour: Violet
Element: Light
Mantra: Om
Yoga Pose: Tree Pose

7. Crown Chakra — Sahasrara Chakra
Location: Crown of the head
System: Nervous
Gland: Pineal
Associations: Universal consciousness, intuition, connection with the divine, peace of mind
Colour: White
Element: None, beyond the elements
Mantra: None
Yoga Pose: Corpse Pose

Term ends on Friday 19 April. New term from Monday 29 April – Wednesday 31 July.

Sima’s training week ( no class ) from 15 May – 22 May.

Please note: There will be no classes on May bank holiday, Monday 06 & Monday 27 May. Yogis are welcome to join the Tuesday 6:30 pm Hatha yoga class.

With warmest namaste:)