What are chakras?
Chakra means “wheel” in Sanskrit. In yogic and tantric traditions, the chakras are described as spinning centres of energy along the spine. When they are balanced, energy is said to flow freely; when one is blocked or overactive, we may notice it in the matching area of life.
The seven chakras at a glance
| Chakra | Location | Linked with |
|---|---|---|
| Root (Muladhara) | Base of the spine | Safety, stability, grounding |
| Sacral (Svadhisthana) | Lower belly | Creativity, emotions, pleasure |
| Solar plexus (Manipura) | Upper belly | Confidence, willpower |
| Heart (Anahata) | Centre of the chest | Love, compassion, forgiveness |
| Throat (Vishuddha) | Throat | Expression, truth |
| Third eye (Ajna) | Between the eyebrows | Intuition, clarity |
| Crown (Sahasrara) | Top of the head | Connection, purpose |
Signs a chakra may need attention
- Root: anxiety about money or safety, feeling ungrounded.
- Sacral: creative block, emotional numbness or overwhelm.
- Solar plexus: low confidence, difficulty making decisions.
- Heart: holding on to hurt, difficulty trusting or receiving love.
- Throat: not speaking your truth, or speaking without listening.
- Third eye: confusion, ignoring your inner voice.
- Crown: feeling disconnected or without meaning.
A simple practice for each chakra
- Root: walk barefoot on grass or earth for a few minutes.
- Sacral: dance, paint or cook something just for joy.
- Solar plexus: keep one small promise to yourself every day.
- Heart: write down three things you are grateful for.
- Throat: chant, sing or journal what you haven't said aloud.
- Third eye: sit in silence for five minutes with eyes closed.
- Crown: spend time in prayer, meditation or nature.
Finding out which chakras need support
Most of us have one or two centres that feel weaker than the rest. An aura and chakra scan can show which areas look blocked or low, so you know where to focus your practice.