Chakras play a crucial role in yogic philosophy and for anyone interested in understanding themselves on a deeper level, they are well worth paying attention to. Because they are not physical things we can see or touch, they can feel abstract or difficult to connect with. But unblocking the chakras to allow proper energy flow is a meaningful step towards greater balance and self awareness that everyone can benefit from.
This post explains what the chakras are, how to recognise when each one is blocked and what can be done to restore their natural flow.
What Are the Chakras?
The chakras are seven energy portals that run along the spine. They are believed to directly affect both physical and mental wellbeing. For them to function correctly, they need to work together to maintain a healthy flow of Nadi, or life energy, throughout the body.
In the fast pace of modern life, many people find themselves blocked in the lower chakras and therefore struggle to connect with the higher energy centres. The chakras correspond to major organs and nerve networks in the body and will often signal imbalance through physical symptoms before we consciously recognise what is happening.
The seven chakras are the Root (Muladhara), the Sacral (Svadhisthana), the Solar Plexus (Manipura), the Heart (Anahata), the Throat (Vishuddha), the Third Eye (Ajna) and the Crown (Sahasrara).
How to Tell If Each Chakra Is Blocked
1. Root Chakra (Muladhara)
When the root chakra is balanced, there is a sense of emotional stability and grounding, along with a healthy weight and regulated body temperature.
When underworked, restlessness and lack of discipline can emerge emotionally, and the body may feel consistently cold or underweight.
When overworked, life can feel sluggish and monotonous, and the body may carry excess weight or run at a higher temperature than usual.
2. Sacral Chakra (Svadhisthana)
A balanced sacral chakra supports a healthy relationship with pleasure, fluid emotional expression and good sexual health with respectful boundaries around food and indulgence.
When underworked, emotional rigidity and numbness to pleasure can develop, alongside physical numbness or reduced sensation.
When overworked, overindulgence, emotional volatility and issues around addiction or sexual health may surface.
3. Solar Plexus Chakra (Manipura)
When balanced, this chakra brings spontaneity, purpose, vitality and a well functioning digestive system.
When underworked, passivity and lack of willpower are common, along with digestive issues such as IBS.
When overworked, dominant or aggressive tendencies can emerge, often accompanied by constipation or digestive sluggishness.
4. Heart Chakra (Anahata)
A healthy heart chakra supports compassionate and balanced relationships alongside good cardiovascular health.
When underworked, loneliness and shyness can become overwhelming, and circulatory or blood pressure issues may appear.
When overworked, co-dependency and jealousy can take hold, and similar physical symptoms around blood pressure and circulation may arise.
5. Throat Chakra (Vishuddha)
When balanced, the throat chakra supports clear communication, creativity and strong respiratory health.
When underworked, there may be a deep fear of being heard, a weak or absent voice and shortness of breath.
When overworked, difficulty truly listening to others can develop, along with recurring sore throats or throat tension.
6. Third Eye Chakra (Ajna)
A balanced third eye brings strong intuition and a rich imaginative inner life. There are no physical signs associated with the final two chakras as they are not tied to physical elements of the body.
When underworked, poor memory, lack of vision and difficulty trusting intuition are common.
When overworked, frequent nightmares and difficulty concentrating can emerge.
7. Crown Chakra (Sahasrara)
A balanced crown chakra is associated with wisdom, expanded knowledge and a sense of connection to something greater.
When underworked, learning difficulties and spiritual scepticism may be present.
When overworked, over intellectualising and an unhealthy fixation on spirituality can develop.
How to Unblock the Chakras
Now that the signs of each chakra have been identified, it becomes easier to recognise which areas need the most attention. Chakra healing is a lifelong practice. One yoga class focused on the chakras will not resolve a deep seated blockage overnight. But bringing awareness to the energetic centres that need support is a powerful place to begin the journey of physical, mental and spiritual self healing.
Here are some practices to explore:
Pranayama can be tailored to specific chakras. Grounding breath work such as Ujjayi breathing helps bring stability and presence to the root chakra, for example.
Movement targeted at specific areas can gently open blocked energy centres. Heart opening asanas such as fish pose are wonderful for working with the heart chakra.
Meditation focused on the area of concern invites a deeper understanding of why a particular imbalance exists and what needs to shift. There are many excellent guided chakra meditations available on YouTube to support this.
Chakra activation chanting uses specific sounds linked to each energy centre. Incorporating these chants into a daily practice helps draw awareness and energy directly to the chakra that needs healing.
The chakras are not a quick fix. They are an invitation to know the self more deeply and to approach healing with patience, curiosity and compassion. 🧘🏼