Anahata Chakra (“Anna-hutta”):  Sometimes translated as “infinite boundary” or “unstuck”, Anahata is located level with the heart in the centre of the chest and midway between the lower and upper chakras.  It is often represented in a fresh green; the colour of calm and new growth.  It is associated with the air element, the sense of touch and the seed mantra yam (“yum”)

The parts of the body we associate with Anahata are the heart, lungs, chest and abdominal cavities, the circulatory system, the arms and skin.  Anahata has relationship to the thymus gland and the associated interconnected organs and tissues that make up the immune system.

Anahata receives the output from the three lower chakras where our basic needs are being attended to (Muladhara), flow and possibility are being explored (Svadhisthana) and energy and determination are rallied (Manipura).   The heart chakra then regulates our interactions with the world so we are not over involved or too remote.   This places us in the optimal position to live comfortably with the many aspects of change that inevitably accompany us through our lives.  From this stable foundation we find freedom and we grow.

A principle of Anahata is unconditional respect, kindness and love.  When Anahata is in balance, we are able to give and receive these qualities freely without fear, self-consciousness, and happily without expectation of return.

Manipura Chakra: (“munni-poora”) literally translates as “fortress of gems” and resides in the centre of the torso. Various texts describe it as being behind the navel or radiating from the solar plexus.  It is represented by the fire element, is associated with a beautiful colour of yellowy gold, with the visual sense and the seed sound ram (“rrum”).

Physically Manipura is associated with the digestive system.  It’s physiological aspect relates to the metabolism of food and the immune system.  Both of these systems rely upon our correct decisions about what input is useful and what is not – i.e. discrimination about our health.

This is the chakra of informed decision-making, of relationships and achievement of goals.  It is our little internal get-up-and-go heat generator.  It is the chakra of ego…ego in the good sense of belief in one’s personal ability to direct oneself.

Manipura provides us with the energy and courage to change those things that need changing, in a practical outward sense and also inwardly.

When Manipura is in balance we are pleasantly extroverted, motivated and confident in our decision-making and power.

 

 

 

Svadhisthana (“Svud- histana”) Chakra: translates to “one’s own place of being”.

It is located in the pelvic basin and is represented by the water element and the concept of fluidity.  It is associated with the sense of taste and with the colour orange.  Its seed sound is vam (“vum”).

Physically Svadhisthana is associated with the organs of the pelvis and with the hands.  Physiologically it relates to the adrenal glands which give us the urge of fright, fight, flight or make a friend.

Svadhisthana is the centre of creative energy (including that of reproduction) and governs impulses and desires, attraction and repulsion.  It directs our need to take action in the world; to seek out that which attracts us and recognise that which repels us.

In times of inevitable change, an obstinate habit of resistance is  not helpful to anyone.  Svadhisthana helps us to loosen our tight grip on what once was and go with the flow towards what is now.

When Svadhisthana is in balance we are considerate, open and friendly.  We have no trouble sharing our feelings with others.  We enjoy the pleasures of the senses without excess or greed.  We have the power to make resolutions and keep them.  We are happily connected with life.

 

Muladhara Chakra: (“moola-dara”) literally translates as “root support” and sits at the very base of the torso. Various texts describe it as being at the perineum or at the cervix in women.  It is represented by the earth element, is associated with the colour red, the sense of smell and the seed sound lam (“lum”).   Physically it is associated with the lower limbs and with all the hard parts of the body; bones, teeth, nails.

Muladhara is the base of our being, our foundation.  It is related to our instinct for survival:  physical and financial security, body image and family.

Muladhara is our rock solid anchor-point when we feel buffeted by the winds of change.

When Muladhara is in balance we feel secure, confident, able to handle what comes, and content with what we have.

Yogic physiology deals with layers or networks of our being.
Our physical body is one such layer, and is quite real to us because our 5 or so senses can detect it.
Yoga proposes other dimensions of us which yogis became aware of due to their effects rather than being able to sense them directly.
• It’s not such a stretch if you think about the radio waves that travel through our bodies all the time- we are unaware of them unless we turn on the radio.
• Or the presence of UV light, until our skin is burned or we use a special camera.

Yoga recognises a system of centres in the individual called chakras and these will be our theme for this term.

When we deal with the chakras we are dealing with our energy body, which resides around and in our physical bodies. The number of chakras and their details vary between texts but in simplified interpretations there are seven main chakras located along the spinal axis from the base of the body to crown of head.
They:
• Can be imagined as a series of concentrations of energy ascending along the axis of the spine
• Encapsulate the body’s main physical, mental and spiritual aspects.
• Don’t have a physical presence, but they do have a physical plane where they relate to major nerve plexi, hormonal systems, organs and surrounding muscles and joints.
• Have energy and personality aspects as well as various colours, sounds and elements assigned to them

Whether you choose to see them as real, symbolic, or a system to map your attention on the complex creature that you are…
…the Chakras are a great framework for self-exploration, and be used to attain a better balance in all areas of life.

Because of their alignment we’ll be concentrating this term on spine and core. We will also be working on strength and stability in the legs, and emphasising moving with the breath and working comfortably with change.

This term we will work through:
• Muladhara
o the base chakra situated at the base of the body
• Swadhistana
o at the level of the sacrum in the pelvis
• Manipura
o in the area behind the navel
• Anaharta
o in the area of the heart
• Vishuddi
o in the spinal area within the throat
• Ajna
o in the centre of the brain behind the eyebrow centre
• Sahasrara
o at the top of the head